Hunters Fire burns 677 acres near Lake McClure in Mariposa County
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Cal Fire says the Hunters Fire near Lake McClure has burned 677 acres and is 80 percent contained.
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UPDATE - 5/29/2014 7:45 P.M.
Conditions: No anticipated change from current fire perimeter is expected. A decrease in wind is expected, and the fire perimeter is expected to be reinforced using aggressive mop up and tactical patrol of the fire line. The reduction in reported acreage burned is due to more accurate mapping.
Location: Hunters Valley Access Rd. Bear Valley Area
Acres Burned - Containment: 677 acres - 60% contained
Estimated - Containment: 6/2/2014
Structures Threatened: 0
Structures Destroyed: 2 unoccupied residences and 1 outbuilding
Evacuations: All evacuation orders have been lifted for residents.
Road Closures: The road closures have been lifted for residents only.
Injuries: 8
Total Fire Personnel: 764
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Hunters Fire about half the size originally estimated
The flames are gone but firefighters are still on the scene of the Hunters Fire.
The fire blackened nearly 700 acres in Mariposa County this week. The fire forced the evacuation of dozens of homes.
The fire was about half the size originally estimated, but posed a real threat to the residents scattered throughout the rugged area.
Fire crews are pulling out, but not before making sure the fire doesn't flare up again.
The burned out area looks dead, but infrared surveys show there are still hot spots and nearly 300 firefighters, aided by helicopters are still on the scene.
Frank Bigelow with Cal Fire said, "Today crews are focusing on the hot spots, we saw in the infrared images and strengthening the control lines."
The evacuation order has been lifted and all residents are back in their homes. Some, like Pam Enos spent the day bringing home the horses and other animals she had taken out of harms way.
Enos said, "The main thing to me was to get my animals out of here because I did not want to wait until the last minute when everybody else was scurrying around, I wanted to get them out safe."
While the danger has passed when the flames were high on Monday night it posed a major threat.
Robin Falaney added, "It had jumped the ridge and was headed into Hunters Valley, and at that point we just came back and started the sprinklers and moved the horses."
No homes were lost in the fire. But two abandoned buildings were burned. Four firefighters suffered minor injuries.
Falaney and the other residents are more than grateful for their work.
