Key Takeaways
- đź“Ś A vehicle fire on Old Priest Grade spread to vegetation, igniting the Priest Fire near Groveland, Tuolumne County.
- đź“Ś Evacuation orders issued for Priest Station Cafe and Priest Coulterville Road; warnings for Big Oak Flat.
- 📌 Fire estimated at 10 acres with a “dangerous to critical” rate of spread as of 3 p.m. Monday.
- đź“Ś Highway 120 reduced to one-way traffic; Old Priest Grade closed to all but emergency vehicles.
- đź“Ś Three firefighters were injured battling the fire; all were treated and released.
- đź“Ś Forward progress stopped by 4:48 p.m. Monday; containment reached 60% as of Tuesday.
- đź“Ś Full containment reached by Tuesday evening; fire held to 9.5 acres.
Introduction
A fast-moving vegetation fire sparked by a vehicle blaze prompted evacuation orders Monday afternoon in Tuolumne County, near the community of Groveland. The Priest Fire, as officials have named it, is threatening structures and causing major traffic disruptions along key routes into Yosemite.
Fire Details and Immediate Response
The Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office reported that a vehicle fire on Old Priest Grade spread into nearby brush, growing to roughly 10 acres by 3 p.m. Cal Fire’s Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit described the blaze as exhibiting a “dangerous to critical rate of spread.” Air and ground resources are actively engaged, including retardant drops from aircraft. As of Tuesday, Cal Fire reported that forward progress was stopped at 4:48 p.m. Monday and containment had reached 60% around the burn area. Three firefighters were injured in separate incidents while battling the fire; all were treated and released. Full containment was declared by Tuesday evening, with the fire held to 9.5 acres. Cal Fire Assistant Unit Chief Nathan Gorham noted, “We were able to hold the fire to 9.5 acres in an area that had not burned since 1992 in the Moccasin Fire. That last fire went 8,300 acres, if I recall, so I just wanted to take a moment to thank all of the agencies who responded and mitigated this emergency.”
Overnight line construction and reinforcement significantly increased containment of the fire. Firefighters remained on scene Tuesday working towards full containment, which was achieved during the Tuesday shift. The quick actions and requests for additional resources helped hold the fire within the current perimeter. The fire acreage was updated due to mapping.
The official cause of the fire remains under investigation, according to Cal Fire.
Nearly 160 firefighters are assigned to the incident, along with four engines, three hand crews, and two water tenders.
Evacuation Orders and Warnings
Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for the Priest Station Cafe at the top of Old Priest Grade and along Priest Coulterville Road down to the creek reservoir at the Hetch Hetchy entrance. An evacuation warning has been sent via the Everbridge system to residents in the Big Oak Flat area, advising them to prepare for possible departure. Evacuation orders have since been lifted, and all evacuation warnings were lifted by 5:52 p.m. Monday.
Traffic Impacts
Highway 120 toward Moccasin is reduced to one-way traffic. Old Priest Grade is closed to all non-emergency vehicles, while New Priest Grade remains open only for evacuating residents. Officials urge the public to avoid the area entirely. Old Priest Grade remained closed on Tuesday for mop-up operations, but it has since reopened.
Local California Context
Groveland, a gateway community to Yosemite National Park, sits along Highway 120 in Tuolumne County. The region is no stranger to wildfire threats, particularly during the dry summer months. The Priest Fire’s proximity to major travel corridors and residential areas heightens the urgency of the response.
Background
Tuolumne County has experienced several significant wildfires in recent years, including the 2013 Rim Fire, which burned over 250,000 acres near Yosemite. The Priest Fire, while much smaller, underscores the persistent danger of human-caused ignitions in California’s wildland-urban interface.
Conclusion
As firefighters continue to battle the Priest Fire, residents and travelers are urged to heed evacuation orders and warnings. No injuries or structural damage have been reported, but the situation remains dynamic. Stay tuned to local alerts and avoid the affected areas.