California Wildfires Update: Latest News, Progress, & Fire Map

Firefighters are reporting that they have made significant progress in recent hours as they attempt to contain the two major wildfires currently burning in Northern California. In fact, many firefighters fighting the Sierra Nevada foothills fire have been reassigned to other fires because the recent gains, while the Yosemite National Park fire saw nearly half of the evacuation orders for homes near there lifted.

ABC News is reporting that the Sierra Nevada foothill blaze, located east of Sacramento, is now 80% contained and currently "holding at a little under 6-square-miles. Crews working the fire have found six additional homes that were consumed, which makes the number of homes destroyed by the fire 19 total. Scott McLean, state fire Battalion Chief, stated that the Sierra fire, which started on Friday, also claimed 48 additional "outbuildings."

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According to McLean, firefighters were reassigned on Monday, with more to follow, after significant gains were made against the wildfire this weekend. McLean said the total number of crew fighting the blaze was around 1,600, which is nearly 300 fewer than on Sunday. 

The Yosemite fire, located about 100 miles away from the Sierra Nevada blaze, has consumed approximately 5-square-miles and is 19% contained at the moment. 

The residents of Old El Portal, a community in the area, have been permitted to return to their homes as of 9 a.m. this morning. The Yosemite National Park spokesperson, Jennifer Wuchner, stated that nearly 45 homes in the Foresta community still have evacuation orders. 

Both the Yosemite and Sierra fires spread quickly over the past weekend before fire crews were able to contain them. Some of the Sierra foothills residents stated that their evacuation experience for this fire will force them to be prepared for next time, making a list of essential items to have ready on a moments notice should they be evacuated again. 

The majority of the Sierra Nevada foothills approximate 1,200 evacuees have been permitted to return to their homes, with only a few residents of one particular street still awaiting the evacuation order to be lifted. 

Also in Northern California, firefighters were working to contain a 3-square-mile fire near the Sierra national Forest. Located about 60 miles to the northeast of Fresno, the blaze has closed some of the campgrounds in the area and is reportedly threatening 28 buildings, some are said to be homes.