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Oak Fire (2022)

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Coordinates: 37°33′03″N 119°55′25″W / 37.5509366°N 119.9234728°W / 37.5509366; -119.9234728
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Oak Fire
A satellite image shows the Oak Fire roughly in the center as a brown burned patch with an infrared glowing fire line on the northeast side and gray smoke pouring out to the north.
A NASA image using infrared data shows the Oak Fire burning on July 24, 2022—Yosemite Valley is in the upper right corner and the Washburn Fire to the middle right
Date(s)
  • July 22 (22-07) –
  • September 2, 2022 (2022-09-02)
  • (43 days)
Location
Coordinates37°33′03″N 119°55′25″W / 37.5509366°N 119.9234728°W / 37.5509366; -119.9234728
Statistics[1]
Burned area19,244 acres (7,788 ha; 30 sq mi; 78 km2)
Impacts
Deaths0
Non-fatal injuries≥3
Evacuated>6,000
Structures destroyed193
Damage>$108.3 million
Ignition
CauseArson
Map
The footprint of the Oak Fire is shown in orange against the Sierra National Forest in green. Yosemite National Park is shown well east, in golden stripes.
The footprint of the Oak Fire, west of Yosemite National Park, with other recent wildfire history
Oak Fire (2022) is located in California
Oak Fire (2022)
Location of Oak Fire in California

The Oak Fire was a destructive wildfire in Mariposa County and the Sierra National Forest in Central California during the 2022 California wildfire season.[2] The fire was reported on July 22, 2022, and burned 19,244 acres (7,788 ha) before being fully contained on September 2, 2022.[1] On June 16, 2023, a 71-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of arson for starting the fire.[3]

Background

[edit]

The Oak Fire started amid a prolonged and intense drought. Sixty percent of California fell under extreme drought conditions,[4] which particularly affected the region of the Oak Fire—a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Hanford noted that the area's drought indices were the driest in all the Sierra Nevada. Scientific research suggested that the drought was exacerbated by climate change-caused temperature increases. When the fire began, hot and dry conditions prevailed over the region: according to the National Weather Service temperatures were in the low or mid-90s °F and relative humidity levels hovered around eight or nine percent.[5] Additionally, the prior years of drought had created a "tremendous" load of fuel, with dry vegetation and many dead trees.[6]

Progression

[edit]

The Oak Fire ignited at about 2:10 p.m. PDT on Friday, July 22, in the community of Midpines,[7] near the intersection of Highway 140 and Carstens Road.[5] State fire officials characterized the fire's behavior as "extreme".[8][9] A pyrocumulus cloud created by the fire reached 20,000 feet in height[10] and could be seen from as far away as Reno, Nevada.[11] The fire spread quickly, in part due to long-range ember spotting up to two miles (3.2 km) ahead of the main fire front.[9] The fire burned through the footprint of the 2013 Carstens Fire.[12]

The smoke plume from the Oak Fire, seen from a truck stop in Madera Acres on July 22

At around 9:00 p.m., the Mariposa County Sheriff's Office ordered more evacuations, including all of Jerseydale and homes on many nearby roads. About thirty minutes later, the fire jumped Triangle and Silva Roads. By 11:00 p.m. the fire had burned an estimated 4,350 acres (1,760 ha) and was zero percent contained, nine hours after igniting.[13]

On July 23, 2022, Governor of California Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in Mariposa County as a result of the fire.[14][15]

By the morning of July 24, the third day of the fire, 2,093 personnel were battling the fire, according to Cal Fire. This included 17 helicopters, 225 fire engines, and 58 bulldozers to create firebreaks.[8]

The fire's progression to the east, towards Yosemite National Park, was impeded by the burn scar of the 2018 Ferguson Fire.[10]

The fire was declared 100 percent contained on September 2.[16] The total cost of Cal Fire's fire suppression effort reached more than $100 million.[17][18]

Cause

[edit]

Following an 11-month investigation, on Friday, June 16, 2023, 71-year-old resident of Mariposa County Edward Frederick Wackerman was arrested on suspicion of starting the Oak Fire. The news was announced on the following Tuesday, June 20, 2023. Wackerman was charged with multiple felonies, including "aggravated arson and arson that caused great bodily injury". The investigation that resulted in Wackerman's arrest involved the FBI, the National Park Service's law enforcement division, and Cal Fire. Authorities did not describe a method or motive for the arson, though Mariposa County sheriff Jeremy Briese did disclose that he believed Wackerman had previously been employed as a firefighter.[19]

Authorities believe that Wackerman set three other fires in July 2022 before setting the Oak Fire.[20]

Effects

[edit]

The Oak Fire caused no fatalities, though at least three firefighters were injured.[21] The fire destroyed 193 structures, including 127 single-family residences and 66 outbuildings.[7] Another 10 structures were damaged, including six homes and four outbuildings.[22] Property damages totaled an additional $8.3 million on top of the >$100 million cost of the firefighting effort.[17] The Los Angeles Times called the Oak Fire the worst wildfire in the history of Mariposa County,[21] and the fire chief for Merced County named it as one of the most devastating.[17]

The fire affected the Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation, a federally unrecognized Native American tribe indigenous to the region. The fire damaged cultural sites such as roundhouses and displaced tribe members.[23]

Closures and evacuations

[edit]

The Oak Fire threatened multiple communities in rural Mariposa County, including Lushmeadows, Midpines, Jerseydale, and Bootjack. The number of people under evacuation orders on July 23, the day after the fire's ignition, reached more than 6,000.[5] An evacuation center was established at New Life Christian Fellowship church, but continued rapid fire spread forced officials to move it to Mariposa Elementary School,[5] where more than 100 people checked in and almost half of that group chose to spend the night on July 24.[24] Local hotels quickly filled with evacuees even as the normal crowd of weekend Yosemite tourists canceled their stays.[5] More than 3,100 homes and businesses serviced by Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) lost power.[25] The fire forced the U.S. Forest Service to close parts of the Sierra National Forest to the public.[26] Yosemite National Park remained largely unaffected by the fire,[8] but part of Highway 140—one of the main access roads for the park—closed.[25] Some Mariposa County government offices closed to public walk-in.[8] Electricity was restored to all customers and all road closures and evacuation orders were lifted by August 4.[27]

Through a screen of dead, burned trees a dark tower of smoke blocks out the setting sun.
Smoke generated by the Oak Fire as seen from the Washburn Fire on July 22

Some residents of Mariposa County expressed concerns regarding the presence and participation of uniformed militia members during evacuation efforts,[28] prompting the Mariposa Sheriff's Office to clarify that they had not activated the militia.[29][30]

Environmental impacts

[edit]

Smoke from the Oak Fire spread widely, causing authorities to issue air quality advisories even in distant areas, such as Barstow and the Victor Valley.[5] Prevailing winds pushed smoke northeast, prompting air quality warnings for multiple days in a row for western Nevada.[6] In parts of the Sierra Nevada such as the Lake Tahoe Basin, where the smoke was particularly thick, it caused poor visibility and the air quality indices reached unhealthy to hazardous levels.[31][32]

Growth and containment status

[edit]
Fire containment status Gray: contained; Red: active; %: percent contained
Date Total area burned Personnel Containment
Jul 22[33] 4,350 acres (1,760 ha) 383 personnel
0%
Jul 23[34] 11,900 acres (4,816 ha) 2,093 personnel
0%
Jul 24[35] 15,603 acres (6,314 ha) 2,548 personnel
0%
Jul 25[36] 17,241 acres (6,977 ha) 2,991 personnel
16%
Jul 26[37] 18,532 acres (7,500 ha) 3,051 personnel
26%
Jul 27[38] 18,824 acres (7,618 ha) 3,758 personnel
36%
Jul 28[39] 19,191 acres (7,766 ha) 3,758 personnel
42%
Jul 29[40] 19,221 acres (7,778 ha) 3,939 personnel
48%
Jul 30[41] 19,244 acres (7,788 ha) 3,788 personnel
59%
Jul 31[42] 19,244 acres (7,788 ha) 3,613 personnel
67%
Aug 1[43] 19,244 acres (7,788 ha) 3,613 personnel
74%
Aug 2[44] 19,244 acres (7,788 ha) 2,806 personnel
79%
Aug 3[45] 19,244 acres (7,788 ha) 2,621 personnel
83%
Aug 4[46] 19,244 acres (7,788 ha) 1,783 personnel
86%
Aug 5[47] 19,244 acres (7,788 ha) 1,783 personnel
90%
Aug 6[48] 19,244 acres (7,788 ha) 641 personnel
92%
Aug 7[49] 19,244 acres (7,788 ha) 564 personnel
94%
Aug 8[50] 19,244 acres (7,788 ha) 597 personnel
96%
Aug 9[51] 19,244 acres (7,788 ha) 514 personnel
98%
Aug 10[52] 19,244 acres (7,788 ha) 514 personnel
98%
... ... ... ...
Sep 2[16] 19,244 acres (7,788 ha) ...
100%

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Oak Fire Incident Report". www.fire.ca.gov. Archived from the original on July 23, 2022. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  2. ^ "Oak Fire in Mariposa County explodes to 9,500 acres, has reached Sierra National Forest". ABC30 Fresno. Archived from the original on July 24, 2022. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
  3. ^ Man accused of starting Oak fire that destroyed 127 homes near Yosemite is arrested, Los Angeles Times, June 16, 2023, Archive
  4. ^ Fuller, Thomas (July 25, 2022). "California's Largest Wildfire Slows After Exploding Near Yosemite". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on May 16, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Wigglesworth, Alex; Smith, Doug; Queally, James; Dillon, Liam (July 23, 2022). "Oak fire grows to 14,281 acres; Gov. Newsom declares state of emergency for Mariposa County". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on September 13, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Villegas, Paulina; Samenow, Jason (July 25, 2022). "Fire near Yosemite turns into California's largest of the season". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 7, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  7. ^ a b Miller, Thaddeus (June 16, 2023). "Man accused of starting Oak Fire that ravaged Mariposa County, destroying 127 homes". The Fresno Bee. Archived from the original on November 7, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  8. ^ a b c d Kuwada, Robert (July 25, 2022). "Oak Fire live updates: 'Extreme' wildfire surpasses 15,500 acres, crews race to halt spread". The Fresno Bee. Archived from the original on July 25, 2022. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  9. ^ a b Otis, Ginger Adams; Findell, Elizabeth (July 23, 2022). "Oak Fire Forces Evacuation of 6,000 Around Sierra National Forest". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on August 5, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  10. ^ a b Rodgers, Jakob (July 25, 2022). "'You feel helpless': Fatigue sets in among Oak Fire evacuees; some evacuations downgraded". The Mercury News. Bay Area News Group. Archived from the original on January 29, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  11. ^ "A midsummer fire in California expands to nearly 12,000 acres and threatens homes". NBC News. July 24, 2022. Archived from the original on July 24, 2022. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  12. ^ Rodgers, Jakob; Greschler, Gabriel; Kelly, George (July 24, 2022). "'Nothing was going to stop it': More evacuations ordered as Oak Fire rages west of Yosemite". The Mercury News. Archived from the original on July 26, 2022. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  13. ^ Anteola, Bryant-Jon; Jansen, Shawn (July 23, 2022). "Oak Fire live update: Wildfire 'moving fast,' jumps road and now threatens structures". The Fresno Bee. Archived from the original on November 7, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  14. ^ Cursino, Malu; Wertheimer, Tiffany (July 23, 2022). "Oak Fire: Emergency declared as wildfire rages near Yosemite National Park". BBC News. Archived from the original on July 24, 2022. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  15. ^ "Governor Newsom Proclaims State of Emergency in Mariposa County Due to Oak Fire". California Governor. July 23, 2022. Archived from the original on July 24, 2022. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  16. ^ a b 2022 Wildfire Activity Statistics (PDF) (Report). California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 8, 2023. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  17. ^ a b c Tehee, Joshua (June 20, 2023). "Arson charges filed after arrest in Oak Fire in Mariposa. 'A step toward justice'". The Fresno Bee. Archived from the original on November 7, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  18. ^ "Oak Fire Incident Report". www.fire.ca.gov. Archived from the original on July 23, 2022. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  19. ^ Dreier, Frederick (June 20, 2023). "A 71-Year-Old Man Is Accused of Sparking a Catastrophic Wildfire Near Yosemite". Outside Magazine. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  20. ^ Reynoso, Esteban (June 20, 2023). "Oak Fire arson suspect wears a bulletproof vest in court". KSEE. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  21. ^ a b Winton, Richard (June 20, 2023). "Ex-firefighter suspected of igniting devastating fire near Yosemite, could face life term". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 6, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  22. ^ Kohlruss, Carmen (August 14, 2022). "Grief remains as Oak Fire ends. Historic ranch among Mariposa area losses near Yosemite". The Fresno Bee. Archived from the original on November 7, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  23. ^ Wigglesworth, Alex (May 7, 2023). "This tribe was barred from cultural burning for decades — then a fire hit their community". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 7, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  24. ^ Fry, Hannah; Dillon, Liam; Queally, James (July 24, 2022). "Oak Fire near Yosemite rages, threatening mountain communities. 'It's pretty devastating'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on July 24, 2022. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  25. ^ a b "Fast-moving wildfire near Yosemite remains uncontained". NPR. Associated Press. July 24, 2022. Archived from the original on November 16, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  26. ^ Andone, Dakin; Wolfe, Elizabeth (July 25, 2022). "California's Oak Fire has expanded rapidly as it scorches more than 16,000 acres near Yosemite National Park". CNN. Archived from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  27. ^ Jacobs, Trisha (August 4, 2022). "All Evacuations Lifted For The Oak Fire". Sierra News Online. Archived from the original on August 19, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  28. ^ "California militia helping Oak Fire evacuees creates furor in Mariposa". Mercury News. July 26, 2022. Archived from the original on July 26, 2022. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  29. ^ "Mariposa Sheriff's Office says it's aware of local 'militia' spotted amid Oak Fire". Merced Sun-Star. Archived from the original on July 25, 2022. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  30. ^ Briscoe, Tony; Hernandez, Salvador; Martinez, Christian; Lin, Summer (July 27, 2022). "Uniformed militia members offering help to Oak fire victims sparks furor near Yosemite". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on July 27, 2022. Retrieved July 27, 2022. Calling itself the Echo Company of the California State Militia's 2nd Regiment, the group had set up a field kitchen off Highway 140 recently and told the Merced Sun-Star it was offering food, water and a place to stay for those in need ... The group in Mariposa County had once been affiliated with a larger militia with a similar name, but the larger militia cut ties with Echo Company because of an incident in 2020, it said, when they inserted armed members between Black Lives Matter supporters and pro-police groups in a protest in Atwater. In a 2020 statement, the larger group wrote online that it disavowed Echo Company because of 'potential legal liability in light of the continued militant activities of other units,' and called the actions 'inciteful.'
  31. ^ "Air quality unhealthy-to-hazardous in South Lake Tahoe". Tahoe Daily Tribune. July 24, 2022. Archived from the original on July 24, 2022. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  32. ^ Hildebrand, Kurt. "Update: Smoke back with unhealthy levels in Carson Valley". The Record-Courier. Archived from the original on July 24, 2022. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  33. ^ "Oak Fire Incident Update for 07/22/2022, 11:13 PM". Cal Fire. July 22, 2022. Archived from the original on August 15, 2022. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  34. ^ "Oak Fire Incident Update for 07/23/2022, 9:10 PM". Cal Fire. July 23, 2022. Archived from the original on August 19, 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  35. ^ "Oak Fire Incident Update for 07/24/2022, 9:17 PM". Cal Fire. July 24, 2022. Archived from the original on June 8, 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  36. ^ "Oak Fire Incident Update for 07/25/2022, 8:07 PM". Cal Fire. July 25, 2022. Archived from the original on June 8, 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  37. ^ "Oak Fire Incident Update for 07/26/2022, 7:16 PM". Cal Fire. July 26, 2022. Archived from the original on September 29, 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  38. ^ "Oak Fire Incident Update for 07/27/2022, 8:05 PM". Cal Fire. July 27, 2022. Archived from the original on September 24, 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  39. ^ "Oak Fire Incident Update for 07/28/2022, 7:45 PM". Cal Fire. July 28, 2022. Archived from the original on September 27, 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  40. ^ "Oak Fire Incident Update for 07/29/2022, 7:42 PM". Cal Fire. July 29, 2022. Archived from the original on June 8, 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  41. ^ "Oak Fire Incident Update for 07/30/2022, 7:50 PM". Cal Fire. July 30, 2022. Archived from the original on June 8, 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  42. ^ "Oak Fire Incident Update for 07/31/2022, 7:17 PM". Cal Fire. July 31, 2022. Archived from the original on May 28, 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  43. ^ "Oak Fire Incident Update for 08/01/2022, 6:53 PM". Cal Fire. August 1, 2022. Archived from the original on May 28, 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  44. ^ "Oak Fire Incident Update for 08/02/2022, 6:43 PM". Cal Fire. August 2, 2022. Archived from the original on May 28, 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  45. ^ "Oak Fire Incident Update for 08/03/2022, 6:22 PM". Cal Fire. August 3, 2022. Archived from the original on May 28, 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  46. ^ "Oak Fire Incident Update for 08/04/2022, 6:50 PM". Cal Fire. August 4, 2022. Archived from the original on June 8, 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  47. ^ "Oak Fire Incident Update for 08/05/2022, 7:27 PM". Cal Fire. August 5, 2022. Archived from the original on May 28, 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  48. ^ "Oak Fire Incident Update for 08/06/2022, 7:32 PM". Cal Fire. August 6, 2022. Archived from the original on May 28, 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  49. ^ "Oak Fire Incident Update for 08/07/2022, 6:59 PM". Cal Fire. August 7, 2022. Archived from the original on June 8, 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  50. ^ "Oak Fire Incident Update for 08/08/2022, 7:26 PM". Cal Fire. August 8, 2022. Archived from the original on June 8, 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  51. ^ "Oak Fire Incident Update for 08/09/2022, 6:56 PM". Cal Fire. August 9, 2022. Archived from the original on May 28, 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  52. ^ "Oak Fire Incident Update for 08/10/2022, 7:12 PM". Cal Fire. August 10, 2022. Archived from the original on May 28, 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
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