Creek fires in California produce smoke clouds up to 50,000 feet, campers rescue


Dozens of people were rescued from the camp grounds by military helicopters due to an explosive wildfire in California.

A creek fire erupted near Shaver Lake on Saturday when it plunged into a river near the lake and engulfed about 36,000 acres as the mammoth pool compromised with the only road in the campground.

Plums of smoke were sent into the sky from the rapidly spreading glitter as officials urged people to evacuate from the Sierra National Forest areas to get relief from the Labor Day weekend heat wave.

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National Weather Service (NWS) Auckland Center weather service unit Said “Multiple aircraft” were reporting smoke plume tops above 50,000 feet.

Large smoke plumes from creek fires in California can be seen in satellite imagery from Saturday, September 5, 2020.

Large smoke plumes from creek fires in California can be seen in satellite imagery from Saturday, September 5, 2020.
(NWS)

“Multiple” lightning strikes were also found in the area.

Passengers on a flight from San Jose to Las Vegas also posted photos of the huge cloud plane produced by Blaze.

Also captured in the satellite image known as the “pyrocumulonimbus cloud”. According to the NWS, pyrocumulus forms a cloud if there is sufficient humidity and atmospheric instability at the “intense heat source”.

Huntington Lake is seen in the foreground as a creek fire burns about 35 miles northeast of Fresno, Calif., On Saturday, September 5, 2020, at a distance of Saturday, September 5, 2020.

Huntington Lake is seen in the foreground as a creek fire burns about 35 miles northeast of Fresno, Calif., On Saturday, September 5, 2020, at a distance of Saturday, September 5, 2020.
(AP by Eric Paul Zamora / Fresno B)

“Although normal, these clouds can be large enough to generate lightning and a small amount of light rain,” NWS notes.

Even when the fuel is relatively dry, heat and moisture escaping from the plant can create explosive storms during a fire.

Smoke plumes from the creek fire can be seen on Saturday, September 5, 2020.

Smoke plumes from the creek fire can be seen on Saturday, September 5, 2020.
(US Forest Service)

Storms can inject particles as high as 10 miles in the air and generate dry electricity. Rising air can also cause a sharp apraft sucking into the air at the rate of developing strong winds.

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The timelapse of the NWS forecasting office in Las Vegas spreads glitter in the satellite’s image and appears to be heavily smoked.

According to InsiveWeb, 450 firefighters are battling the military. Mandatory evacuations are in place for the communities of Big Creek, Huntington Lake and Cascade Woods as Highway 168 is closed 2.7 miles east of Prathar.

The fire broke out on Friday evening. The crew worked overnight, but by Saturday morning officials had issued evacuation orders for the lake communities and urged people to get relief from the Labor Day weekend heat to stay away from the popular lake.

A Ventura County family watches from the shores of Shaver Lake, smoke billowing from a creek fire, Saturday, September 5, 2020, northeast of Fresno, Calif.

A Ventura County family watches from the shores of Shaver Lake, smoke billowing from a creek fire, Saturday, September 5, 2020, northeast of Fresno, Calif.
(Fresno B by Eric Paul Zamora / AP))

The Fresno Fire Department said early Sunday that 63 people were rescued by a military helicopter after campers were trapped in a blaze in a reservoir in the Sierra National Forest on Saturday and were delivered to Fresno Yosemite International Airport.

Smoke from Crack Fire Blows seen from Huntington Lake on Saturday, September 5, 2020, at Hillington Lake, Calif., On Saturday, September 5, 2020.

Smoke from Crack Fire Blows seen from Huntington Lake on Saturday, September 5, 2020, at Hillington Lake, Calif., On Saturday, September 5, 2020.
(AP by Eric Paul Zamora / Fresno B)

Ued rescued 63 people, two seriously injured, 10 with minor injuries and 511 with minor injuries. A tweet from the Fresno Fire Department.

Chief of the National Guard Bureau, Army General Daniel Hawkinson, Said on Twitter That California National Guard CH-47 Chinook was defending the “main” by filling the plane with people trapped in the creek fire with a helicopter.

Hawkins shared a photo from the cockpit of the plane as he was conducting a rescue operation.

“We are proud of the pilots and crew of our National Guard. Thoughts to those affected by this unfolding tragedy.” He tweeted.

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At least 2,000 structures were threatened in the area, about 290 miles north of Los Angeles, where temperatures reached 117 degrees in the city’s San Fernando Valley on Saturday.

Campers were told to take shelter at the site until the support fire crew was evacuated by a water-release plane, National Forest spokesman Dan Tune told the Associated Press. Tune said he doesn’t know how much fire is burning on the campsite.

“All of our resources are working to make that escape route nice and safe for them,” he said.

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35 miles north of Fresno, the lake is surrounded by thick pine forests and is a popular destination for boating and fishing. Bone-dry conditions and hot weather fueled the flames.

“Once the fire goes out, it creates its own weather, adding wind to increase the spread,” Tune said.

Fox News’ Bri Siliston and the Associated Press contributed to the report.