The Electra Fire burning southeast of Jackson in Amador County grew to more than 3,000 acres overnight, Cal Fire officials said Tuesday morning.
The fast-growing wildfire that broke out on Monday near Box Beach was still 0% contained while threatening 450 buildings. The fire was measured at more than 900 acres Monday evening, with Cal Fire noting the blaze was growing “at a dangerous rate.”
Cal Fire said Wednesday there was an ongoing threat to critical energy infrastructure and added that steep, rugged terrain made it difficult for fire crews to access the South Fork of the Mokelumne River drainage.
Residents in Amador County and in the area of Butte Mountain Road have been put under a mandatory evacuation, according to the Amador County Sheriff’s Office. A mandatory evacuation for all residents within a 2-mile radius around Lake Tabo was also issued by Cal Fire.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Amador County officials expanded the boundaries of the areas under evacuation orders and warnings to include an area just east of Jackson, extending to an area west of Pine Grove.
A firefighter battles flames from the Electra Fire in Mokelumne Hill, in Calaveras County, Calif., Monday, July 4, 2022.
Ethan Swope/The Chronicle Video taken after approximately 100 people in Amador County fled a Pacific Gas & Electric Co. facility. in an attempt to escape the Electra Fire. They were trapped there for hours as the fire raged around them. Video: Contributed by Bobby Zellmer
About 100 people were safely evacuated from a Pacific Gas and Electric Co. facility. on Monday after fleeing the fast-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 company also has “a number of assets potentially at risk,” the spokesman said.
The Amador County Sheriff’s Office has expanded evacuation mandates and warnings prompted by the growing Electra Fire.
Amador County Sheriff’s Office
Map showing areas of Amador County under mandatory evacuation orders 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 is closed both eastbound and westbound, from Buckeye Lane to Lower Dorray Road.
Firefighters battle the Electra Fire in Mokelumne Hill, in Calaveras County, California, on Monday, July 4, 2022.
Ethan Swope/The Chronicle
One first responder was injured 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/him) is a staff writer for the San Francisco Chronicle. Email: jordan.parker@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @jparkerwrites.
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