NEVADA COUNTY, Calif — Read Friday's story on the Jones Fire here.
10:31 p.m. update:
A temporary evacuation center at Magnolia Intermediate School closed at 6 p.m. due to evacuation orders being lifted and low usage, according to Nevada County OES public information officer Taylor Wolfe.
9:15 p.m. update:
Nevada County OES tweeted an evacuation warning for all the residents of George Way in Alta Sierra.
OES officials said the fire is moving west towards Avalon Way.
As of 8 p.m., officials said the Jones Fire had burned 705 acres and was 15% contained.
5:21 update:
According to a tweet from Nevada County OES, the Jones Fire is now at 15 percent containment.
3:30 p.m. update:
On day four of the Jones Fire, Cal Fire determined the Jones Fire was started by lightning.
Officials say the wildfire is now 705 acres but is only 10% contained.
12:30 p.m. update
Cal Fire is reporting that roughly 96,000 pounds of fire retardant has been dropped to combat the Jones Fire. This is more retardant delivered than all of 2019.
Original story
On day four of the Jones Fire, Cal Fire announced the wildfire is now 705 acres but is only 10% contained.
According to Cal Fire's website, crew continue to work on the dozer line, which they anticipate completion in 12 hours. Getting crews and dozers in the northeast edge of the fire is "critical to stop forward progress."
Four firefighters have been injured. Five structures have been destroyed since the start of the fire and one has been damaged. Evacuation orders are still in place for the area of Jones 49. The area of Newton is under an evacuation warning.
Evacuation centers are located at:
- Ready Springs School - 10862 Spenceville Rd, Penn Valley, Calif.
- Cottage Hill Elementary School - 22600 Kingston Lane, Grass Valley, Calif.
The Grass Valley School District is open for school and its programs after being closed due to the Jones Fire. However, the following school districts are closed:
The following roads are closed:
- Cement Hill at Daisy Blue Road
- Highway 49 at Rush Creek Road
- Newton at Discovery Way
- Newton at Mckitrick Ranch Road
According to Cal Fire, in 2019, California wildfires burned just under 260,000 acres from 7,860 incidents. Over 700 structures were damaged or destroyed and three people were killed. This follower two years of some of the “deadliest and most destructive wildfires” in California history.
If you live in a wildfire-prone zone, Cal Fire suggests creating a defensible space around your home. Defensible space is an area around a building in which vegetation and other debris are completely cleared. At least 100 feet is recommended.
The Department of Homeland Security suggests assembling an emergency kit that has important documents, N95 respirator masks, supplies to grab with you if you’re forced to leave at a moment’s notice. The agency also suggests signing up for local warning system notifications and know your community’s evacuation plans to best prepare yourself and your family in cases of wildfires.
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