Beautiful Virgin Islands

Wednesday, Aug 27, 2025

What we know about US’s California’s Oak Fire and its spread

What we know about US’s California’s Oak Fire and its spread

Key questions answered about the blaze that is raging in US’s central California.

US firefighters have started to bring under control California’s wildfire, the largest so far this year, halting its eastward expansion towards nearby Yosemite National Park, while thousands of people remained under evacuation orders.

Here is what to know about it:


What happened and when?


*  The so-called “Oak Fire” in central California broke out on Friday and is raging while parts of the United States swelter through a heatwave.

*  The fire in Mariposa County has engulfed 17,241 acres (6,977 hectares) – more than half the size of Paris.

*  Nearly 3,000 firefighters backed by 24 helicopters have been deployed near the southwestern edge of Yosemite National Park.




Where did the Oak Fire start?


*  The fire started in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, west of Yosemite National Park, in Mariposa county.

*  The actual cause remains under investigation, authorities said.



Is it safe now? Where is the Oak Fire moving?


*  According to authorities, the fire department started controlling the fire on Monday. In a statement, they said, “helicopters control dropped 300,000 gallons (1.3 million litres) of water on the fire.”

*  It was 16 percent contained, up from 10 percent contained on Monday morning, and 3,700 people had been evacuated.

*  The fire continues to move in a northeasterly direction into the Sierra National Forest but no longer towards Yosemite, some 16 kilometres (10 miles) away.

*  Fire restrictions and closures near the area remain in place. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) said 55 residential, commercial and other structures had been destroyed.


Why is the ‘megafire’ spreading?


*  In recent years, California and other parts of the western US have been ravaged by huge and fast-moving wildfires, driven by years of drought and a warming climate.

*  “This is a direct result of what is climate change,” Jon Heggie, a Cal Fire battalion chief, told broadcaster CNN.

*  “You can’t have a 10-year drought in California and expect things to be the same,” he said. “That drought is what drives what we are calling megafires,” he added.

*  Jonathan Pierce, a spokesman for the fire department, said low humidity and high temperatures were stoking the blaze, worsened by the high number of dead trees and steep slopes in the area.

*  Extreme temperatures could be seen elsewhere in the country, as 60 people in the US were under a heat advisory on Monday.


Photos:

A helicopter drops water while battling the Oak Fire in Mariposa County on Sunday


A forest is incinerated by the Oak Fire near Midpines, northeast of Mariposa, California, on July 23


A bulldozer passes firefighters cutting vegetation to broaden a fireline at the Oak Fire near Mariposa, California, on July 25


Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Manhunt in Australia: Armed Anti-Government Suspect Kills Police Officers Sent to Arrest Him
China Launches World’s Most Powerful Neutrino Detector
How Beijing-Linked Networks Shape Elections in New York City
Ukrainian Refugee Iryna Zarutska Fled War To US, Stabbed To Death
Elon Musk Sues Apple and OpenAI Over Alleged App Store Monopoly
2 Australian Police Shot Dead In Encounter In Rural Victoria State
Vietnam Evacuates Hundreds of Thousands as Typhoon Kajiki Strikes; China’s Sanya Shuts Down
UK Government Delays Decision on China’s Proposed London Embassy Amid Concerns Over Redacted Plans
A 150-Year Tradition to Be Abolished? Uproar Over the Popular Central Park Attraction
A new faith called Robotheism claims artificial intelligence isn’t just smart but actually God itself
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner Purchases Third Property Amid Housing Tax Reforms Debate
HSBC Switzerland Ends Relationships with Over 1,000 Clients from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, and Egypt
Sharia Law Made Legally Binding in Austria Despite Warnings Over 'Incompatible' Values
Italian Facebook Group Sharing Intimate Images Without Consent Shut Down Amid Police Investigation
Dutch Foreign Minister Resigns Amid Deadlock Over Israel Sanctions
Trump and Allies Send Messages of Support to Ukraine on Independence Day Amid Ongoing Conflict
China Reels as Telegram Chat Group Shares Hidden-Camera Footage of Women and Children
Sam Nicoresti becomes first transgender comedian to win Edinburgh Comedy Award
Builders uncover historic human remains in Lancashire house renovation
Australia Wants to Tax Your Empty Bedrooms
MotoGP Cameraman Narrowly Avoids Pedro Acosta Crash at Hungarian Grand Prix
FBI Investigates John Bolton Over Classified Documents in High-Profile Raids
Report reveals OpenAI pitched national ChatGPT Plus subscription to UK ministers
Labour set to freeze income tax thresholds in long-term 'stealth' tax raid
Coca‑Cola explores sale of Costa coffee chain
Trial hears dog walker was chased and fatally stabbed by trio
Restaurateur resigns from government hospitality council over tax criticism
Spanish City funfair shut after serious ride injury
Suspected arson at Ilford restaurant leaves three in critical condition
Tottenham beat Manchester City to go top of Premier League
Bank holiday heatwave to hit 30°C before remnants of Hurricane Erin arrive
UK to deploy immigration advisers to West Africa to block fake visas
Nurse who raped woman continued working for a year despite police alert
Drought forces closures of England’s canal routes, canceling boat holidays
Sweet tooth scents: food-inspired perfumes surge as weight-loss drugs suppress appetites
Experts warn Britain dangerously reliant on imported food
Family of Notting Hill Carnival murder victim call event unmanageable
Bunkers, Billions and Apocalypse: The Secret Compounds of Zuckerberg and the Tech Giants
Ukraine Declares De Facto War on Hungary and Slovakia with Terror Drone Strikes on Their Gas Lifeline
Animated K-pop Musical ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Becomes Netflix’s Most-Watched Original Animated Film
New York Appeals Court Voids Nearly $500 Million Civil Fraud Penalty Against Trump While Upholding Fraud Liability
Elon Musk tweeted, “Europe is dying”
Far-Right Activist Convicted of Incitement Changes Gender and Demands: "Send Me to a Women’s Prison" | The Storm in Germany
Hungary Criticizes Ukraine: "Violating Our Sovereignty"
Will this be the first country to return to negative interest rates?
Child-free hotels spark controversy
North Korea is where this 95-year-old wants to die. South Korea won’t let him go. Is this our ally or a human rights enemy?
Hong Kong Launches Regulatory Regime and Trials for HKD-Backed Stablecoins
China rehearses September 3 Victory Day parade as imagery points to ‘loyal wingman’ FH-97 family presence
Trump Called Viktor Orbán: "Why Are You Using the Veto"
×