Incidents All News

The fire is holding at Devil’s Gulch, due to crews working around the clock in hazardous conditions. There was no growth on the fire today. Cooler temperatures and higher humidity are expected to continue. There is a chance of rain and thunderstorms overnight. Damage inspections are nearly complete.

Crews had a productive day in the Devil’s Gulch and Owl Creek area on the northeast side of the fire. Firefighters worked to build and reinforce containment lines in Devil’s Gulch. There was no uncontrolled fire growth in other areas of the fire. The fire only grew 4 acres and containment increased by 7% today. There were more evacuations reduced to fire advisements and fire advisements lifted today. Damage inspections are still underway. PG&E Oak Fire Event Overview on 7-30-22, 6 PM

There was minimal growth on the fire overnight. Crews continue to focus their efforts in the Devil’s Gulch area on the northeast side of the fire. Devil’s Gulch is rugged, incredibly steep and almost vertical terrain. This presents many operational challenges to firefighters. Hand crews are working a double shift to construct direct hand line in this hazardous terrain and helicopters will sling-load supplies in to support the operation. There is no uncontrolled fire growth expected in all other areas of the fire. Today temperatures will remain hot. Damage inspections continue.

Fire crews, along with cooperating agencies, are working around the clock to repopulate the areas within the fire perimeter. There was minimal fire growth overnight and containment increased by 6%. Crews continue to work around communities patrolling for hot spots and providing structure defense. Firefighters are building and improving direct fire line in extremely steep, rugged, and difficult to access terrain. Persistent drought, critically dry fuels, and tree mortality remain contributing factors to the fires spread.

 The fire has made its way to the bottom of Devil’s Gulch on the northeast side of the fire. It’s referred to as Devil’s Gulch due to its incredibly steep, almost vertical terrain. Hand crews will be working a double shift to construct direct hand line in this hazardous terrain and helicopters will sling-load supplies in to support the operation. The was no growth in the fire in all other areas. Damage inspections continue.  

Firefighters are actively engaged in all areas of the fire. Crews are strengthening control lines, patrolling for hot spots, improving contingency lines, and constructing direct line in very steep areas that are extremely difficult to access. Today was hotter and drier as expected, but cloud cover in the area prevented further drying and heating of fuels.  Monsoonal moisture is expected to return early next week which should lower temperature and raise humidity levels. Damage inspection will continue until the entire fire area is assessed. 

Fire behavior was moderate overnight with most of the fire activity occurring on the northeast side of the fire. Hand crews will continue to construct direct line in areas inaccessible to equipment. With higher temperatures and lower humidity, crews may observe increased fire behavior. Work will continue to address hazards and repair infrastructure within the fire perimeter. Damage inspection is on-going and will continue until the entire fire area is assessed.  

An infrared flyover showed very little heat in and around communities within the fire perimeter.  Crews continue to patrol these neighborhoods for hot spots. PG&E is working in the affected areas to remove hazards and repair infrastructure. Weather will be hotter and dryer for the next couple days. Helicopters dropped 250,000 gallons in Division J, northeast side of the fire, to support crews on the ground building direct line in extremely steep, rugged, and hazardous terrain.

   Firefighters worked overnight to increase containment lines around the fire perimeter. Smoke continued to produce poor visibility across the fire during the night. Temperature and humidity are forecasted to be similar to yesterday. Crews continue work around communities, patrolling for hot spots, providing structure defense, and building of direct fire line in very steep and rugged terrain. Damage inspection continues throughout the fire’s perimeter.

Fire crews continue providing structure defense, extinguishing hot spots, and building and improving direct fire lines. Persistent drought, critically dry fuels and tree mortality continue to contribute to the fire’s spread. Humidity levels were slightly higher overnight as monsoonal moisture began to move in. Smoke from the fire is producing poor visibility to the north of the fire during the day and across the fire at night. Humidity is forecasted to begin to trend higher. Damage inspection continues within the fire perimeter.