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Wildfire Traps About 150 People at Northern California Reservoir With No Way to Evacuate

Authorities say 10 injuries have been reported and about 150 people are sheltering in place after being advised to escape from the flames in the water if necessary.

A fire in Northern California has trapped dozens of people at a reservoir with no way to evacuate, The Fresno Bee reports. The Creek Fire, now nearly 5,000 acres, has cut off all evacuation routes from the Mammoth Pool Reservoir, forcing about 150 people to shelter in place there, with local authorities advising them to jump in the water if necessary, the Madera County Sheriff said. Authorities had earlier said up to 1,000 people were trapped. The sheriff's office said at least 10 injuries had been reported among those trapped. “Mainly our focus is the safety of all the folks all over the forest, just making sure folks are safe and get them evacuated,” Sierra National Forest spokesperson Dan Tune told the Bee. Mandatory evacuations were underway throughout the area, and sheriff's deputies were going door to door to warn residents to flee from the approaching Creek Fire. A weekend heat wave has hit Northern California and sent temperatures into the triple digits. Several fires in the Bay Area have already been burning for weeks.