FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. – A fast-moving fire in Fresno County on Saturday afternoon not only burned 13 acres of land but also injured animals and caused explosions. Firefighters were called to a vegetation fire at the corner of Highway 41 and Central Avenue around 4 p.m. Strong winds pushed the flames eastward towards several properties along Cherry Avenue.
Upon arrival, crews found property owners hurriedly evacuating livestock as the fire approached. Some animals, including dogs, suffered heat injuries and were attended to by animal control. The situation escalated as explosions were heard when the fire reached a pallet yard with forklifts containing propane tanks, leading to nearby residents being evacuated.
As the fire spread through the pallet yard, power lines came down and PG&E was called to shut off power in the general area. Despite the power outage lasting several hours, efforts are underway to restore it. The lack of resources on-site and the wind carrying ember fallout to neighboring properties made firefighting efforts challenging.
A total of 50 firefighters responded to the blaze, which destroyed several outbuildings and structures but fortunately did not lead to any homes being lost. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. With the onset of hotter temperatures, firefighters advise property owners to clear away dry vegetation to reduce fire risk and have an evacuation plan in place.
Emergency responders included Cal Fire, Fresno City Fire, North Central Fire, American Ambulance, PG&E, Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, and CHP. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of fire safety measures as communities face the threat of wildfires.