Corral Fire Updates: Downgraded from alerts to warnings, the Corral Fire scorched 14,000 acres, 30% of which was contained: Tracy, CA – Firefighters made significant progress Sunday in battling a wind-driven wildfire that has scorched thousands of acres, destroyed a home, and forced evacuations near Tracy, approximately 60 miles east of San Francisco.
As of 6 p.m. Sunday, all evacuation orders were downgraded to warnings, according to Cal Fire. Residents were advised to remain vigilant and be prepared for potential changes. Road closures remain in effect for nonresidents on South Corral Hollow Road and Chrisman Road south of Interstate 580.
The California Highway Patrol reported that westbound I-580 between Interstate Highway 5 and Interstate Highway 205 remained closed, while the eastbound lanes were open.
Evacuations were initially ordered for residents east of Highway 580, between Corral Hollow Road and South Tracy Boulevard, by the San Joaquin County Office of Emergency Services.
The fire, named the Corral Fire, erupted Saturday afternoon in the grassy hills managed by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The blaze had consumed approximately 14,000 acres by Sunday afternoon and was 30 percent contained. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
“Firefighters have made good progress constructing and improving control lines,” Cal Fire reported on social media Sunday afternoon.
Thousands of residents, including those in parts of Tracy, were evacuated to centers for safety. Cal Fire Battalion Chief Josh Silveira mentioned that the fire had “burned right up to the homes” and destroyed one house. With calmer winds and milder weather on Sunday, Silveira did not expect the fire to spread further.
Two firefighters sustained minor to moderate burns on Saturday and are expected to recover fully, Silveira added.
Lawrence Livermore spokesperson Paul Rhien assured that the wildfire posed no threat to laboratory facilities or operations. “As a precaution, we have activated our emergency operations center to monitor the situation through the weekend,” Rhien said in a statement to the Associated Press. The fire’s rapid spread had prompted an immediate and robust response, with numerous firefighting units working tirelessly to contain the blaze and protect the community.
