Update: Evacuation Orders Due To Canyon Fire Near Tuolumne

This story has been updated here:

Update at 7:05 pm: The fire remains at 85 acres and is now 27 percent contained with hose lays now surrounding the fire perimeter. Crews are working to complete handline construction on all sides, though progress is slow due to steep and difficult terrain. In areas inaccessible to ground crews, rotary and fixed-wing aircraft are being deployed to combat the flames. Dozers are also being used to create contingency lines from Ponderosa Hills to Mt. Provo and along the east side of Tuolumne City. Personnel involved in the firefighting effort include 438 personnel, supported by three helicopters, 45 engines, eight dozers, 16 water tenders, and 17 hand crews. The evacuation orders remain unchanged.

Update at 5:35 pm: Firefighters continue to battle the Canyon Fire near Tuolumne. CAL Fire is planning to release an updated size figure, and containment percentage, after 6 pm. There have been no changes since early this morning regarding evacuation orders.

The latest size estimate, released early this afternoon, was 85 acres.

Update at 1 pm: CAL Fire spokesperson Emily Kilgore reports that crews continue to aggressively fight the Canyon Fire from both the air and the ground. Firefighters are facing steep terrain and dense vegetation. Crews are working toward building containment lines. The fire is still estimated to be just over 85 acres. The earlier evacuation orders remain in place and nothing has changed since early this morning.

Click here to view a detailed map of the evacuation zone.

Click here to view a webcam pointed at the fire.

Update at 10:45 am: CAL Fire has updated the size of the Canyon Fire to 85.3 acres. The earlier evacuation information remains the same.

Update at 8:29 am: The two evacuation shelters have been consolidated into one location. The shelter at the Enrichment Center on Hospital Road in Sonora is closed and everyone should go to the Senior Center at 540 Greenley Road. There is a spot outside to take pets at that location. Small animals can also come to the shelter at 10040 Victoria Way Jamestown. Large animals can be taken to the Mother Lode Fairgrounds.

The fire is still estimated to be 75 acres, according to CAL Fire. Aircraft is now over the fire working to fight the blaze, along with ground resources. The earlier evacuation orders reported in the previous update, and the road closures, remain in place.

Update at 6:34 am: Firefighters are preparing for a busy day working to slow the Canyon Fire near Buchanan Road and Canyon Drive.

CAL Fire spokesperson Emily Kilgore says, “The terrain in there is quite steep and it is heavy brush and vegetation, so line construction is a little difficult at this point.”

The fire is still 75 acres with no containment.

Kilgore adds, “The crews are going to attack the fire directly and install containment lines. And, we do have additional resources from outside the area coming to the fire.”

To view the evacuation map, click here.

To view the webcam pointed at the blaze, click here.

Update at 5:50 am: CAL Fire updates that the Canyon Fire is now estimated to be 75 acres.

Update at 5:24 am: A positive development related to the Canyon Fire near Tuolumne, the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office reports that some streets have been removed from the evacuation order list, including Baker Street, Birch Street, Carter Street, Madrone Street and Vine Street.

Evacuation orders are still in place for all of Ponderosa Hills, all of the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians Rancheria, and Canyon Drive, Sunrise Drive, First Avenue, Mira Monte, Grizzly Mine Road, and Buchanan Road from Carter Street to the river canyon.

The fire is still estimated to be 50 acres.

Update at 4:17 am: CAL Fire updates that the size of the Canyon Fire is now 50 acres. An additional evacuation shelter is open at the Sonora Senior Center at 540 Greenley Road (that location is also helping with small animals/pets). Large animals can be taken to the Mother Lode Fairgrounds in Sonora. The earlier reported evacuation orders and road closures remain in place.

Update at 3:39 am:  The Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians Rancheria has been added to the evacuation order list for the Canyon Fire. Earlier, the rancheria was under an evacuation warning.

Other areas under an evacuation order, meaning it is time to go now, include all of the Ponderosa Hills subdivision, along with Canyon Drive, Sunrise Drive, First Avenue, Mira Monte, Grizzly Mine Road, Vine Street, Baker Street, Carter Street, Madrone Street, Birch Street, and Buchanan Road from Carter Street to the River Canyon.

An evacuation shelter is open at the Tuolumne Enrichment Center at 101 Hospital Road in Sonora.

A hard road closure remains in place on Buchanan Road at Carter Street, and for Tuolumne Road at Ponderosa Hills (Gerber Road).

CAL Fire’s latest size estimate on the Canyon Fire is 31 acres and it is burning on both sides of Buchanan Road, near Canyon Drive.

The Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office adds, “If you live in the area and do not feel safe, please leave do not wait to be told to evacuate. Please avoid the area as emergency responders are on scene actively working.”

Deputies are in the evacuation areas knocking on doors.

The Canyon Fire public information phone line is 209-533-5151.

To view a webcam pointed at the fire, click here.

To see an evacuation map, click here.

Update at 2:38 am: To see a webcam pointed at the Canyon Fire, click here. All of the earlier announced evacuation orders and warnings remain in place.

Update at 2:18 am: To view a map of the evacuation area for the Canyon Fire, click here. 

Update at 1:54 am: CAL Fire has updated the size of the Canyon Fire to 31 acres. The earlier announced evacuation orders and warnings are still in place. An evacuation shelter is open at the Tuolumne Enrichment Center at 101 Hospital Road in Sonora.

Update at 1:33 am: In addition to the evacuation orders announced earlier, an evacuation warning is also now in effect for the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians Rancheria.

A public information phone line for Canyon Fire evacuation information is operational at 209-533-5151

Update at 1:23 am: CAL Fire reports that the latest size estimate for the Canyon Fire is 15 acres. It is burning on both sides of Buchanan Road, and one of the fires is 10 acres and the other is 5 acres, totaling 15 acres.

All of the Ponderosa Hills subdivision is now under an evacuation order, along with Canyon Drive, Sunrise Drive, First Avenue, Mira Monte, Grizzly Mine Road, Vine Street, Baker Street, Carter Street, Madrone Street, Birch Street, and Buchanan Road from Carter Street to the River Canyon.

An evacuation shelter is open at the Tuolumne Enrichment Center at 101 Hospital Road in Sonora.

A hard road closure remains in place on Buchanan Road at Carter Street.

Update at 1 am: Grizzly Mine Road is the latest area to be placed under an evacuation order due to the Canyon Fire near Buchanan Road and Canyon Drive in Tuolumne. The entire neighborhood of Ponderosa Hills remains under an evacuation order, along with Canyon Drive, Sunrise Drive, First Avenue, Mira Monte, and Buchanan Road from Carter Street to the river Canyon.

An evacuation Center is open at the Tuolumne Enrichment Center at 101 Hospital Road in Sonora.

A hard road closure remains in place on Buchanan Road at Carter Street. The fire is estimated to be over 10 acres.

Update at 12:40 am: An evacuation center is being set up at the Tuolumne Enrichment Center at 101 Hospital Road in Sonora for anyone needing a place to go due to the Canyon Fire.

Update at 12:35 am: The entire neighborhood of Ponderosa Hills has now been placed under an evacuation order, per the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office, due to the Canyon Fire. Other areas under an evacuation order include Canyon Drive, Sunrise Drive, First Avenue, Mira Monte, and Buchanan Road from Carter to the river Canyon.

A hard road closure remains in place on Buchanan Road at Carter Street. The Canyon Fire, near the area of Buchanan Road and Canyon Drive, is over 10 acres.

Original story posted at 12:20 am: Tuolumne, CA — There is an estimated 10-acre vegetation fire in the Tuolumne area, forcing the evacuation of some homes.

The Canyon Fire is in the area of Buchanan Road and Canyon Drive in Tuolumne. The Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office has issued evacuation orders for Canyon Drive, Sunrise Drive and First Avenue. There is a hard road closure of Buchanan Road at Carter Street.

Officials are working to secure a location for an evacuation shelter.

We will pass along more information as it becomes available.