Evacuation orders and warnings lifted for Lilly Fire, containment at 20%

MADERA COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- Fire still smolders along the roadway as CAL FIRE crews work to fully contain the Lilly Fire in Madera County.

The fire broke out on Monday evening, forcing at least half a dozen to evacuate and hundreds of others to be ready to leave their home.

Fire officials have confirmed a car accident started the blaze near Yosemite Lakes.

Bruce and Davina Alpha Fasching live a short drive away from the Lilly Fire.

They say on Friday, there was another fire steps away from their home.

Fasching says, luckily, they created defensible space around their home, and the fire burned right up to where they cleared the dry vegetation.

"The place was spared because of his weed whacking," she said. "I think we went 200 feet. We've had fires like this and it could just take off."

Greg Lane says he was told to evacuate and this is the first fire that's come this close to his home.

"It was moving quickly and the concern was that the winds had shifted, and we thought houses would be lost, but it doesn't look that way," he said.

CAL FIRE crews say their initial challenges were the heat and wind but after air tankers started making drops, they were able to build some containment.

"With the terrain and the fuel types, it's very possible with the light flashing fuels this is a volatile area because dead fuel can ignite easily," says CAL FIRE Battalion Chief Sean Bowe.

A portion of Road 400 between Lilley Mountain Drive and River Roadway will remain closed overnight, and CAL FIRE officials expect to have the fire fully contained by Tuesday evening.