FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) — The Garnet Fire raged for the eighth day in eastern Fresno County on Monday.
“It’s a very active fire, intense fire, but it’s not rapidly spreading or growing,” Public Information Officer Jay Tracy told Action News.
Tracy confirms the containment is growing.
“This is contained right along the Kings River,” he said, “and they’re trying to keep the fire north of the Kings River.”
MAP: See where California wildfires are burning right now
Images from the U.S. Forest Service show crews on the frontlines. They are not only fighting the flames but battling intense heat.
Temperatures soared on Monday afternoon to more than one hundred degrees. The heat and the wind pose some of the greatest challenges, officials say.
“It also dries that stuff out that’s on the ground that’s getting ready to burn,” Tracy said. “It’s more prone to burning because it’s kind of preheated.”
Crews have come from across the country, including two firefighters from New York City.
Fire departments statewide have also stepped in. Many firefighters have come from San Diego, and some from Valley communities, like the City of Fresno, Reedley, and Selma.
“Everybody’s got a job to do, and you support one another as best as you can,” Tracy said.
The fire is visible for miles. Action News Insider Stephen shared photos showing the plume of smoke from the Valley floor.
Up close, Action News saw the smoke descending on Pine Flat Lake just as firefighting helicopters flew overhead.
The Fresno Air Attack Base was in full operation on Monday. Several firefighting planes came in to land before heading back out.
The operators of the Erickson Aero Tanker say it can hold 3,000 gallons of fire retardant and reload in just seven minutes.
“You’re dealing with very steep, rugged terrain, so it’s hard for our firefighters to access. (They’re) heavily reliant upon aerial assets,” Tracy said.
With some residents ordered to evacuate, and the County of Fresno declaring a state of emergency, firefighters are vowing to continue their fight.
“The incident management team has a directive that we extinguish this fire,” Tracy said. “They want to suppress it and extinguish it as soon as they can.”
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