Loretta Sylvas was fanning off flies buzzing around at the Granite Ridge Middle School gym. Sylvas, along with 10 other members of her family spanning four generations, evacuated their homes at the Big Sandy Rancheria in Auberry just hours earlier. Fortunately, they had enough time to pack up and leave....
Wildfire Devastates SoCal Edison Community of Big Creek Despite Heroic Efforts
The tiny Sierra community of Big Creek, which is home to Southern California Edison employees, lost many homes in the Creek Fire on Saturday, said Chris Donnelly, chief of the Huntington Lake Volunteer Fire Department. Donnelly's description of the devastation there was confirmed by Toby Wait, a Big Creek resident...
‘It Looks Like Mars Out There’: Creek Fire Threatens Shaver Lake
The Creek Fire moved aggressively toward Shaver Lake on Sunday afternoon, threatening stores and cabins throughout the Sierra hamlet about 50 miles northeast of Fresno. A photo sent to GV Wire℠by a person on the scene showed the fire next to businesses at "The Point" adjacent to the lake. Another...
Rescuers in Military Helicopters Fly 207 People to Safety in Creek Fire
Rescuers in military Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters airlifted at least 207 people to safety after an explosive wildfire trapped them at Mammoth Pool late Saturday night. The California Office of Emergency Services said Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters were used for the rescues, which continued overnight. Two campers refused...
Creek Fire Grows Overnight to 45,000 Acres. Shaver Now Under Evacuation Order.
Residents and visitors in Shaver Lake have been ordered to evacuate as the rapidly-spreading Creek Fire grew to 45,500 acres overnight. "The entire community of Shaver Lake is now under an Evacuation ORDER due to the Creek Fire," a Sunday morning release from the Fresno County Sheriff's Office said. "All...
Thousands Flee as Flames Race Across Dry Northern California
CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. — Wind-driven wildfires destroyed buildings and threatened hundreds of others as they raced across dry brush in rural Northern California. The Pawnee Fire, which broke out Saturday near the community of Clearlake Oaks, has destroyed 12 buildings and threatened an additional 600. As of Sunday, there was...