Firefighters are battling a significant grass fire approximately 45 miles east of San Francisco, which has grown to 12,500 acres and spurred evacuations in parts of San Joaquin County. The blaze, known as the Corral Fire, ignited on Saturday afternoon amid gusty winds and is currently reported at 15% containment.
Two firefighters sustained injuries from the fire, the nature of which has not been disclosed, while investigators work to determine the cause of the blaze. Weather conditions, including winds and high temperatures, are expected to persist, posing challenges for containment efforts.
CalFire acknowledged the difficulty of containing the fire due to adverse weather conditions but reported progress in constructing and enhancing control lines, thanks to more favorable conditions for firefighters.
The fire, which began southwest of Tracy on June 1, 2024, quickly spread, fueled by wind gusts in the East Bay region. While images and videos shared by CalFire depict flames engulfing dry grass near high-voltage electric lines, no homes are currently under threat.
Approximately 400 personnel have been deployed to combat the blaze, supported by firefighting air tankers from across the state, as conditions permit.
The fire originated near the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s “Site 300 Experimental Test Site,” although it did not pose an immediate threat to the facility. The laboratory, located about 40 miles southeast of downtown Oakland, conducts experiments related to nuclear reactions, lasers, atomic structure, and molecular biology.
Local authorities have established a shelter for large animals and have advised residents to evacuate from a significant area south of the fire, across Corral Hollow Road. Additionally, CalTrans has closed Interstate-580 from the Alameda County line to the Stanislaus County line, with SR-132 also closed from I-580 to SR 33.