Creek Fire Update: Nears 380K Acres, 96% Contained

Crew member operating heavy machinery to do suppression repair on Powerhouse Road. Photo taken on November 20, 2020. (Photo by Kaleena Lynde, USFS)

After four months and 379,895 acres burned, the Creek Fire is currently at 96% containment.

The fire has been recorded as the single largest wildfire in California history. It first broke out on September 4 in the Big Creek drainage area.

Coming into December, there is an expectation of snow and rain. It is a waiting game. Crews are hoping for heavy precipitation to come to help extinguish the rest of the fire.

Fire crews are currently on hold to extinguish the last of the fire. The fire is in a rocky and steep high elevation area where trucks and heavy equipment cannot reach.

The containment date was set for November 30. It has now been pushed back to December 31.

The Creek Fire displaced about 45,000 people, at least 900 homes and businesses have been destroyed or damaged.

The Fresno County Board of Supervisors approved an ordinance to secure funding from the state to clean up any damages the fire has caused.

For anyone that has been affected due to the Creek Fire, FEMA offers public assistance that provides federal grants to help those in natural disasters.

For assistance, visit www.disasterassistance.gov or call 1-800-745-0243.

Tori Lavon is a Multimedia Journalist from Reedley, California. She received her Bachelor's in Mass Communications and Journalism with an emphasis in Broadcasting from California State University, Fresno. Currently, she is a radio intern at One Putt Broadcasting. On occasion, Tori has the opportunity to be on-air with talent. She is getting her start in media. She has a passion for reporting, photography, and videography. Tori also has a love for art; she loves to draw, paint, and does pottery on the side. One day she hopes she can be on-air talent at a radio station as well.