(KMJ) – Cal Fire says the River Fire broke out around 2:13 p.m. Sunday on Oak Grove Road and Oak Grove School Road in Mariposa County.
The fire is spreading quickly, swallowing over 4,000 acres, which is about six and a quarter square miles.
The River Fire now covers 4,000 acres and as of Monday morning, the fire is just 5% contained and being fought by 251 personal, 53 engines, 7 dozers, 5 water tenders, and 9 hand crews.
There are also 7 helicopters supporting their efforts.
So far, Cal Fire says one structure has been lost and four outbuildings. An outbuilding is a shed, barn, or garage on the same property but separate from the house or business.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
This blaze has prompted the following orders:
Mandatory Evacuations:
Madera County:
- Indian Peak Road and Road 800, up to Leland Gulch to Road 600
- Road 800 between Road 613 and 812
- The intersection of Road 800 / Road 810 to Road 600
- Road 600 to Road 812 to Blazing Saddle Trail
- Road 600 between Road 810 and Apache Ranch Road
- Road 600 south of Road 810 to Road 612
Mariposa County:
- Indian Peak at Usona to Road 800
- Oak Grove Road at Oak Grove School Road to Road 800
- Stumpfield from Leonard to Madera County Line
Evacuation Warnings:
Madera County:
- Road 612
- Road 415
- Road 600
- One mile east of road 600
- One mile north of Road 600
- Road 600 between Road 415 and Road 812
- All Spurs
- Road 600 north of Apache Ranch Road to CA-49
Road Closures:
Madera County:
- Road 613 to Road 800
- Road 600 to Road 619
- Road 600 – Road 612
Mariposa County:
- Stumpfield Mountain Road and Leonard Road
- Indian Peak at Usona Road
- Oak Grove Road at Oak Grove School Road.
People heading out should use Usona Rd or Indian Peak Rd to get to Highway 49 to leave the area. there’s an evacuation point set up at New Life Christian Church on Cole Road where the Red Cross is assisting with people’s needs.
“There is an immediate threat to life. This is an evacuation order to leave now. The area is being closed to public access. Take action immediately,” the Madera County Sheriff’s Office said.
Please sign up for emergency alert notifications.
Madera County- MCAlert.org
Mariposa County – MSOAlert.com
Animal Evacuations information:
Madera County – 559-675-7769
Mariposa County – 209-966-3615
San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District issued a Health Caution Monday afternoon due to the smoke impacting the San Joaquin Valley.
The District is issuing a health caution to all San Joaquin Valley residents as the River Fire in Mariposa County is causing smoke impacts in the counties of San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare, and the Valley portion of Kern. The health caution will remain in place until the fire is extinguished. The District warns residents being impacted by smoke to stay indoors to reduce their exposure to particulate matter (PM) emissions.
The public is advised to visit the District’s Wildfire Information Page at www.valleyair.org/wildfires for details on current and recently past wildfires affecting the Valley.
The air quality is also being affected by the ongoing heatwave and a large debris fire burning in Fresno.
Red Cross:
New Life Christian Fellowship Church 5089 Cole Rd. Mariposa, CA
“We do not need any supplies. Red Cross is very good about having all this in place prior to fires or any type of disaster. But we always need donations, because we need to buy the things to keep in place before the disaster happens.”
