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Struggle might require 2 weeks
by Cathie Campbell
of the sierra star

Ground-Support crews begin arriving at the end of their shift at the North Fork Fire's staging area at the Old Mill Site Tuesday. Here trucks and vehicles from the various agencies within and outside the state amass for the assault on the fire which was only 10% contained by Wednesday afternoon. Crews were expected to top out at about 2,000 people eventually.

 

NORTH FORK ---The wildfire that broke out Monday afternoon here near Malum Ridge Road [274] has burned more than 3,000 acres and control seems a long way off.

Some firefighters thought it might take as long as two weeks to put the fire completely out. Weather and other factors will determine when the fire is contained. This community, close to the geographic center of California, is the center of activity as firefighters mount a massive attack.

The fire, the cause of which was allegedly related to sparks from someone repairing a log splitter, started at 12:25 p.m., at Gilpin Lane, which connects to Malum Ridge Road about two miles north of Mammoth Road [225].

Wednesday’s report indicated the fire at that time was burning in the Sierra National Forest in heavy brush and dense stands of timber and was estimated to be 10% contained. It was moving upslope to the South Fork Bluffs and advancing both south and north in the Willow Creek drainage, with a continued threat to structures. Two uninhabited mobile home structures had been destroyed at the time of the update, with unconfirmed reports of one wood-structure home.

.As of Wednesday, the fire was expected to be more active than it had been the previous day, as temperatures rose and humidity levels lowered. Fuels in the fire area are primarily heavy brush in the lower elevations with some timber. The percentage of timber increases as it reaches the top of the bluffs. At the bluff tops, the fuels turn primarily to timber that has been thinned and the ladder fuels reduced.

Structure protection continues to be the emphasis in the areas along Douglas Ranger Station Road, Thunder Way, Parcels in Paradise Road and Wild Rose Lane. This is also the case in the interior sections at the south end of Malum Ridge Road.

Confined territory

According to Wednesday’s report, firefighters had succeeded in keeping the fire east of Malum Ridge Road, north of Mammoth Pool and Cascadel roads, south of Central Camp and west of Peckinpah Road [8S09].

The fuelbreaks in the South Fork Bluffs area created through recent timber sales are expected to aid in reducing the fire’s intensity. Firefighters had to contend with several changes of wind direction in their efforts to direct and contain the flames.

Malum Ridge Road was opened to through traffic as of 11 a.m. Wednesday.Central Camp Road, at that time was still closed at Malum Ridge Road except to residents with a pass.Peckinpah and Douglas Ranger Station roads remained closed to the public and residents.Also, Whiskers, Gaggs and Whisky Falls campgrounds remained closed as of Wednesday.

Some evacuation

Homes west of Malum Ridge Road, were evacuated during initial attack and residents were allowed back into their homes at around 11 p.m. Monday with a pass.Residents east of the road, including those along Thunder Way and Parcels in Paradise Road, were unable to return to their homes until Tuesday night, also with a proof of residency pass.Residents along Douglas Ranger Station Road, Wild Rose Lane and in Peckinpah Meadows remained evacuated as of Wednesday afternoon.There were a few homeowners, however, who chose to remain on their property despite having been advised to evacuate.

By Tuesday afternoon the fire had spread to a ridge near the Cascadel Woods subdivision, where residents of approximately 60 homes were on pre-notification due to unsecured fire lines on that section of the fire. "Pre-notification" means that people in the area were informed that it might be necessary for them to evacuate their homes in the near future. If a second visit by emergency personnel becomes necessary, the residents are told to evacuate the premises, usually within 15 minutes.  The pre-notification allows residents to have enough time to gather personal belongings, and be ready for that 10 or 15 minutes notice to leave. Wednesday’s report indicated there were no new evacuations.

 
‘We were lucky!’

Steve and Maureen Walling, residents along the east side of Malum Ridge Road, had the flames encroach to an area within a few feet from their home. “We were lucky we were home,” says Mrs. Walling, “and that we had the scanner on. “Also, Major Joan Collins, retired from the Marine Corps, notified all of the neighbors, which gave us the necessary time to get the basics ready to remove.”

Both Mr. and Mrs. Walling were very pleased with the effort the hand crew made while doing the necessary tasks to save the house.  The Wallings are not strangers to fire, as 12 years ago about 35 acres burned right up to their home.  Vegetation was well on its way to growing back when this recent fire turned the landscape back into ashes and charred stumps.  Still, the Wallings were grateful their house was saved. They pointed to an area they had carefully cleared prior to the fire, as evidence of the importance of clearing around homes and other structures. “We have been clearing all along,” said Mrs. Walling.

One of their neighbors, Ken Tice, had been up all Monday night using a bulldozer to save his house. Mr. Tice’s property is between Willow Canyon and Gentle Way.

Nova Malcria, a resident of Sunrise Ridge Road, on the west side of Malum Ridge Road, was out walking with her sister, Berta Price of Clovis.  Ms. Malcria mentioned that at the initial outbreak of the fire, “They told me there were no structures in danger, and the fire was contained on the other side [top] of Gilpin.”

Ms. Price had already been in the area when the fire started. “I went to Bass Lake to see my other sister and I came back at about 12:15. “I didn’t see any smoke when I was coming back from the lake.”

One young man, who chose not to be identified, had chosen not to evacuate his family’s vacation home along the east side of Malum Ridge Road. When asked what he planned to do, he said he might climb to the top of the roof to keep an eye on the fire’s progress.  The home was situated not far from the road, and if the flames became threatening, he said he could walk up the driveway and be picked up by emergency personnel.

Red Cross centers were established at the Assembly of God Church in North Fork and at the Little Church in the Pines at Pines Village in Bass Lake.  The North Fork shelter remains open but the one at Bass Lake has been closed. Residency passes may be obtained at the shelter in North Fork, which is situated across from North Fork Super Market & Catering.  Evacuated residents also had the option of staying in rooms donated by the South Fork Motel.

Tuesday evening at the North Fork Mill Site a station was set up for the purpose of providing information to the media. Similar presentations were scheduled for every day at 7 A.M. and 7 P.M.   Concerned residents and others visited the site throughout the day to learn of updates. Madera County Sheriff’s Department Public Information Officer Rita Valdivia was present to answer people’s questions.

Also available to provide information at various times was Helen Tarbet, U.S.F.S. ranger from the Santa Lucia Ranger District and Mike LeFevre of the Mariposa-Minarets Ranger District.  Mr. LeFevre indicated that even though there were more than 700 firefighters, the final number would “probably top out at 2,000” before the fire was contained and controlled.

As of Wednesday, equipment called out for the fire included 62 engines, six bulldozers, nine air tankers, nine helicopters, 15 hand crews and 13 water tenders. Cooperating agencies included the American Red Cross, California Department of Corrections, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, California Highway Patrol, Fresno County, Madera County, Madera County Sheriff’s Department, Merced County and U.S.D.A. Forest Service. An Interagency Unified Command Fire Team is managing the fire.

 Madera County Sheriff-Coroner John Anderson mentioned that his department focused on getting to residents for pre-notification and evacuation, rather than the actual firefighting efforts.  Sheriff Anderson is also the director for the Office of Emergency Services in Madera County.

Some people needed to have their pets and livestock evacuated or fed and watered, or had vital medications they were unable to access during the evacuation process.  For people who happened to be at work and away from their homes, this was a concern, because they never had the time to gather necessities.

A community briefing was held at the North Fork Town Hall on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. to provide the community with a status report on the current fire situation and the strategy for fire management.

Fire information is available by calling 877-2218, extension “0”. Evacuation and road closure information is available at the Sheriff’s Department Bass Lake Substation, 642-3201.

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