At least 163 people trapped in a rapidly spreading forest fire near the Mammoth Pool Reservoir in Central California in the Sierra National Forest were rescued by the Air National Guard early Sunday morning, a report said.
Of those rescued from Mammoth Pool, Minarets and nearby Cascade Woods, 20 were hospitalized and some had serious burns, emergency-response officials told Fresno’s KFSN-TV.
Dan Lynch, director of France’s County Department of Public Health, told Fresno’s Fox on Saturday night that rescuers were evacuating more evacuators overnight, but did not know the exact number.
He told Fox 26, “We’re vague about what that number is, it would be surprising.” We don’t know what the serious form of the injuries are, but we do know that there are injuries with this group and some they are critical. “
The FOX 26 report states that the survivors were taken to the Air National Guard’s helicopter maintenance base by Fresno Yosemite International Airport.
Another 1,000 people were reportedly trapped inside the campground but did not need immediate rescue.
Officials have issued evacuation orders across the region.
Dan Tune, a spokesman for the Sierra National Forest, said the trapped were told to take refuge – even if it meant jumping into the water – then the only way out of the campground was to settle, according to Fresno B.
“Our main focus is the safety of all the people in the forest,” Tune said. “Just make sure the informants are safe and get them out.”
California warns of potential heat warning, with potential blackcoats, amid record-high temperatures
Saturday, September 5, 2020 at Shaver Lake, California. Smoke billowed into the sky as forest fires burned on nearby mountains. (Associated Press)
According to B, the creek fire erupted in zero contain, 1,000 acres, by Saturday evening, as temperatures reached three degrees between the weekend’s heatwave.
Tune said fire crews will try to gain access to the area by water-release aircraft.
He added, “All our resources are working to make that escape route nice and safe for them.”
Tune said a command post is expected to be set up at Sierra High School in Tollhouse, Calif.
The Fresno County Sheriff tweeted that Shaver Lake was closed to the public due to the fire and under evacuation orders. California Highway Patrol closes State Highway 168 to allow entry only for emergency responders and evacuees.
“Once the fire goes out, it creates its own weather, adding wind to increase the spread,” Tune said.
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Cal Fire (California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection) said about 12,500 firefighters in the state were battling 22 firefighters that have been exacerbated by hot temperatures and dry weather.
There have been 900 wildfires in California since Aug. 15, many of them triggered by a series of intense lightning strikes. Blaze has burned more than 1.5 million acres (2,343 square miles). There have been eight fire deaths and about 3,000 structures have been destroyed.
The Associated Press contributes to this report.
