Update: Electra Fire Continues To Threaten Homes In Amador And Calaveras
This is day two of the Electra fire, for day one details go here, and day three is here. Containment was almost reached on July 16 as reported here.
Update at 4:05 pm: Amador Sheriff Redman signed a Proclamation of a Local Emergency for Amador County and it has been sent to the State of California in regards to the Electra Fire.
Update at 3:00 pm: The San Andreas fire evacuation shelter has been relocated to Mountain Oaks School in order to accommodate the potential increase in evacuees.In addition, East Bay Municipal Utility District is offering to help those that have been displaced by the Electra Fire. Displaced residents with recreational vehicles or trailers may stay at Lake Pardee, while those with small recreational vehicles can stay at Lake Camanche-South Shore. People can additionally stay in their own vehicles or in tents and utilize the showers and restrooms at these properties. Additionally, CAL-Fire has established a public information telephone line that can be reached by calling (530) 647-5218. This line will have recorded information regarding the Electra fire and will be available 24 hours a day.
Update at 2:00 pm: CAL Fire has updated the evacuation map for mandatory evacuations and evacuation warning areas. Clicking on the link here will bring up an interactive map that will let users input an address to see what area they are in.
Update at 1 pm: There have been no changes today when it comes to the earlier announced evacuation orders and warnings related to the Electra Fire burning near the Amador and Calaveras border. A mix of air and ground resources remain busy fighting the blaze. CAL Fire is planning to release its next acreage update this evening. 15,000 PG&E customers in the area are still without electricity.
Update at 11:15pm: Air and ground resources continue to make progress in slowing the Electra Fire near the Calaveras and Amador County line. In addition to the air tankers and helicopters assigned, there are now 128 engine companies, 22 water tenders, 33 dozers and 39 hand crews. As reported earlier below, around 1,300 firefighters are assigned to the incident. Click here to view a webcam pointed at the fire. There has been some additional smoke visible in the area, compared to earlier this morning.
Update at 10:15am: CAL Fire has assigned its larger Incident Management Team III to lead the Electra Fire response. Since there are now 1,300 firefighters assigned to the incident, it is too large of an operation for the local staff to oversee. The earlier evacuation information, and size estimates, referenced below, remain in place.
Update at 10am: PG&E is providing an update on the thousands of customers without power near the Electra Fire. Spokesperson Megan McFarland says, “PG&E continues to respond to outages affecting approximately 15,000 customers in parts of Amador and Calaveras Counties. PG&E has de-energized several distribution lines for firefighter safety in the area at the request of Cal Fire crews battling the Electra Fire.”
McFarland adds, “PG&E has a number of assets potentially at risk due to the fire. We are currently working with Cal Fire to gain access to impacted areas to make assessments”
The latest size estimate is 3,034 acres. Unless there is a significant change today, CAL Fire plans to release its next update on size/conditions later this evening.
All of the earlier mentioned evacuation orders and advisories remain in effect.
Update at 8am: While there is no official containment, crews are making some progress battling the Electra Fire. CAL Fire reports that the steep and rugged terrain is making it difficult for firefighters to make access near the South Fork of the Mokelumne River drainage. That said, firefighters continue to construct control lines around the blaze to slow the spread.
The objective now is to keep the fire east of Highway 49, south of Highway 88, north of Jesus Maria Road, and west of Highway 26/Railroad Flat. CAL Fire urges community members to continue to adhere to the earlier announced evacuation orders and warnings so that crews can easily get in and do their work.
The latest size estimate is 3,034 acres. 450 structures remain threatened. As of 8am, the smoke is significantly less in the area when compared to yesterday afternoon.
Approximately 100 recreational visitors and PG&E employees were safely evacuated from the Electra Powerhouse last night at around 9:30pm.
The Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office continues to call for a mandatory evacuation order along Highway 26 from Ponderosa Road to Montgomery Road. Highway 26 is also closed from Buckeye Road to Ponderosa Road. A lesser evacuation warning has been issued for the surrounding communities of West Point and Railroad Flat.
Amador officials have issued a mandatory evacuation order for all residents in the Butte Mountain Road area. Butte Mountain Road is closed except for evacuation purposes.
in addition, there is an evacuation warning for all Amador residents in a two-mile radius centered around Lake Tabeau.
The Amador County Animal Response Team has been activated. Residents may bring large and small animals to the Amador County Fairgrounds. Evacuation shelters for people are open at the Italian Picnic Grounds at 581 Highway 49 in Sutter Creek, and at the San Andreas Town Hall at 24 Church Hill Road.
Related to the Electra Fire, there are thousands of PG&E customers without electricity in the surrounding area. The outage stretches from Pine Grove and Pioneer in Amador County, over to Glencoe, West Point, Wilseyville and Railroad Flat in Calaveras County. It is unclear when power will be restored.
Update at 7:20am: CAL Fire has released a new size estimate for the Electra Fire. It is now 3,034 acres and there is no containment. The earlier referenced evacuation orders and warnings remain in place.
Original story posted at 6am: Amador County, CA — A major fire continues to threaten homes in parts of Amador and Calaveras counties. The Electra Fire ignited during the three o’clock hour Monday afternoon along Electra Road in Amador County. The latest size estimate from CAL Fire last night was 950 acres, and a revised estimate will be released later this morning, as it has grown.
The Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office continues to call for a mandatory evacuation order along Highway 26 from Ponderosa Road to Montgomery Road. Highway 26 is also closed from Buckeye Road to Ponderosa Road. A lesser evacuation warning has been issued for the surrounding communities of West Point and Railroad Flat.
Amador officials have issued a mandatory evacuation order for all residents in the Butte Mountain Road area. Butte Mountain Road is closed except for evacuation purposes.
in addition, there is an evacuation warning for all Amador residents in a two-mile radius centered around Lake Tabeau.
The Amador County Animal Response Team has been activated. Residents may bring large and small animals to the Amador County Fairgrounds. Evacuation shelters for people are open at the Italian Picnic Grounds at 581 Highway 49 in Sutter Creek, and at the San Andreas Town Hall at 24 Church Hill Road.
Related to the Electra Fire, there are thousands of PG&E customers without electricity in the surrounding area. The outage stretches from Pine Grove and Pioneer in Amador County, over to Glencoe, West Point, Wilseyville and Railroad Flat in Calaveras County. It is unclear when power will be restored.
We will continue to provide updates on the Electra Fire as more information comes into the news center.
