Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Tuesday's Creek Fire Updates: 16% Containment, 555 Structures Destroyed, Huntington 'Fire Tornado' 1,400 Degrees
Bill McEwen updated website photo 2024
By Bill McEwen, News Director
Published 5 years ago on
September 15, 2020

Share

The Creek Fire continues as a threat to some foothill communities, but firefighters increased containment on Monday, Cal Fire officials said.

In Madera County, Cal Fire said, “particular attention will be paid to areas that could make a run toward (the) communities of Central Camp, South Fork Bluffs, and Whiskey Falls.”

The blaze that began Friday, Sept. 4, grew by about 18,000 acres to 220,025 acres on Tuesday morning as warm, dry conditions contributed to fire activity.

During Monday night’s incident briefing, authorities said the wildfire was 16% contained — up 6% from Sunday. There are 2,623 personnel working the wildfire spanning Fresno and Madera counties.

Good news came in the easing of some evacuation orders, but an estimated 10,000 residents remain displaced. Residents can check the orders for their address at this link.

There was a scare Monday when the fire spread in Jose Basin and threatened several structures, officials said. But firefighters corraled the spread and no buildings burned.

Damage Assessment is 46% Complete

Assessment damage is now 46% complete, an increase of 10%. Cal Fire said the wildfire has destroyed 555 buildings and damaged 47 as of Tuesday morning.

Threatened structures total 11,256.

The fire’s most active area Monday in Fresno County was “the northeast portion of the fire, burning toward the Ansel Adams Wilderness,” authorities said. But they expected the spread to slow as that part of the fire burns into rocky terrain.

In Madera County, Cal Fire said, “particular attention will be paid to areas that could make a run toward (the) communities of Central Camp, South Fork Bluffs, and Whiskey Falls.”

Residents Allow to Return, Evacuation Orders Change

The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office downgraded evacuation orders to warnings in more areas Tuesday afternoon, thus allowing more residents to return home.

To check out the latest zones, click on this link.

For additional information, click on this link.

Evacuation map for Fresno and Madera counties as of Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 15, 2020. (U.S. Forest Service)

Huntington Lake ‘Fire Tornado’ Hit 1,400 Degrees: Costa

In a Zoom interview with  GV Wire℠ on Monday, Rep. Jim Costa (D-Fresno) said that fire officials estimated the temperatures of a “fire tornado” at Huntington Lake in the Creek Fire’s early stages at 1,400 degrees.

The fire tornado “literally toppled trees 100- and 150-feet tall,” Costa said. “Their roots now are burning, creating another source of fire.”

The fire tornado devastated the Huckleberry Tract of cabins near the lake’s shore.

Costa is a co-sponsor of the bipartisan Emergency Wildfire and Public Safety Act. The bill addresses the long-term management of federal forests on four fronts:

— Wildfire mitigation projects

— Supporting healthier forests more resilient to climate change

— Energy and retrofit assistance to better protect businesses and residences in wildfire zones

— Incentivize the collection of wood biomass and make biomass processing more economically viable

With bipartisan support from U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-California) and Steve Daines (R-Montana) and the deadly wildfires now burning up and down the West Coast, the bill’s prospects for passage are good, Costa said.

The Wilderness Society said that it “strongly opposes” parts of the bill.

Huckleberry Tract at Huntington Lake. Legend: green is unharmed by fire; magenta is fire-damaged. (Huntington Lake Volunteer Fire Dept.)

Watch: Rep. Jim Costa Explains Wildfire Legislation

More Than 2,600 Personnel Deployed to Creek Fire

There are 2,623 personnel fighting the Creek Fire as of today. The other assigned resources: 281 engines, 76 dozers, 66 water tenders, 29 hand crews, 18 helicopters.

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Madera County Wildfire Prompts Evacuation Warnings, Road Closures

DON'T MISS

Sanger Police Seek Public’s Help to Find Missing Teen

DON'T MISS

Trump Says Everyone Should Immediately Evacuate Tehran

DON'T MISS

Inside Trump’s Extraordinary Turnaround on Immigration Raids

DON'T MISS

Trump Approval Steady at 42%, Support Weakens for His Immigration Policy, Reuters/Ipsos Poll Finds

DON'T MISS

Person Rescued from Fresno Canal, Third Incident in Recent Days

DON'T MISS

Arias Dodges Questions About His False Fresno ICE Raid Claim

DON'T MISS

Iranian State TV Halts Live Broadcast After Israeli Strike

DON'T MISS

Global Markets Recover on Iran Ceasefire Reports, Central Banks in Focus

DON'T MISS

Madera Man Sentenced to Over 21 Years for Fentanyl, Meth Trafficking

UP NEXT

Sanger Police Seek Public’s Help to Find Missing Teen

UP NEXT

Person Rescued from Fresno Canal, Third Incident in Recent Days

UP NEXT

Arias Dodges Questions About His False Fresno ICE Raid Claim

UP NEXT

Fresno Murder Suspect Arrested in Madera County Following Shooting

UP NEXT

Fresno Stabbing Leads to 7-Hour SWAT Standoff and Arrest, Suspect Identified

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Make DUI Arrest, Cite 135 Drivers in Distracted Driving Crackdown

UP NEXT

Protester Killed at Utah ‘No Kings’ Rally Was Fashion Designer From ‘Project Runway’

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Norman James Walker

UP NEXT

Fresno Vehicle Fire Spreads to Garage, No Injuries Reported

UP NEXT

Gov. Newsom Lambasts Trump for Giving Immigrants’ Health Data to Deportation Officials

Bill McEwen,
News Director
Bill McEwen is news director and columnist for GV Wire. He joined GV Wire in August 2017 after 37 years at The Fresno Bee. With The Bee, he served as Opinion Editor, City Hall reporter, Metro columnist, sports columnist and sports editor through the years. His work has been frequently honored by the California Newspapers Publishers Association, including authoring first-place editorials in 2015 and 2016. Bill and his wife, Karen, are proud parents of two adult sons, and they have two grandsons. You can contact Bill at 559-492-4031 or at Send an Email

Inside Trump’s Extraordinary Turnaround on Immigration Raids

16 hours ago

Trump Approval Steady at 42%, Support Weakens for His Immigration Policy, Reuters/Ipsos Poll Finds

16 hours ago

Person Rescued from Fresno Canal, Third Incident in Recent Days

16 hours ago

Arias Dodges Questions About His False Fresno ICE Raid Claim

17 hours ago

Iranian State TV Halts Live Broadcast After Israeli Strike

18 hours ago

Global Markets Recover on Iran Ceasefire Reports, Central Banks in Focus

18 hours ago

Madera Man Sentenced to Over 21 Years for Fentanyl, Meth Trafficking

19 hours ago

Touring a Tunnel That Leads Underneath a Hospital in Southern Gaza

19 hours ago

Suspect in Minnesota Lawmaker Killing Visited Other Legislators’ Homes, Prosecutors Say

19 hours ago

Spyware From US-Backed Israeli Firm Targeted European Journalists, Report Finds

19 hours ago

Madera County Wildfire Prompts Evacuation Warnings, Road Closures

A wildfire burning near Raymond Road and Avenue 16 in Madera County has prompted evacuation warnings and road closures, authorities said Mon...

15 hours ago

A wildfire near Raymond Road and Avenue 16 in Madera County has prompted evacuation warnings and road closures as officials urge residents to prepare to leave if threatened on Monday, June 16, 2025. (Madera County SO)
15 hours ago

Madera County Wildfire Prompts Evacuation Warnings, Road Closures

Sanger police are searching for Kaylani Thompson, 17, who went missing Saturday, June 14, 2025, after leaving her home and was last seen getting into a white sedan. (Sanger PD)
15 hours ago

Sanger Police Seek Public’s Help to Find Missing Teen

A view of the cityscape in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, in Tehran, Iran, June 16, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS
15 hours ago

Trump Says Everyone Should Immediately Evacuate Tehran

16 hours ago

Inside Trump’s Extraordinary Turnaround on Immigration Raids

President Donald Trump speaks at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 12, 2025. (Reuters File)
16 hours ago

Trump Approval Steady at 42%, Support Weakens for His Immigration Policy, Reuters/Ipsos Poll Finds

A person was rescued from a Fresno canal Monday, June 16, 2025, near Dakota and Ninth Street, marking the third such incident in recent days, officials said. (Fresno FD)
16 hours ago

Person Rescued from Fresno Canal, Third Incident in Recent Days

17 hours ago

Arias Dodges Questions About His False Fresno ICE Raid Claim

18 hours ago

Iranian State TV Halts Live Broadcast After Israeli Strike

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend