Update: Washington Fire reaches 5% containment; firefighters to set lines overnight
Read the latest update here ==> Firefighters report progress overnight on Washington Fire between Jamestown and Sonora
Update 7:30 p.m.: The 81-acre Washington fire is 5% contained, according to the latest Cal Fire status report.
“Extreme fire behavior and dry fuels created an aggressive firefight this afternoon,” Cal Fire said.
Crews are expected to keep fighting the fire overnight, setting up lines and defending structures.
Update 6:15 p.m.: The Washington Fire has reached 81 acres, but it is being kept within containment lines, the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office said.
People evacuating are instructed to go to the Westside Pavilion in Tuolumne.
Update: 5 p.m.: Hotels and homes along Stockton Road are part of the county’s mandatory evacuations, the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office said.
The mandatory evacuation areas include Highway 108 up Stockton Road to South Washington Street and South Washington Street to Highway 108.
Other mandatory evacuation roads include Alley Drive, Golden Dove Lane, Circle Drive, McKibbin Drive, Golf Links Road, North Drive, Crooked Lane, Mill Vila Estates, Sonora Avenue, Southgate Road and Gerrymander Avenue.
Warnings still include the city of Sonora, Panorama Drive, Rough and Ready Trail, Gibbs Drive, Jamestown Road and Racetrack Road.
An evacuation map can be viewed here.
Update, 4:25 p.m.: Caltrans district 10 has sent out a traffic alert for road closures due to the Washington Fire.
Highway 108 is closed from around Sonora to Mi-Wuk Village. State Road 49 is closed southwest of Sonora.
Update, 4 p.m.: Hotels and other parts of downtown Sonora are being evacuated, the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office said.
The office announced evacuations in areas west of Stockton Road and South Washington Street, including Stockton and South Washington hotels.
Animal Control is assisting with animals and can be contacted at 928-287-5110. Large animals can be taken to Calaveras Fairgrounds at 2465 Gun Club Dr. Small animals can be taken to Animal Control in Jamestown.
Update, 3:45 p.m.: The fire is in two locations, according to the Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit of Cal Fire.
“For the Stockton Road, Sonora Location the fire is 10 acres,” reads a post on the department’s Facebook page. “Stockton Road is closed and evacuation orders are in effect. The 2nd location near Golf Links Road and Highway 108, Sonora is 35 acres and Highway 108 is closed. “
Firefighters are responding to the area from Stanislaus County. According to the Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Department, firefighters from that department and Modesto Fire Department are headed out to fight the fire.
There are 38,549 customers without power in PG&E’s Yosemite Division, which includes Tuolumne County, said spokeswoman Megan McFarland. The bulk of them — 15,237 — are in Sonora.
The outages started about 45 minutes after the Washington Fire broke out, but McFarland said as of 3:30 p.m. the cause was still being investigated. There is no estimated time for restoration.
Update, 2:30 p.m.: The Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office has issued an evacuation advisory for the city of Sonora as the Washington Fire burns.
Other new advisories are also in place for Panarama Road, Rough and Ready Trail, Gibbs Drive, Jamestown Road, Racetrack Road, McKibbin Drive, Golf Links Road, North Drive, Crooked Lane, Silver Pine Road
The sheriff’s office said people should inform family of the advisory, have a plan for reuniting and lock doors and windows before leaving. It recommends taking take pets, medications, blanket, flashlight, credit cards or cash, personal papers and a change of clothing for the evacuation.
For non-emergency assistance, call 209-533-5151.
Original:
A fire that broke out near Jamestown Thursday afternoon is prompting Tuolumne County officials to evacuate some residents.
The Washington Fire, in the area of Highway 108 and Golf Links Road, is about 15 acres as of 1:30 p.m., the Cal Fire Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit said.
The sheriff’s office said evacuations are in place for residents of Golden Dove Lane and Alley and Circle drives.
We will update this story as information is available.
This story was originally published August 26, 2021 at 1:58 PM.
