Gann

Gann Fire Report - August 11, 2026

Fire Start, Size and Growth

Start Date/Time/Location: The Gann Fire ignited on Monday, August 3, 2026, at approximately 5:27 p.m. near Hogan Dam Road and Gann Road in Valley Springs, south of New Hogan Lake in Calaveras County.
Size and Containment: As of August 11, 2026, the fire has burned 10,339 acres and is currently 90% contained.
Fuels, Growth and Rate of Spread: Fueled by dry brush, grass, and woodlands, the fire spread rapidly through the steep and rugged terrain of the Sierra Nevada foothills. It exhibited extreme fire behavior in its initial days, climbing over Bear Mountain and growing to over 10,000 acres before forward progress was halted.
Containment Efforts: Unified Command involves the CAL FIRE Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit and the Calaveras County Sheriff's Office. At its peak, over 1,900 personnel were assigned to the incident, utilizing helicopters, engines, hand crews, and bulldozers to construct firelines. Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency to secure federal assistance. With containment high, crews are currently transitioning to suppression repair, focusing on removing berms and restoring natural drainage to prevent future erosion.

Emergency Information

Evacuations and Sheltering:
Mandatory Evacuation Orders: Mandatory evacuation orders remain in effect for zones CCU-109-C, CCU-130-D, CCU-139-D, and CCU-147-D. At the peak of the fire, more than 1,400 people were impacted by evacuation orders.
Evacuation Warnings: Many zones have been downgraded to warnings or moved to open status, including CCU-111, CCU-110-B, CCU-131, CCU-140, CCU-148, and CCU-153, allowing residents to begin repopulating.
Curfew: No specific curfews have been reported, but law enforcement is strictly prohibiting unauthorized access to areas still under evacuation orders.
Evacuation Shelters and Information: All animal evacuation shelters (previously at the Calaveras County Fairgrounds and Valley Springs Veterans Memorial) are now closed. A Local Assistance Center for impacted residents will be open on Thursday, August 13, from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at 509 E. St. Charles St. in San Andreas.

Road and Infrastructure Closures:

• Riata Way at Pool Station Road remains closed.
• Residents are advised to expect a heavy presence of work vehicles, heavy equipment, and utility crews, and should avoid unnecessary travel into the affected areas to give emergency personnel room to work.

For more information, visit:

• CAL FIRE Current Incidents Page
• Calaveras County Sheriff's Office
• Watch Duty - Gann Fire Updates

Current Impact

Impacts:
Injuries and Fatalities: Tragically, one civilian fatality has been confirmed after a body was recovered from a burned home on Jaquima Drive in Angels Camp. Additionally, at least two firefighters have been treated for minor injuries (one sustained in the fire and another in a bulldozer incident).
Structures Impacted: CAL FIRE damage assessment teams have confirmed that 48 structures—a mix of residential, commercial, and outbuildings—have been damaged or destroyed.
School and Business Closures: The Calaveras Unified School District temporarily canceled classes across all schools due to the fire and hazardous smoke impacts.
Notable Impacts: The fire heavily impacted residential areas along Jaquima Drive. The emotional toll on the community has been significant, with many families displaced and relying on support from the Resource Connection Food Bank and the American Red Cross.

Safety Concerns:
Power Outages: Utility crews are actively working in the affected zones to restore and secure damaged infrastructure.
Water Safety: While no municipal water advisories are currently active, officials are concerned about winter runoff. Crews are actively restoring natural drainage to help reduce erosion and improve water runoff ahead of future rains.
Burn Bans: Standard seasonal burn restrictions remain strictly in effect due to critically dry fuels and extreme fire danger.
Air Quality: Smoke settled heavily near Valley Springs and Copperopolis during the fire's peak, creating hazardous air quality conditions. While smoke has thinned, residents with respiratory conditions should remain cautious.
Other Health Risks: Officials warn returning residents to avoid disturbing ash and debris. Fire-damaged structures and materials inside homes may contain hazardous materials and should not be entered until properly assessed.

Ongoing Outlook

Containment Projections: With containment at 90%, firefighters have successfully stopped the fire's forward progress. Crews will spend the coming days strengthening existing containment lines, monitoring for spot fires, and conducting significant recovery and cleanup operations.
Weather and Wind Warnings: While the immediate threat of rapid spread has decreased, the region continues to experience hot temperatures (reaching near 100 degrees) and poor overnight humidity recovery (dropping to 24%), which keeps unburned fuels extremely dry and susceptible to ignition.

Cause and the Role of Weather and Climate

Cause: The fire was caused by equipment use. Cal Fire investigators arrested a 65-year-old Valley Springs man on suspicion of recklessly causing the fire. He was reportedly operating spark-producing equipment in dry vegetation without clearing brush or keeping firefighting tools nearby.
Weather and Climate: Extreme heat and critically low humidity left grass, brush, and logs exceptionally dry. These extreme weather conditions, combined with the steep, rugged topography of the Sierra Nevada foothills, played a major role in the fire's rapid ignition and explosive initial spread.

For more information, visit:

• CAL FIRE Current Incidents Page
• Calaveras County Sheriff's Office
• Watch Duty - Gann Fire Updates