Gann Fire 10,373 acres; 19% contained

CAL FIRE said in a Wednesday evening update that the Gann Fire in Calaveras County had burned 10,373 acres and was 19% contained. The wildfire started at 5:27 p.m. on Aug. 3 near Hogan Dam Road and Gann Road in Valley Springs, according to the agency. Unified command is being led by CAL FIRE’s Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit and the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office. KCRA reported that smoke from the fire was spreading hazy skies across parts of Northern California on Wednesday. ### Where is the fire burning, and how fast did it grow? Valley Springs is the named community in the center of the incident footprint, with CAL FIRE listing the fire location at Hogan Dam Road and Gann Road. The agency’s first public update early Aug. 4 put the fire at 1,800 acres with zero containment. By 3:36 p.m. on Aug. 5, CAL FIRE’s incident page showed 9,363 acres and 10% containment, before the evening update raised the count again. (fire.ca.gov) The 10,373-acre figure was still in place in CAL FIRE’s 8:33 p.m. update on Aug. 5. That later report also kept containment at 19%, indicating firefighters had held part of the perimeter but not increased the acreage estimate further by late evening. ### What damage and injuries have officials reported? CAL FIRE said late Wednesday that seven structures had been destroyed and one firefighter had been injured. (fire.ca.gov) The agency’s public update did not list civilian fatalities or firefighter fatalities. CBS Sacramento reported Wednesday that mandatory evacuations were in place as the fire burned through Calaveras County. (fire.ca.gov) The station also reported that a Valley Springs man had been arrested on suspicion of recklessly causing the fire. ### What do officials say caused the fire? CAL FIRE’s public incident page initially listed the cause as under investigation in updates posted Aug. 4 and late afternoon Aug. 5. (fire.ca.gov) In its 8:33 p.m. update Wednesday, the agency changed the listed cause to “Equipment.” KCRA reported that the man taken into custody near the fire’s origin said he did not mean to start the wildfire. (cbsnews.com) CBS Sacramento identified him only as a Valley Springs man and said he was arrested on suspicion of recklessly causing the blaze. ### Which evacuation zones and shelters are active? CAL FIRE listed evacuation orders for zones CCU-109, CCU-110-A, CCU-130-B, CCU-139, CCU-140 and CCU-147 in its late Wednesday update. (fire.ca.gov) Evacuation warnings were listed for zones CCU-110-B, CCU-111, CCU-131, CCU-148 and CCU-153. The Valley Springs Veterans Memorial at 189 Pine Street in Valley Springs was listed as an evacuation shelter that accepts small pets. (kcra.com) CAL FIRE also listed the Calaveras County Fairgrounds at 2465 Gun Club Road in Angels Camp as an animal evacuation shelter for large animals. ### How far is the smoke spreading? KCRA said Wednesday morning that smoke from the Gann Fire would create hazy skies in parts of Northern California and directed readers to air-quality maps. (fire.ca.gov) In a separate forecast, the station said the thickest smoke was expected along and east of Highway 49 into the Tahoe area. KCRA’s smoke coverage did not present a single regionwide air-quality number, but it said local conditions could be checked through map-based air-quality tools. (fire.ca.gov) That means smoke impacts may vary by community even as the fire remains centered in Calaveras County. ### What should residents watch next? CAL FIRE’s incident page listed the Gann Fire as active as of late Aug. 5 and provided an incident information line at (209) 754-5527. (kcra.com) The agency said evacuation information remained available through the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office, which is also part of unified command. Governor Gavin Newsom secured federal assistance to support the response to the Gann Fire, according to CAL FIRE’s incident page. (kcra.com) The next public changes to watch are updated acreage, containment, evacuation-zone changes and any new damage totals in CAL FIRE status reports. (fire.ca.gov)