Fork Fire update: 400 structures threatened with containment at 5%, Cal Fire says

Thaddeus Miller, Carmen Kohlruss

About 400 structures are threatened by the latest wildfire burning — this time in Madera County — and authorities have ordered evacuations.

The Fork Fire in North Fork has scorched 773 acres and was 5% contained as of Thursday morning. It started the previous afternoon in the community southeast of Bass Lake, Oakhurst and Yosemite National Park, according to Cal Fire.

The Madera County Sheriff’s Office ordered evacuations and warned other communities to prepare for potential evacuation.

The blaze is in steep, rugged country and is compounded by an abundance of dead trees and particularly hot weather in the state, Cal Fire said.

The wildfire was moving north, crossing Willow Creek, officials said. No injuries or destroyed structures had been reported through Thursday morning, Cal Fire said.

Firefighters stand along Road 225 as the Fork Fire burns near North Fork on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022.
Firefighters stand along Road 225 as the Fork Fire burns near North Fork on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022.

Included in the evacuations was the community of Cascadel Woods, where deputies were on hand to help escort residents out, Cal Fire said.

Jessica Scharffenberg said she left work hoping to be able to get to her home before evacuations were in place in Cascadel but she didn’t make it.

“We just have to wait,” she said as she watched firefighters work. “There’s only one road going up to Cascadel and there’s quite a few homes between us and them.”

She said she moved to the mountain community in 2014 and has been forced to leave due to fire at least five times since.

“It’s just frustrating because this is every other year or every year,” she said.

Dan Walker, left, and Jessica Scharffenberg, right, watch as the Fork Fire burns near North Fork on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022.
Dan Walker, left, and Jessica Scharffenberg, right, watch as the Fork Fire burns near North Fork on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022.

The cause of the wildfire is under investigation.

The evacuation orders and warnings were listed on an interactive map at community.zonehaven.com.

“There is an immediate threat to life,” the sheriff’s office said Wednesday afternoon. “This is an evacuation order to leave NOW. The area is being closed to public access. Take action immediately.”

Those in need of evacuation assistance should call 911, the sheriff’s office said.

The Fork Fire burns near North Fork, pictured in the foreground, on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022.
The Fork Fire burns near North Fork, pictured in the foreground, on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022.

The evacuation orders included:

  • Road 225 between Road 200 and Lark Lane, south side of the road

  • Willow Creek Drive

  • Church Street

  • Weatherly Lane

  • Wakova Lane

  • De Na Lane

  • Tu Nobi Way

  • Poy Ah Now Road

  • Lark Lane

  • Rainbow Drive

  • Peckinpah Acres Drive

  • Douglas Ranger Station Road

  • Elderberry Lane

  • Wild Rose Lane

  • Cascadel Heights Drive

  • Cascadel Drive including Cascadel Subdivision

  • Road 222 from Road 200 to Carmen Ranch Road

  • Road 225 between Lark Lane and Tera Tera Ranch

  • Road Boulder Creek Drive

  • Whiskey Pines Drive

Joey Maxfield waters his house and yard after hearing of the Fork Fire, seen in the background, on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022.
Joey Maxfield waters his house and yard after hearing of the Fork Fire, seen in the background, on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022.

The sheriff’s office said Cascadel residents need to exit via Cascadel Road, and that deputies are at Cascadel Road and Cascadel Heights Road to escort people. Residents on Road 225 need to exit via Road 225 to North Fork. Deputies are in the area to escort them.

Officials warned that others should be prepared to leave if necessary. The following areas were under evacuation warnings:

  • Road 222 between Carmen Ranch Road and the Madera/Fresno County line

  • Road 225 between Tera Tera Ranch Road and Kingsman Flat Road

Roads closed include:

  • Road 222 at Road 200 (222 closed)

  • Road 222 at Carmen Ranch Road (Road 222 closed)

  • Road 225 at Douglas Ranger Station Road (both roads closed)

  • Road 225 at Lark Lane (both roads closed)

Fork Fire map

Sources: U.S. Department of the Interior, IRWIN, NIFC, NASA, NOAA and Esri

There are evacuation shelters at the Oakhurst Community Center, 39800 Fresno Flats Road, and Oakhurst Evangelical Free Church, 50443 High School Road, both in Oakhurst. Red Cross volunteers are providing evacuees with a place to stay, food and water, and other resources, according to officials.

People can sign up for emergency alerts from Madera County at MCAlert.org, or by texting their ZIP code to 888777.

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