Additional firefighters have joined the effort to bring the 220,025-acre Creek Fire under control and snuff the threat to communities in Fresno and Madera counties. On Tuesday night, incident leaders reported that 2,878 personnel are now assigned to the Creek Fire. That's an increase of 253. Containment also improved from...
Is Biomass One of the Answers to California Wildfires? UC Researcher Says Yes
The mid-elevation type of forest ponderosa pine and mixed conifer used to have about 60 trees per acre in California about 150 years ago. Now, a UC Davis and USDA study says California forests 165 to 170 trees per acre — and that may be a conservative estimate. "That's about a...
Harris, Newsom See the Anguish of the Creek Fire Up Close
Jessica Alvarez had two reasons to evacuate. The Creek Fire was coming up toward her home in Meadow Lakes for one. But, the unhealthy air affecting her seven-year-old daughter was the main reason she sought refuge with the Red Cross at their temporary evacuation point at the Granite Ridge Middle...
Hume Lake, Big Creek Schools Get Waivers to Reopen, but Creek Fire Scattered Students
Two small Sierra schools are approved for waivers to reopen for in-person instruction for elementary school students, the first in Fresno County since the coronavirus pandemic closed schools in mid-March. Hume Lake Charter School, a public K-12 school between Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks, could reopen to K-6 students...
California Forests 80%-600% Denser Than 150 Years Ago, UC Researcher Says Biomass Is One of the Answers
The mid-elevation type of forest ponderosa pine and mixed conifer used to have about 60 trees per acre in California about 150 years ago. Now, a UC Davis and USDA study says California forests 165 to 170 trees per acre — and that may be a conservative estimate. "That's about a...
VP Candidate Sen. Kamala Harris, Gov. Newsom Tour Creek Fire
Update: 3:45 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 15 Democratic vice-presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris and Gov. Gavin Newsom arrived at Clovis North High School at about 1:40 p.m. Tuesday. While there, they bumped elbows with American Red Cross of Central California volunteers who are helping Creek Fire evacuees. A campus gym has...
‘This Is Their Backyard,’ Battalion Chief Says of Local Firefighters Battling Creek Fire
Seth Brown, a battalion chief for Cal Fire Fresno County, tells GV Wire℠that firefighters from cities throughout the Central Valley are taking part in the herculean effort to control the Creek Fire. "This is their backyard," says Brown. "They wanted to come up here and help fight the fire and...
What Mims Said About Meeting Trump, Newsom About Wildfires
With fire crews slowly getting a handle on the 200,000-plus acre Creek Fire, Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims met with President Donald Trump and Governor Gavin Newsom to discuss wildfire response on Monday. Mims spoke with the two leaders and other state and federal officials at a roundtable discussion at...
Tuesday’s Creek Fire Updates: 16% Containment, 555 Structures Destroyed, Huntington ‘Fire Tornado’ 1,400 Degrees
The Creek Fire continues as a threat to some foothill communities, but firefighters increased containment on Monday, Cal Fire officials said. 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...
Creek Fire: Some Fresno & Madera County Residents Allowed to Return, Check Interactive Map
Some residents in Fresno and Madera counties can return to areas within the Creek Fire zone downgraded from mandatory evacuation orders on Monday. To view the evacuation map, click HEREÂ to search by address. Fresno County In Fresno County, people can re-enter the following areas: Zone F5L: The south boundary is...