'Picture of hell': Mountain communities in Fresno, Madera County reflect on Creek Fire 6 years later
SHAVER LAKE, Calif. (KFSN) -- Six years after the Creek Fire erupted in Fresno and Madera counties, first responders and survivors say the memories of the devastating wildfire remain vivid as communities continue to recover and rebuild.
The fire burned close to 380,000 acres and forced hundreds of people to evacuate. It tore through mountain communities, destroying homes, businesses and livelihoods. Burn scars are still visible across the landscape years later.
For Chief Steve McQuillan of the Shaver Lake Volunteer Fire Department, the images of the fire remain unforgettable.
"I remember describing to myself, days, and weeks and months later, as a 'picture of hell.' Walls of fire that were moving towards Shaver," McQuillan said.
He also recalled the dangerous conditions firefighters faced.
"I remember the smoke was so thick that driving 5 or 10 miles per hour was all but impossible," McQuillan said.
The Creek Fire injured just over two dozen people. More than 200 evacuees were trapped near Mammoth Pool Reservoir and some required airlifts to safety.
The wildfire also damaged dozens of buildings and destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses, including Cressman's General Store along Highway 168.
North Fork resident Kris Hamilton remembers the day the fire began.
"I remember going out the front door and looking up towards what I know is Shaver Lake, and that area where it happened, I saw the huge plume of smoke and said, 'Oh my god, somebody's having a bad day,'" Hamilton said.
Hamilton and her husband had previously lost their home in the 2017 Mission Fire. After rebuilding and living in their new home for a year, the Creek Fire broke out in 2020, one day after the anniversary of the Mission Fire.
"We just watched as the Creek Fire kept approaching from the San Joaquin River basin and was starting to encircle us," Hamilton said.
Despite the destruction, Hamilton's home ultimately survived the flames. In the years since the fire, the region has shown signs of recovery.
"The forest is growing back. It's a lot shorter than it was. There's a lot more brush. But it is a little bit more green than it was over the last six years," McQuillan said.
As the community continues rebuilding, the Shaver Lake Volunteer Fire Department is also expanding. McQuillan said staffing has more than doubled since the fire. The department is now focused on raising money for a new fire station and hopes to begin construction within the next six months.
Click here if you would like to donate to the new Shaver Lake Fire Station.
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