Crime & Safety
Donnell Fire Burns 12,000 Acres, Damages Historic Resort
The fire burned through parts of the Stanislaus National Forest.

STANISLAUS NATIONAL FOREST, CA -- A wildfire raging at a Northern California forest grew Monday to 12,000 acres. By 1:30 p.m., the Donnell Fire, which prompted the closure of the popular Pacific Crest Trail, was only 1 percent contained.
The fire sparked Aug. 1 on the east side of Donnell Lake before making its way north of the Middle Fork of the Stanislaus River, officials said.
More than 275 personnel with 11 engines and three helicopters are battling the blaze, challenged by inaccessible terrain and dead timber, officials said.
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Owners of the 1923 Dardanelle Resort said its property was damaged in the blaze.
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The fire is one of more than a dozen to burn Monday in California with the largest being the Mendocino Complex Fire, which grew to 273,000 acres. Officials said it's the second largest wildfire in California history.
Elsewhere in the state, the Carr Fire claimed one more life over the weekend, bringing the death toll to seven. The Shasta County blaze burned more than 163,000.
--Patch file photo by Renee Schiavone
Wild features visible in #NorCal #wildfire smoke plumes this PM. Strong westerly winds pushing enormous smoke plume from #RanchFire over Sacramento Valley, with orographic waves visible downstream of #pyrocumulus plumes on #RanchFire, #FergusonFire, #DonnellFire. #CAwx #CAfire pic.twitter.com/1Mm4rcpp8B
— Dr. Daniel Swain (@Weather_West) August 5, 2018
USFS reports due to extreme fire behavior on Sunday, #DonnellFire jumped Highway 108 @ Brightman Flat and forced fire crews to disengage from the fire’s intense edge. The fire consumed numerous structures in the area of Dardanelle and Brightman Flat. pic.twitter.com/hpRjrkQY3y
— Tuolumne Co. Sheriff (@TuolumneSheriff) August 6, 2018
The Forest Service reports that the #DonnellFire in the Stanislaus National Forest is now 12,000 acres and there is only one percent containment. The Pacific Crest Trail has been closed from Highway 108 to Highway 4 today due to the proximity of the Donnell Fire. pic.twitter.com/myYMlJu75A
— Tuolumne Co. Sheriff (@TuolumneSheriff) August 6, 2018
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