Raging Dove Fire Forces Widespread Evacuations, Leaving Destruction in Its Wake

A fast-moving wildfire near a crucial entrance to Yosemite is causing alarm, leading to immediate evacuation orders.

Racing through the Sierra Nevada foothills on Sunday afternoon, the fire has engulfed several hundred acres close to the city of Sonora in Tuolumne County.

The rapidly spreading blaze is prompting evacuations and road closures as firefighters strive to gain control.

Dubbed the Dove Fire, the flames were first reported just before 3 p.m. southwest of Sonora’s downtown, a favored stop for those heading to Yosemite National Park. By 7:30 p.m., the fire had swelled to 223 acres, as reported by Cal Fire.

As of late Sunday night, the fire was just 1% contained, but its rate of spread had slowed from dangerous to moderate, meaning that it was holding within lines built to slow it down.

The Cal Fire Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit said “resources are making good progress” in a 6 p.m. update.

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