MADERA – Fire crews responded to a vegetation fire early Tuesday evening that turned into multiple structure fires within minutes. The Fresno River’s overgrown vegetation, which has been on the radar of local officials because of the California Department of Fish and Game’s delays in issuing permits to clean out dangerous flammable vegetation, erupted into flames that quickly spread to a subdivision destroying two homes and damaging two others.
The fire ignited in the Fresno River behind the homes on Riverview Drive between Central Place and Orchard Avenue and consisted of primarily dry brush. This area is also used by many of the city’s local homeless individuals. Cal Fire has not released a cause of the start of the fire, but 15-20 mph winds carried smoldering embers up to the neighborhood above.
Neighbors could be seen hosing their roofs and fences to prevent the fire from spreading to their properties. Investigators say several vehicles were also damaged during the fire, and twenty-three homes were without power. Quick action by firefighters saved the neighborhood from going up in flames. Over twelve engines responded from the city and county of Madera and Merced Fire, and Fresno Fire.
One firefighter suffered heat exhaustion and had to be treated at the scene; no residents were injured. At least two families have been displaced by this fire and are receiving services from the local Red Cross until their homeowner’s insurance can help with temporary relocation.
This fire was predicted by local officials almost a year ago to the day during two Town Hall Meetings hosted by Madera County Supervisor Robert Poythress, which were carried on Big Valley Radio. Officials from Cal Fire and the City of Madera’s Public Works explained how the city’s hands are tied as far as what they are allowed to do with maintenance to the riverbed because the required #1602 permits must be approved by Fish and Game, who have been dragging their feet on issuing to local government. Fish and Game could issue fines to local municipalities of up to $10,000 per incident if the city removed any vegetation or cleaned the riverbed without that permit.
Ironically permits have recently been issued, but the city cannot begin cleanup until September because of nesting issues with wildlife living in the river. There is an item on the Madera City Council’s agenda for Wednesday night’s meeting that will discuss the cleanup of the Fresno River (Item B4 on the Consent Calender).
