TL/DR –
A wildfire in Northern California burned thousands of acres, caused evacuations, and injured two firefighters over the weekend. The fire, known as the Corral Fire, spread through San Joaquin County and threatened communities, including the city of Tracy, causing thousands of residents to be evacuated. By Sunday evening, after favorable weather conditions allowed for firefighters to make progress, the fire had spread to 14,000 acres and was 50% contained.
A Northern California Wildfire Causes Extensive Damage
A Northern California wildfire dubbed the Corral Fire has burned thousands of acres over the weekend, forcing evacuations and injuring two firefighters.
The fire spread through San Joaquin County on Saturday, leading authorities to evacuate thousands of residents, including parts of Tracy city which has a population of around 100,000. The evacuation order was rescinded on Sunday evening, allowing residents to return home.
The wildfire continued to pose a threat to communities and led to the closure of a part of Interstate Highway 580. According to CalFire Battalion chief Josh Silveira, it “burned right up to the homes” in the area and resulted in the destruction of one house.
By Sunday afternoon, fire had spread over 14,000 acres and was 30 per cent contained, as reported by Cal Fire. More than 400 personnel have been assigned to the blaze and had made significant headway by Sunday evening, with 50 per cent containment achieved.
The San Joaquin County Office of Emergency Services initially instructed residents east of Highway 580 between Corral Hollow Road and South Tracy Boulevard to evacuate. A temporary evacuation point was established at the Larch Clover Community Center.
The cause of the fire remains unknown. Two Alameda County firefighters sustained minor to moderate burns and were treated in hospitals. The National Weather Service reported winds of 20 to 25 mph in the hills west of Tracy, gusting up to 43 mph. Winds were expected to remain strong until midnight on Sunday.
The fire was reported on Saturday afternoon near Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Site 300. It had reached 30 acres by evening before escalating to 4,920 acres. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection stated that the research center was not under immediate threat.
This wildfire is the first major one this year in California, signifying the start of the state’s wildfire season.
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