A cluster of lightning-sparked wildfires raged in Central California on Thursday, prompting mandatory evacuations in Fresno County, fire officials said.
The Fresno June Lightning Complex consists of three major fires in the eastern part of the county east of Sanger – the Flash Fire, Bolt Fire and Hog Fire – along with several smaller fires. Cal Fire said they were fueled Tuesday morning and have merged into one complex that has now burned nearly 10,000 acres and is currently the largest wildfire incident in California.
The Bolt Fire started near Palomino Road and Elwood Road in the Wonder Valley area. It had burned 11,000 acres and was 10% contained as of Thursday morning.
The Flash Fire originated in the area of State Route 180/E. Kings Canyon Road and Cove Road; As of Thursday morning, it had burned 2,180 hectares and was 15% contained.
The Hog Fire was burning just north of Pine Flat Lake in the area of Watts Valley Road and Hog Mountain Fire Road. There was no containment and 266 hectares had been burned by Thursday morning.
In an update Thursday morning, Cal Fire said the fire was making “significant runs” as winds and the region’s topography influenced fire behavior.
The fire complex also impacted communications infrastructure, Cal Fire said. Its perimeter was about 10 to 20 miles southwest of another wildfire, the Basin Fire, which was burning east of Pine Flat Lake in the Sierra National Forest.
Evacuations
Mandatory evacuations were in effect for zones K31, K40, K77, K73 and K75 south of Elwood Road. Evacuation warnings were in effect for zones K93, K72, K134 and K75 north of Elwood Road.
State Route 180 was closed from Cove Road to Dunlap Road.
Evacuation centers
The Red Cross has opened an evacuation shelter at Reedley College at 995 N. Reed Avenue in Reedley. Cal Fire said the shelter can house people and small animals and volunteers will provide water, meals and additional resources.
A large animal shelter was provided at the Fresno Fairgrounds at 1120 S. Chance Avenue in Fresno.
