Garnett Fire Burns 26,000 Acres in Fresno County, Just 12% Contained

The Garnett Fire in Fresno County has entered its ninth day, scorching more than 26,000 acres with containment still at just 12%.

Fire officials say high heat and strong winds remain the biggest obstacles for crews. Steep and rugged terrain has also made access difficult, forcing firefighters to rely heavily on aerial resources to slow the fire’s spread.

Support has poured in from across California, with departments from San Diego and nearby communities such as Fresno, Reedley, and Selma sending additional crews. “You’re dealing with very steep, rugged terrain, so it’s hard for our firefighters to access, heavily relying upon aerial assets,” one official said.

The incident management team has issued a directive to fully extinguish the blaze as quickly as possible. Fresno County has declared a state of emergency, and evacuation orders remain in effect for some residents.

Despite the challenges, firefighters vowed to continue their aggressive response to protect homes and communities in the fire’s path.

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