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The Creek Fire – now one of the largest wildfires burning in California – had just ignited at the start of Labor Day weekend as many departed into the Sierra Nevada, expecting three days of mountain bliss. Instead, unaware backpackers without cell service faced an exploding wildfire that has grown by thousands of acres daily in eastern Fresno and Madera counties since Friday night. Some are still unaccounted for. Fresno County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Tony Botti said he thought approximately 10 hikers still hadn’t been located, but weren’t officially considered missing as of Thursday afternoon. Hiker Heather Craig, reported missing...

For the first time since the Creek Fire started burning, a small portion of the fire has been contained. Fire officials announced during a Thursday night news conference that the Creek Fire had 6% containment. Authorities called it a turning point, saying crews had shifted from defensive positions to be able to go on the offensive against the wildfire. Early Thursday morning, the U.S. Forest Service said the Creek Fire was at about 175,000 acres in size with 0% containment. “Today was really the first day we really shifted from being on the defense to being on the offense,” U.S...

A giant thunderstorm hovered above the Creek Fire on Saturday, shooting smoke plumes into the stratosphere as flames tore through the Sierra National Forest below — and an obscure meteorological term briefly burst into the popular lexicon: pyrocumulonimbus. biggest ever produced above U.S. soil. The record-breaking plume gushed huge volumes of pollutants into the earth’s already warming atmosphere. Stunned passengers on a passing plane snapped photos showing the peculiar shape and immense size of the cloud. It was just one of the many abnormal events that has kept all eyes trained on the skies in recent weeks, as the wildfire...

The Creek Fire was first sparked on Friday evening and has exploded to 166,965 acres as of Wednesday evening with 0% containment. At least 365 structures in Fresno County have been damaged or destroyed, and more than 5,000 are threatened. Officials say 30,000 residents of Fresno County and 15,000 residents of Madera County have been evacuated. The fire started near the communities of Shaver Lake, Big Creek, and Huntington Lake but has quickly spread. CAL FIRE officials say they do not expect to have fire contained until October 15. Scroll down for a list of evacuation orders in Fresno, Madera,...

As of noon Tuesday, California National Guard and U.S. Navy helicopters had rescued 362 people and 16 dogs that had become trapped as roads were blocked by the fast moving Creek Fire northeast of Fresno, California. Civilians extracted from the Edison Lake and China Peak areas were flown to the Fresno airport in Blackhawks, Chinooks, and a Navy Seahawk. Examples of their missions Tuesday at Lake Edison: A Stockton-based Cal Guard Ch-47 chinook evacuated 46 people and four dogs. A U.S. Navy SH-60 Seahawk helicopter rescued 17 people and one dog. Two Cal Guard UH-60 Black Hawks and one CH-47...

Heat from California’s Creek Fire is creating dangerous thunderhead clouds rising over 45,000 feet high. The wildfire has already scorched 152,833 acres in its four days of burning through the Sierra National Forest. It’s been generating weather, which is in turn is fueling its growth. SNIP These wildfire-created thunderhead clouds, or pyrocumulonimbus clouds, occur because the fire-heated air rises and carries water vapor up, causing the thunderheads. Common sense would suggest rain clouds would help firefighters knock down the blaze.

Footage shows the smoldering ruins of the iconic Cressman's General Store in Fresno County after the Creek Fire.Cressman's General Store and Gas Station, a frequented stop for travelers headed toward Shaver or Huntington Lakes, was destroyed as the Creek Fire grew in Fresno County overnight. The walls of Cressman's General Store and Gas Station were turned to rubble, and the once-green trees surrounding it were left charred and bare. Located between Auberry Road and Cressman Road on Highway 168, the store, which has been around since 1904, sold snacks, drinks, and fishing gear for visitors flocking to the Fresno County...

The Creek Fire in the Central Sierras has again almost doubled overnight. As of this morning, it is 134,000 acres and that was a number from several hours ago. The 80-90% tree mortality is a major contributor to the feeding of this monster. The fire started at Big Creek which is a So Cal Edison town that supplies hydropower to So California for SCE corporation. The cause of the fire is unknown. It decimated Big Creek, has taken out half the town of Shaver Lake and is moving south to Auberry and east to North Fork, Bass Lake, and Oakhurst....

The California Office of Emergency Services said Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters were used for the rescues that began late Saturday and continued overnight. At least two people were severely injured and 10 more suffered moderate injuries. Two campers refused rescue and stayed behind, the Madera County Sheriff’s Office said. A photo tweeted by the National Guard showed at least 20 evacuees crammed inside one helicopter, crouched on the floor clutching their belongings. In another photo taken on the ground from the cockpit, the densely wooded hills surrounding the aircraft were in flames. The wildfire, named the Creek Fire, started...

4 P.M.: PEOPLE TRAPPED AT MAMMOTH POOL As many as 1,000 people near Mammoth Pool Reservoir have been cut off by the Creek Fire and are unable to evacuate the area. They are reportedly being advised to shelter in place, in the reservoir if necessary. The situation was confirmed by Sierra National Forest spokesman Dan Tune.