Incident Update French Fire

Situation Summary

As of Friday, July 5, 2024, at 12:00 PM repopulation of some areas is occurring, for detailed information read below or visit the evacuation zone map.

Red Cross Shelter

Evacuation Information:

Orders and Warnings

Road Closures

Repopulation

 Evacuations for the following areas have been reduced to FULLY OPEN.                                           

•  Jones Rd including all side roads- Excluding the Roadway to the MCHS Baseball Fields/Track
• Campbell Way
• Dexter View
• Pine Street
• Smith Rd from Hwy 140 to Hospital Rd
• Hospital Rd from Smith to just past John C. Fremont, Including St. Andrews Rd.
• Williams Road

Shelter In Place Lifted

• John C. Fremont Hospital
• Yosemite Inn
• Quality Inn

ROAD OPEN- Updated

Highway 140 will be open with traffic controls from Old Hwy North to Grojean Rd. This will be open to all traffic through to Yosemite National Park.

Be aware that heavy fire and emergency traffic will remain in the area as fire suppression efforts continue. Please continue to avoid the area as much as possible. If you must be in the area, please drive with extreme caution.

 

RETURNING HOME AFTER A WILDFIRE:

 

Although wildfire damage can be immeasurable, the danger is not over after the flames are put out. Flash flooding and debris flows, structural damage, road instability, and damaged trees are just some of the dangers that exist after a wildfire.

 

Keep these tips in mind:

 

• Stay away from your home or business until fire officials tell you it is safe to return.
• Flash floods are a very real and potentially deadly hazard after a wildfire, particularly as a result of rain falling over a burned area upstream of your location. Stay away from burned forests, storm channels, and natural drainages (rivers, creeks, and engineered channels can convey deadly flows of water and debris, especially after a wildfire).
• Have a battery-powered radio to listen for emergency updates, weather forecasts,
• reports of flash flooding, and news reports.
• Have an evacuation plan in place and make sure all family members are familiar with it.
• Be aware of and use extreme caution around trees, power poles, and other tall objects or structures that may have lost stability during the fire. Most burned structures and surfaces will be unstable.
• Stay out of burned forests during windy conditions, as burned trees are easily downed by wind. Do not touch any power lines.
• Keep a “fire watch.” That means look for smoke or sparks throughout the house and on rooftops (e.g., in gutters), etc. Look for ash pits or hidden embers. Stay away – they can burn you.
• Before inspecting your home, first check for the smell of gas. Turn off power until you’ve completed your inspection. Use a battery-powered flashlight to inspect a damaged home. (Note: the flashlight should be turned on outside before entering. The battery may produce a spark that could ignite leaking gas, if present.)
• Do not drink or use water from the faucet until emergency officials say it is okay; water supply systems can be damaged and become polluted during wildfires or as a result of subsequent post-fire flooding. If your well has been damaged by fire, contact a local licensed and bonded well constructor or pump installer to determine the extent of the damage and what must be done to either repair or decommission the well.
• Discard any food that has been exposed to heat, smoke, flood waters, or soot.
• Utilities: If there is no power, check to make sure the main breaker is on. If the breakers are on and power is still not present, contact the utility company. If you have a propane tank or system, contact a propane supplier, turn off valves on the system, and leave valves closed until the supplier inspects your system. If you have a heating oil tank system, contact a heating oil supplier for an inspection of your system before you use it. If you have a solar electrical system, this system should be inspected by a licensed technician to verify that the solar panels and electrical wiring are safe for continued operation.

 

               For more information about wildfire preparedness visit: http://www.readyforwildfire.org