Wildfires burn thousands of acres in Central California, with 0% containment

Many new wildfires continued to burn in Central California Wednesday after torching thousands of acres.

The TCU September Lightning Complex, which consists of 22 fires of various sizes in Calaveras and Tuolumne counties, started at 4 p.m. Tuesday. As the name indicated, it was caused by lightning.

By early Wednesday afternoon, the string of fires had burned 13,371 acres, and there was 0% containment, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s website.

Cal Fire reported 634 personnel are fighting the fires. The largest of the blazes, designated the 6-5 Fire, was 6,838 acres by Wednesday afternoon. The others varied from 5 acres to 3,462 acres.

Sixteen zones were under evacuation orders for the 6-5 and 2-7 fires, and another seven for the same fires faced evacuation warnings. Evacuation shelters were established at Bret Harte High School in Altaville and Sonora Senior Center in Sonora, both of which allowed pets. Livestock was being evacuated to the Calaveras County Fairgrounds in Angels Camp.

No injuries or structural damage have been reported, according to Cal Fire.

In Fresno County, the Salt 14-2 Fire had burned 5,000 acres as of noon Wednesday and remained 0% contained. It began Tuesday at Jacalitos Creek Road in Coalinga.

The fire is in a remote area with difficult access, Cal Fire said, noting steep conditions are making containment challenging.

Two hundred personnel are fighting the fire, Cal Fire said, adding that the response includes nine engines, one helicopter and two bulldozers. Several air tankers from throughout California are flying through the area as conditions permit.

Evacuations were ordered in two zones, and there were evacuation warnings in another two zones.

No injuries or structural damage was reported, Cal Fire said.

Another Fresno County blaze, the Garnet Fire, burned 29,718 acres as of early Wednesday afternoon and was 12% contained. It began Aug. 24 in the Sierra National Forest. Again, Cal Fire listed no injuries or structural damage.

And the state's largest blaze, the Gifford Fire, is 97% contained after burning 131,614 acres. The fire started Aug. 1 in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. Burning in Los Padres National Forest, it has destroyed five structures and caused 15 firefighter injuries and three civilian injuries.