SHAVER LAKE, Calif. (NewsNation Now) — A wildfire that erupted an hour outside of Fresno, California has spread to more than 36,000 acres, forcing evacuations Saturday night.
The blaze, dubbed the Creek Fire, was discovered Friday night around 6:30 p.m., near Camp Sierra Road and Reddin Road in the Big Creek area.
Madrea County Sheriff’s Department issued an immediate evacuation for Wagners Store and the Mammoth Pool area due to the fire Saturday evening.
At 7:30 p.m. PT, Madera County Sheriff said 150 people are sheltering in place with 10 injuries. Deputies said they earlier estimated 300 to 500 people were in the area of evacuations that they deemed an “immediate threat to life.”
In a statement earlier, deputies said they were working to get to residents in that area.
“Lack of communications (radio and phone service), fires burning over the road and downed trees are making it extremely dangerous for responding personnel driving on the roads,” deputies said in an email statement to NewsNation. “We believe the safest plan at this point is for the people to remain sheltered in that location.”
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has issued an evacuation warning for all of the Shaver Lake area, as far south as Littlefield Road.
Other Fresno County communities under an evacuation order include Huntington Lake area, Camp Sierra and Big Creek.
Southern California Edison’s Big Creek Facility has been evacuated, while the utility’s transmission lines are being threatened by the fire, spokesman Ron Gales said. Over 2,000 customers are without power in the Shaver Lake area.
A total of 450 personnel from the Sierra National Forest and Cal Fire, consisting of crews, engines, dozers and aircraft, are in unified command in response to the fire.
NewsNation affiliate KSEE contributed to this report.