More than 60 hikers and campers are unable to evacuate Lake Edison and China Peak areas due to the fast-growing Creek Fire and dense smoke cover.
Around 6:37 p.m. Monday, Fresno Fire Department reported that up to 50 people were trapped near Lake Edison. The incident was classified as a "multi causality" event. Minutes later, the department received additional information that 14 hikers were trapped near China Peak.
At least one person is dead, however details surrounding the hiker's death haven't been released, according to Fresno Battalion Chief Tony Escobedo.
Most of the hikers had started their routes Friday before the Creek Fire ignited. The fire has since grown to 135,000-plus acres. It's 0% contained.
A Boeing CH-47 Chinook was en route to attempt a rescue. However, Mother Nature stood in the way.
"Rescue efforts were unsuccessful, military pilots tried valiantly to land but heavy smoke conditions prevented a safe approach, another effort will be made shortly to evacuate the trapped people in Lake Edison and China Peak using night vision," Fresno Fire's PIO stated in a social media post.
Lisa Ebright fought back tears waiting for her husband and teenage sons to arrive Monday night outside Fresno Yosemite International Airport.
She says they are sheltering at Vermilion Valley Resort awaiting a military helicopter.
"'Right now we’re waiting and seeing,'" her husband Joe told her via satellite phone around 5 p.m. "'We’re safe. The fire isn’t coming our way.'"
The condition of the other 50-plus people reported at the lake and near China Peak is unknown at this time.
After reading a Fresno Fire PIO tweet reporting a “possible mass casuality incident,” she feared the worst. Official communication has been confusing and hard to come by, she said.
“I was really worried,” she said. “It’s just mind boggling how quickly this fire spread.”
Joe and his sons had been hiking in the back country above Lake Edison since Friday morning — hours before any fires had hit Sierra National Forest.
When the Creek Fire exploded to 30,000 acres on Saturday, Lisa frantically tried to reach her husband, fearing for the safety of her loved ones.
At that time, the flames were still about 60 miles away. Friends and officials told her not to worry.
Then, on Sunday, the winds shifted.
The erratic and fast-growing fire cleared the gap in a matter of hours, assisted by winds and dense overgrown forest land.
The fire has doubled in size nearly every day since.
During a virtual press conference on Monday, Fresno County Lt. Brandon Purcell addressed concerns that dozens were trapped in several locations above Shaver Lake.
Purcell said there are four "temporary areas of refuge" designated for those unable to evacuate. Due to heavy smoke, helicopters had difficulties landing.
"Those people are safe," he said. "They just can't get out because of roadblocks."
Purcell stressed that people in these areas are safe and first responders will continue to bring people to safety.
Firefighters and paramedics are stationed at Fresno Yosemite International Airport when rescue efforts can safely be executed.
On Saturday, more than 200 people were rescued near Mammoth Pool Reservoir. National Guardsmen airlifted the evacuees to safety — 20 were hospitalized.
Sheyanne Romero covers Tulare County public safety, local government and business for the Visalia Times-Delta and Tulare Advance-Register newspapers. Follow her on Twitter @sheyanne_VTD. Get alerts and keep up on all things Tulare County for as little as $1 a month. Subscribe today.
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More than 60 trapped, 1 dead, near Lake Edison, China Peak. Rescue efforts 'unsuccessful' - Visalia Times-Delta and Tulare Advance-Register
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