Damage from California’s Oak fire increases, but fire crews making progress

The Oak Fire burning in California’s Mariposa County has continued to expand in size, but while the damage has increased over the past day, in terms of property impacts, fire crews have made better progress in bringing the blaze under control.

The latest update from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) shows that the Oak wildfire is now 16% contained, a significant increase from the zero reported yesterday.

The Oak Fire continues to expand in the hills near Yosemite, where the forests in the area are tinder dry, with significant fuel from dead trees and undergrowth, fuelling the blaze and alongside the weather resulting in challenging fire fighting conditions.

The Oak Fire in California has now burned over 17,241 acres, while its growth has slowed as better weather conditions helped fire fighting crews hold back the flames in more areas.

Right now the Oak Fire is reported to be 16% contained.

The wildfire is moving in a northeast direction, while fire crews work hard to hold it back from properties and residential communities.

Evacuation orders have eased in some areas, as fears some communities might be threatened by the Oak wldfire have lessened.

But still, the Oak Fire has caused more property damage, with now 55 structures reported as totally destroyed by the blaze.

The Oak Fire burning in particularly difficult terrain, in a region of California that has been extremely dry of late. With plenty of fuel in its path, this wildfire may be challenging to stop without some rainfall it seems.