The fast-growing wildfire, which broke out Monday near Box Beach, was still 0 percent contained while threatening 450 structures. The fire was measured at more than 900 acres as of Monday night, with Cal Fire noting that the fire was growing “at a dangerous rate of speed.”
Cal Fire said Wednesday there is an ongoing threat to critical power infrastructure and added that steep, rugged terrain is making it difficult for fire crews to access the South Fork of the Mokelumne River.
Residents in Amador County and the Butte Mountain Road area were mandated to evacuate, according to the Amador County Sheriff’s Office. Cal Fire also issued a mandatory evacuation for all residents within a 2-mile radius around Lake Tabeaud.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Amador County officials expanded the boundaries of areas under evacuation orders and warnings to cover an area just east of Jackson that extends to an area west of Pine Grove.
A firefighter puts out flames from the Electra Fire on Mokelumne Hill in Calaveras County, California, Monday, July 4, 2022.
Ethan Swope/The Chronicle Video captured as about 100 people in Amador County fled to a Pacific Gas & Electric Co. facility. in an attempt to escape Electra’s fire. They were trapped there for hours as the fire raged around them. Video: Provided by Bobby Zelmer
About 100 people were safely evacuated from a Pacific Gas and Electric Co. facility. on Monday after finding shelter from the rapidly growing fire, according to Amador County Sheriff Gary Redman.
A PG&E spokesman said about 15,000 people were without power in Amador and Calaveras counties as a result of the fire. The utility also has a “number of assets that may be at risk,” the spokesman said.
The Amador County Sheriff’s Office has expanded the evacuation orders and warnings prompted by the burgeoning Electra Fire.
Amador County Sheriff’s Office
A map showing areas of Amador County under a mandatory evacuation order due to the Electra Fire.
Amador County Sheriff’s Office
The Amador County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to inquiries about how many people had been evacuated as of Tuesday morning.
Caltrans said State Road 26 was closed, both eastbound and westbound, from Buckeye Lane to Lower Dorray Road.
A firefighter battles the Electra fire in Mokelumne Hill, Calaveras County, California, Monday, July 4, 2022.
Ethan Swope/The Chronicle
One first responder was injured while fighting the fire. The cause of the fire remained under investigation Tuesday, according to Cal Fire.
Track fire size and movement with The Chronicle’s California Fire Map and Tracker.
Jordan Parker (he/she) is a staff writer for the San Francisco Chronicle. Email: [email protected] Twitter: @jparkerwrites.
