JACKSON, Calif. — Find the latest updates on the Electra Fire HERE.
The Electra Fire burning in Amador County spread to 3,900 acres as of Tuesday night, according to Cal Fire.
The Electra Fire broke out Monday afternoon and tripled in size overnight to more than 4.7 square miles acres by Tuesday.
The fire started at a recreation area that was packed with people, forcing 85 to 100 celebrating the holiday at a river to take shelter at Pacific Gas & Electric Co. facility, said Amador County Sheriff Gary Redman. All were later safely evacuated, he said.
Mandatory evacuation orders and warnings combined affected about 500 people in Amador County and 300 to 400 people in Calaveras County, Redman said.
More than 200 fire engines, 1,200 firefighters and 14 helicopters were sent to the fire, which was a threat to power infrastructure, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said. The terrain was described as steep and rugged.
As of Tuesday night, a total of 1,334 personnel have reportedly responded to the Electra Fire, and the fire is 5% contained
Cal Fire activated an incident management team for the fire. The teams "are made up of trained personnel who provide operational management and support to large-scale, expanding incidents,” Cal Fire said.
One firefighter from the local fire protection district suffered burn injuries, Redman said.
Power is out for about 12,000 PG&E customers due to the fire. Lines were de-energized to help with firefighter safety and fire suppression. Check PG&E's outage map for restoration estimates.
The current earliest estimated restoration time is 10 a.m. on Wednesday for most customers without power.
Redman said the cause of the fire was not known, but that it started in the Vox Beach area of the North Fork Mokelumne River. He said that could suggest fireworks or a barbecue as a potential cause.
According to the National Weather Service Sacramento, smoke from the Electra Fire is expected to impact the Sierra and foothills on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Accounts to follow:
Evacuations
Amador County:
For a full list of evacuation orders and warnings in Amador County, click HERE.
Calaveras County:
- North of Highway 26 from Montgomery Drive to Lower Dorray Road.
- Evacuation Zones 103, 104, 358, 352, 350, 340, and 341
- Evacuation WARNING has been issued for the following Evacuation Zones: 353, 354, 342, 343, 328, 329, and 330
Fire Map
This wildfire map was created using data from NASA, NGA, USGS and FEMA.
Road Closures
- Highway 26 from Buckeye Lane to Ridge Road
- South Clifton Road at Butte Mountain Road
- Electra Road at Highway 49
- Southbound Tabeau Road at Highway 88
- Southbound Mount Zion Road at Highway 88
- Clinton Road at Butte Mountain Road
- Clinton Road at Amador Lane
- Clinton Road at West Clinton Road
View the Waze map below for traffic updates.
Evacuation Center
Amador County
The Amador County Sheriff's Office said the Italian Picnic Grounds in Sutter Creek will be serving as a shelter. The Red Cross will be there to help people who need it.
Calaveras County
- Evacuation point is at the Mountain Oaks School in San Andreas
WILDFIRE PREPS
According to Cal Fire, the 2021 fire season started earlier than previous years, but also ended earlier, as well. January 2021 saw just under 1,200 acres burned from nearly 300 wildfires. Fires picked up in the summer when the Dixie Fire burned in five Northern California counties — Butte, Plumas, Shasta, Lassen and Tehama. The Dixie Fire started on July 13 and wasn't contained until Oct. 25, burning nearly 1 million acres. It has since become the second-largest wildfire in state history and the largest non-complex fire.
Overall, 2.5 million acres were burned in 2021 from 8,835 wildfires. Over 3,600 structures were destroyed and 3 people were killed.
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, and 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 knowing your community’s evacuation plans best to prepare yourself and your family in cases of wildfires.
Some counties use Nixle alerts to update residents on severe weather, wildfires, and other news. To sign up, visit www.nixle.com or text your zip code to 888777 to start receiving alerts.
PG&E customers can also subscribe to alerts via text, email, or phone call. If you're a PG&E customer, visit the Profile & Alerts section of your account to register.
What questions do you have about the latest wildfires? If you're impacted by the wildfires, what would you like to know? Text the ABC10 team at (916) 321-3310.
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