Fresno's Rough Fire forces new mandatory evacuations
SQUAW VALLEY, Calif. -- The Fresno County Sheriff's Office issued new mandatory evacuation notices as the Rough Fire explodes to more than 95,000 acres. The fire was sparked by lightning in late July and is just 31 percent contained.
The Red Cross set up an evacuation center in Sanger.
The following news release was provided by the sheriff's office:
Rough Fire Causes Mandatory Evacuation Notices to be Issued
Due to changing conditions of the Rough Fire, the Fresno County Sheriff's Office is informing the public that effective immediately, mandatory evacuation notices are being issued to certain residents near where the Rough Fire is burning. This is a fluid situation and there is no time table for when these mandatory evacuations will be lifted.
The impacted area is to the north of the Highway 180 / Millwood Road intersection in Dunlap. More specifically, we are focusing on the area of U.S. Forest Service Road 12S01 and Sampson Flat Road as the most southern point. The community of Crabtree is the most northern point. The western border is U.S. Forest Service Road 12S19 and the eastern border is Cherry Gap, which is near the intersection of U.S. Forest Service Road 13S03 / Hwy. 180.
The principle of evacuation is to move citizens from a place of relative danger to a place of relative safety, via a route that does not pose significant danger. Below is an explanation to common legal concerns during these circumstances.
According to Penal Code Section 409.5 (c), any unauthorized person who willfully and knowingly enters an area closed pursuant to subdivision (a) or (b) and who willfully remains within the area after receiving notice to evacuate or leave shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
This misdemeanor occurs only if a person both enters a closed disaster area knowing it to be closed and subsequently refuses to leave when ordered to do so.
No crime is committed by a person occupying his or her home prior to the closing of the area and subsequently refuses to leave when ordered to do so.
While it is evident that PC 409.5 contains the authority to dissuade persons from entering an area designated as an emergency area, it cannot be used to mandate persons into leaving their residence. The overriding concern of the Fresno County Sheriff's Office is the safety of its citizens in the unincorporated areas.
Rough Fire Overview
The Rough Fire has grown to 97,884 acres and is currently the largest active fire in California. There are 1,960 personnel currently assigned to the Rough Fire. Containment increased to 31%. Rough Fire Information: (559) 332-2028. The information line is located at the Incident Command Post in Squaw Valley on Highway 180.
Air Quality Today: Heavy concentrations of smoke are expected near the fire today. Smoke will be slow to lift and transport will primarily terrain and diurnally driven. Light and variable transport winds are expected primarily from the south, with increased impacts expected in San Joaquin Valley foothills northwest of the fires. Residual smoke that has not cleared the area, will add to impacts from new smoke being produced. Unhealthy to Hazardous conditions are expected in communities near the fire.
All campgrounds in Kings Canyon National Park are now closed until further notice. - The Kings Canyon Visitor Center will be open with modified hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. - The General Grant Tree, Panoramic Point, park trails, John Muir Lodge, Grant Grove Cabins, restaurant, market, and gift shop are open. Ranger programs and hikes have been cancelled due to poor air quality however they may occur if the air quality improves.
Recreation opportunities on the Hume Lake Ranger District have been impacted by the Rough Fire. Stony Creek Village Resort will be open for day use through the Labor Day weekend. Montecito Lake Resort is closed.
Basic Information
Size: 97,884 acres
Containment: 31 percent
Total Personnel: 1,960
Weather Concerns:
High pressure will remain over Nevada with weak low pressure over the southern California coast. Temperatures warming, relative humidity values will trend slowly up. Fair to poor relative humidity recovery. Winds will remain terrain and diurnally driven. Nightime inversion will form trapping smoke; otherwise mostly clear. Highs 80 to 100. Minimum relative humidity 10 to 25 percent.
