Crews Stop Spread of Huge Wildfire Burning Near Yosemite
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Crews contending with triple-digit temperatures slowed the spread of an aggressive wildfire that destroyed dozens of homes in a rural area of California near Yosemite National Park, officials said Sunday.
The blaze burning for a week has scorched just over 118 square miles (305 square kilometers) of dense brush and dead trees in the Sierra Nevada foothills. Many evacuated residents were allowed to return, but flames continue to threaten about 1,500 homes in Mariposa County.
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A post continues to burn after the Detwiler Fire burned through on July 19, 2017 in Mariposa, California.
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Firefighters spray water on the Detwiler Fire on July 18, 2017 in Mariposa, California. More than 1,400 firefighters are battling the Detwiler Fire that has burned more than 25,000 acres, forced hundreds to evacuate and destroyed at least 8 structures. The fire is five percent contained.
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The Detwiler Fire burns in the hills above town on July 18, 2017 in Mariposa, California. More than 1,400 firefighters are battling the Detwiler Fire that has burned more than 25,000 acres, forced hundreds to evacuate and destroyed at least 8 structures. The fire is five percent contained.
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A firefighter sprays water on the Detwiler Fire on July 18, 2017 in Mariposa, California. More than 1,400 firefighters are battling the Detwiler Fire that has burned more than 25,000 acres, forced hundreds to evacuate and destroyed at least 8 structures. The fire is five percent contained.
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Dried grass burns during the Detwiler Fire on July 18, 2017 in Mariposa, California. More than 1,400 firefighters are battling the Detwiler Fire that has burned more than 45,000 acres, forced hundreds to evacuate and destroyed at least 8 structures. The fire is 7 percent contained.
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A firefighter monitors the Detwiler Fire on July 18, 2017 in Mariposa, California. More than 1,400 firefighters are battling the Detwiler Fire that has burned more than 25,000 acres, forced hundreds to evacuate and destroyed at least 8 structures. The fire is five percent contained.
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Firefighters spray water on the Detwiler Fire on July 18, 2017 in Mariposa, California. More than 1,400 firefighters are battling the Detwiler Fire that has burned more than 25,000 acres, forced hundreds to evacuate and destroyed at least 8 structures. The fire is five percent contained.
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A burned out car sits next to a home that was destroyed by the Detwiler Fire on July 19, 2017 in Mariposa, California. More than 1,400 firefighters are battling the Detwiler Fire that has burned more than 45,000 acres, forced hundreds to evacuate and destroyed at least 8 structures. The fire is 7 percent contained.
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A half burned real estate sign stands on the side of the road during the Detwiler Fire on July 19, 2017 in Mariposa, California. More than 1,400 firefighters are battling the Detwiler Fire that has burned more than 45,000 acres, forced hundreds to evacuate and destroyed at least 8 structures. The fire is 7 percent contained.
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A gas line continues to burn at a home that was destroyed by the Detwiler Fire on July 19, 2017 in Mariposa, California. More than 1,400 firefighters are battling the Detwiler Fire that has burned more than 45,000 acres, forced hundreds to evacuate and destroyed at least 8 structures. The fire is 7 percent contained.
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MARIPOSA, CA - JULY 19: A plane drops fire retardant on a ridge ahead the Detwiler Fire on July 19, 2017 in Mariposa, California. More than 1,400 firefighters are battling the Detwiler Fire that has burned more than 45,000 acres, forced hundreds to evacuate and destroyed at least eight structures. The fire is seven percent contained. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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MARIPOSA, CA - JULY 19: A post continues to burn after the Detwiler Fire burned through on July 19, 2017 in Mariposa, California. More than 1,400 firefighters are battling the Detwiler Fire that has burned more than 45,000 acres, forced hundreds to evacuate and destroyed at least eight structures. The fire is seven percent contained. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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MARIPOSA, CA - JULY 19: Flames approach a home as the Detwiler Fire burns through brush on July 19, 2017 in Mariposa, California. More than 1,400 firefighters are battling the Detwiler Fire that has burned more than 45,000 acres, forced hundreds to evacuate and destroyed at least eight structures. The fire is seven percent contained. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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MARIPOSA, CA - JULY 19: Smoke rises from a hillside that was burned by the Detwiler Fire on July 19, 2017 in Mariposa, California. More than 1,400 firefighters are battling the Detwiler Fire that has burned more than 45,000 acres, forced hundreds to evacuate and destroyed at least 8 structures. The fire is 7 percent contained. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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MARIPOSA, CA - JULY 19: Flames approach a home as the Detwiler Fire burns through brush on July 19, 2017 in Mariposa, California. More than 1,400 firefighters are battling the Detwiler Fire that has burned more than 45,000 acres, forced hundreds to evacuate and destroyed at least eight structures. The fire is seven percent contained. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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MARIPOSA, CA - JULY 19: Cal Fire firefighters monitor the Detwiler Fire on July 19, 2017 in Mariposa, California. More than 1,400 firefighters are battling the Detwiler Fire that has burned more than 45,000 acres, forced hundreds to evacuate and destroyed at least eight structures. The fire is seven percent contained. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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MARIPOSA, CA - JULY 19: A Cal Fire firefighter monitors the Detwiler Fire on July 19, 2017 in Mariposa, California. More than 1,400 firefighters are battling the Detwiler Fire that has burned more than 45,000 acres, forced hundreds to evacuate and destroyed at least eight structures. The fire is seven percent contained. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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MARIPOSA, CA - JULY 19: A chimney stands in the remains of a home burned by the Detwiler Fire on July 19, 2017 in Mariposa, California. More than 1,400 firefighters are battling the Detwiler Fire that has burned more than 45,000 acres, forced hundreds to evacuate and destroyed at least 8 structures. The fire is 7 percent contained. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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MARIPOSA, CA - JULY 19: A burned out car sits next to the remains of a home burned by the Detwiler Fire on July 19, 2017 in Mariposa, California. More than 1,400 firefighters are battling the Detwiler Fire that has burned more than 45,000 acres, forced hundreds to evacuate and destroyed at least 8 structures. The fire is 7 percent contained. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
The fire was 40 percent contained, but officials said it could take crews another two weeks to fully surround it.
"They are still out in front of an uncontrolled fire, but the fire isn't moving at 30 mph (48 kph). The fire is crawling along," fire spokesman Brandon Vaccaro said Saturday. Flames spared Mariposa, a historic Gold Rush-era town, but more than 60 nearby homes and about 64 other buildings were destroyed.
Nearly 4,500 firefighters fought the blaze using air tankers and fleets of helicopters and bulldozers.
The fire grew by up to 47 square miles (122 square kilometers) a day at its peak. But by the weekend, the growth rate was slowed despite dry, blistering weather, Vaccaro said.
The smoke blurred the scenic vistas of Yosemite National Park, about 35 miles (56 kilometers) west of the fire. Tourists expecting the grandeur of falls and granite peaks instead saw hazy gray silhouettes.
Some roads remained closed. But Mariposa, with a population of about 2,000, was coming back to life.
Steve Valdez was back at work Saturday at a hardware store despite losing his home of 17 years to the fire.
"There are people out there who depend upon us to get power, to get water, to get their equipment fixed," he said.
Valdez, 60, and his wife had 20 minutes to grab a few photographs, bills and some family Bibles before they fled the encroaching flames. When they returned, only the home's chimney was still standing. They plan to rebuild.
The fire was one of more than a dozen that have ravaged California in recent weeks.
To the south, officials have finally lifted all remaining evacuations in a stubborn fire burning for more than two weeks in the mountains of Santa Barbara County. The blaze, which destroyed 16 homes, is 87 percent and hasn't grown in size for several days.
