Tuolumne County Dove Fire burns 223 acres as evacuations remain near Sonora

By Cecilio Padilla

Mandatory evacuations remain in place Monday as firefighters continued battling the 223-acre Dove Fire in Tuolumne County near Sonora and Jamestown.

The fire began Sunday at about 2:48 p.m. in the area of Highway 108 and Mill Villa Road, southwest of downtown Sonora and just northeast of Jamestown.

The fire was listed at zero percent containment as of Monday morning. Cal Fire’s 9:20 a.m. incident update listed two firefighters as being injured but there was no immediate word on the extent of their injuries. No structures have been threatened. 

Cal Fire said fire activity decreased as night fell and air and ground crews were making progress against the flames. Crews worked overnight mopping up hot spots and strengthening control lines, the agency said.

The cause of the fire was being investigated.

Mandatory evacuation orders remained in effect for:

• Golden Dove
• Crooked Lane
• Simons Lane
• Southgate Drive
• Hill Street
• Sonora Ave
• Fair Street
• Gerrymander Avenue

Evacuation warnings are in place for: 

• McKibbon Drive
• Martha Lane
• Outlook Drive
• South side of Mono Way from Greenley Road to Washington Street
• West Lytton
• Olive Street
• Maple Street
• High Street
• Bulwer Street
• West Sunset Street
• Toby Street
• June Street
• West Church Lane
• Knowles Hill Drive

The Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office said deputies would patrol evacuated areas overnight as firefighters continue working.

Some roads began reopening Sunday night. Highway 108 was reopened with one-way traffic control between Stockton Road and Wigwam Road. Washington Street was open, but the side streets on the west side from Symons Lane to Stockton Road remained closed. Stockton Road was re-opened to Forest Road, while Southgate Drive remained closed.

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sunday announced that California had secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to bolster the state’s response to the Dove Fire. The grant allows local, state and tribal agencies to apply for 75% reimbursement of their costs of suppressing the fire.

Cal Fire said in its Dove Fire incident report that there were 484 total personnel responding to the fire as of Monday morning.

The Tuolumne Community Resilience Center at 18241 Bay Ave. in Tuolumne was opened as an evacuation center. People staying there can bring small animals, including dogs and cats.

The Tuolumne County Transit Center at 12879 Justice Center Drive in Sonora is open as a cooling center and location for fresh air for unhoused residents and people at Camp Justice.

A temporary animal evacuation shelter is available at Tuolumne County Animal Control at 10040 Victoria Way in Jamestown. Large animals can be taken to the Posse Grounds at 19130 Rawhide Road in Jamestown.

Anyone who feels unsafe in the affected area was urged to leave without waiting for an evacuation order. Officials urged people to avoid areas where emergency crews are working.