The Pedro Fire was a

wildfire A wildfire, forest fire, or a bushfire is an unplanned and uncontrolled fire in an area of Combustibility and flammability, combustible vegetation. Depending on the type of vegetation present, a wildfire may be more specifically identified as a ...

that burned in Mariposa and Tuolumne counties in

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

. The fire began on July 30, 2024, and the cause is currently under investigation. The fire prompted evacuations in multiple areas. The fire was contained on August 8, over a week after the fire began. The fire destroyed two structures and damaged 3 others.

Progression

The fire started near Highway 132 and Piney Creek Road at around 12:50 p.m. on July 30, located west of Coulterville near the

Don Pedro Reservoir Don Pedro Reservoir, also known as Lake Don Pedro, is a reservoir formed by the construction of the New Don Pedro Dam across the Tuolumne River in Tuolumne County, California, United States. The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard As ...

. It was reported at . The fire was described as having a "moderate to dangerous rate of spread." The fire burned in dry, grassy areas. Evacuations orders had been downgraded to warnings by July 31, allowing residents to return. There were 650 personnel working on the fire, now about with 10% containment. On August 8, the fire reached 100 percent containment after burning a total of 3,815 acres.

Effects

Evacuations and closures

The fire caused the evacuations of several areas in Mariposa and Tuolumne counties, including the Barrett Cove Marina and Recreation area, Piney Creek Road, Arbolada Road and the Hunters Valley Area. 788 personnel were dispatched to the fire, and

air tankers Aerial firefighting, also known as waterbombing, is the use of aircraft and other aerial resources to combat wildfires. The types of aircraft used include fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. Smokejumpers and rappellers are also classified as ...

were sent out to extinguish the fire, and on August 1 that number dropped to 664. A portion of State Route 132 was closed because of the fire.

Damage

The fire burned across 3,815 acres of land as of August 8, and has been confirmed to have destroyed two buildings and damaged three others.

Growth and containment table

References