Update: Oak Fire Climbs To Over 15,600 Acres

For Monday’s update, day four of the Oak Fire, go here.

Update at 7:21 p.m.: Fire activity has been reported to be less extreme as the previous days with reportedly good headway achieved by firefighters. On the north side of the fire, it passed Sweetwater Ridge and made a hard push towards the community of Mariposa Pines. Three strike teams were able to hold the fire today at Bear Clover Lane, protecting the Mariposa Pines. Crews worked to hold the line at Footman Ridge. On the northeast side of the fire, line was completed around the community of Lushmeadows. Fireline is holding on the east side. Crews are working to complete and hold line on the south side. The fire continues to be fuel and terrain driven. The fire perimeter is moving into the Ferguson Fire burn scar in the northeast side. Damage inspection teams are continuing to survey impacted areas. The fire acreage is at 15,603 acres with zero percent containment.

Update at 2:40 p.m.: The Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office has released the following statement “The Sheriff’s Office has been made aware of a local militia around the Mariposa town area. The public should be aware that the militia has not been activated or requested to act for any purpose by the Sheriff’s Office or any agency working the Oak Fire.”

Update at 1:45 p.m.: New evacuation orders have been issued from the Mariposa County Sheriff’s office. They are as follows.

Carlton Road from Morningstar to Silva Rd including all side roads
Silva Rd from Carlton to Hwy 49S including all side roads
Shaffer Road from Silva Rd to Allred Rd
Hwy 49S from Silva to Darrah Rd (on the Bootjack Market Side)
To evacuate please use Carlton/Silva Rd to Hwy 49S

Hwy 140 from Triangle Road to Ponderosa Way (on the Midpines Market side of Hwy 140)
Ponderosa Way from Hwy 140 to Feliciana Mountain Rd and all side roads
Sweetwater Ridge / Mine area
Feliciana Mountain Road
Ferguson / Apperson Mine Road area
Savage Lundy Trail
Hites Cove Road
Footman Ridge area
Devils Gulch area

An evacuation shelter has been established at the Mariposa Elementary School located at 5044 Jones Street, Mariposa. Additionally, the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians is opening the Westside property for evacuees. The address is 17807 Tuolumne road.

Original post at 9:33 a.m.: Mariposa, CA– The Oak Fire burning in the Midpines area of Mariposa County is now 14,281 acres and there remains no containment. The fire broke out in the 2 o’clock hour in the 4900 block of Carstens Road on Friday afternoon, off of Highway 140. CAL FIRE officials gave this update on the fire’s activity overnight “The fire remained active through the night moving toward the communities of Jerseydale, Darrah, and Bootjack. Poor humidity recovery was observed overnight.” The weather is anticipated to remain hot throughout the day with humidity between 5 and 10% which is anticipated to hamper firefighting efforts. High tree mortality and dense fuels are throughout the fire area. All evacuation advisories remain in effect, and the amount of structures destroyed remains officially at ten but with damage inspection teams beginning their assessment of the area that number is anticipated to climb. The Oak Fire is currently the largest active wildfire in the state of California. Resources assigned to the fire include 17 helicopters, 22 engines, 58 dozers, 23 water tenders, and 51 fire crews that include 2,093 personnel.

A town hall meeting to discuss the Oak fire is set to take place tonight at 7 pm at the Mariposa County High School Gym at 5074 Old Hwy N, Mariposa. An interactive evacuation map can be found here. The following is a full list of current road closures.

Highway 140 from Highway 49N to Ponderosa Way, Carstens Road, Triangle Road from Highway 140 to Highway 49 and all side roads, Jerseydale Road, Silva Road from Cole Road to Triangle Road, Wass Road, Tip Top Road, Darrah at 49, Westfall from Triangle to Oliver Creek, McNally Road, Woodland Drive, Brooks Road, Bootjack Lane, Cole Road, Carlton from Triangle to Morningstar, Allred from Highway 140 to Morningstar, Morningstar from Carlton to Allred including all side roads.

Day one of the fire was covered here, day two is here.