Containment Grows In Oak Fire

Cedar Ridge, CA – Firefighters make progress on the Oak Fire in Tuolumne County as the containment grows while the acreage increases slightly.

Cal Fire dispatch reports the containment has jumped to 50% with the size increasing just two acres, to 102. Three structures including a home and two out buildings have been destroyed in the fire. Cal Fire spokesperson Nancy Longmore says today’s worry will be the triple digit temperatures, “When the temperature heats up, the humidity drops and the winds go up, that always complicates things for firefighters. With the brush as thick as it is in the area of the fire, the four years of drought and how dry everything is, that all combines to make a pretty good potential for a large wildfire.”

An advisory evacuation notice for some residents near the fire area in Cedar Ridge was given yesterday afternoon, according to Tuolumne County Office of Emergency Services officials. An evacuation center was set up at the Mother Lode Fairgrounds and is being staffed by officials from the American Red Cross. In addition, the Sierra Outdoor School and the Old Oak Youth Ranch were evacuated soon after the fire began around 1:23 p.m. Tuesday.

A school alert…due to the fire, Belleview Elementary’s Big Hill bus run is cancelled this morning.  School officials note they will send out an e-mail this afternoon to parents regarding the bus service after school.  Big Hill Road remains closed from Hatler Mill to Bellview School. ID, or some proof of residence is needed to pass.

Additionally, nearly 27 of the 62 PG&E customers without power since around 3 yesterday afternoon remain without power this morning. Company officials report crews have not been able to get to the damaged equipment to make the needed repairs and there is no estimated time of repair being given.

A special thanks to community news partners Alan Cromer, Robert Davidson, Frank Harris, Cheril Lindenberg, Galen Gritz, Charity Maness, Maryann Curmi, Karen Jensen, Abi Rogers, Corey Adams, Amy Gladen and James Duff for sending in photos. Pictures can be e-mailed to news@clarkebroadcasting.com