Donnell Fire

{{Short description|2018 wildfire in Central California}}

{{Use American English|date=May 2025}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}

{{Infobox wildfire

|title=Donnell Fire

|reference=

|cost=>$30.3 million (2018 USD){{cite web|url=https://gacc.nifc.gov/sacc/predictive/intelligence/NationalLargeIncidentYTDReport.pdf|title=2018 National Large Incident Year-to-Date Report|publisher=CAL FIRE|date=August 28, 2018|access-date=August 30, 2018}}

|date={{Unbulleted list|{{Start date|2018|8|1}} – |{{End date|2018|11|28}}}}

|location=California, United States

|coordinates={{coord|38|21|N|119|56|W||display=inline,title}}

|pushpin_map=USA California

|pushpin_map_caption=Location of fire in California

|area={{Convert|36,450|acre|km2|0}}

|cause=Unattended Illegal Campfire

|buildings= 135

|landuse=

|injuries=9

|fatalities=None reported

|perps=

|motive=

}}

File:Donnell Fire perimeter.png

File:Donnell Fire Progression Map.jpg

The Donnell Fire was a wildfire that started on August 1, 2018 due to an unattended illegal campfire,{{Cite web|url=https://www.uniondemocrat.com/news/article_61148d78-367f-11eb-9220-83343c83ed09.html|title=Unattended campfire escaped and ignited August 2018 Donnell Fire, Forest Service says|date=4 December 2020 }} near Donnell Reservoir, burning around California State Route 108 in Tuolumne County, California and in the Stanislaus National Forest.{{Cite web |url=https://www.modbee.com/news/article216225620.html |title=Inversion layer holds Donnell fire growth. Camp Jack Hazard 'surviving'. |date=2018-08-07 |website=modbee |language=en |access-date=2018-08-09}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.mymotherlode.com/news/local/381154/limited-growth-on-donnell-fire-in-stanislaus-national-forest.html |title=Update: Acreage Jump In Donnell Fire, Evacuation Advisories Remain In Place |date=2018-08-08 |website=www.mymotherlode.com |language=en-US |access-date=2018-08-09}}{{Cite web |url=http://goldrushcam.com/sierrasuntimes/index.php/news/local-news/15078-forest-service-wildland-fire-smoke-air-quality-outlook-of-the-yosemite-area-for-monday-august-6-includes-mariposa-oakhurst-and-yosemite |title=Forest Service Wildland Fire Smoke/Air Quality Outlook of the Yosemite Area for Monday, August 6 - Includes Mariposa, Oakhurst and Yosemite |date=2018-08-06 |website=goldrushcam.com |language=en-gb |access-date=2018-08-09}} It spread rapidly, and the Forest Service closed a California state highway, many forest service roads, campgrounds, wilderness areas, access to privately-owned inholdings, and the Pacific Crest Trail.Jason Kuiken, Forest Supervisor, Stanislaus National Forest, [https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/photos/CASTF/2018-08-04-1238-Donnell/related_files/pict20180730-232653-0.pdf Forest Order No. FTF-16-2018-12] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180903045650/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/photos/CASTF/2018-08-04-1238-Donnell/related_files/pict20180730-232653-0.pdf |date=2018-09-03 }} (August 30, 2018). U. S. Forest Service, United States Department of Agriculture. The map attached as page 3 outlines the closure area and shows the closed areas, trails, and roads. The fire burned {{convert|36,450|acres|km2}}, and destroyed 54 major structures and 81 minor structures, before the fire burned out on October 1. There were nine injuries caused by the fire, but no deaths.{{cite web|url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6092/|title=Donnell Fire: Incident information|publisher=InciWeb|date=October 1, 2018|access-date=October 2, 2018|archive-date=September 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180919130023/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6092/|url-status=dead}}

Among the destroyed buildings were those of the historic Dardanelle Resort{{Cite web |url=https://www.modbee.com/news/article216154210.html |title='We're devastated.' Much of historic Dardanelle Resort destroyed by Donnell Fire |date=2018-08-06 |website=modbee |language=en |access-date=2018-08-09}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.sfgate.com/california-wildfires/article/Donnell-Fire-Dardanelle-Resort-Highway-108-Sonora-13135455.php |title=Historic California resort burns in raging Donnell Fire north of Yosemite |date=2018-08-06 |website=SFGate |access-date=2018-08-09}} and the 1933 Dardanelle BridgeGuy McCarthy, [https://www.uniondemocrat.com/localnews/6430273-151/donnell-fire-blows-up-crosses-highway-108-destroys "Donnell Fire blows up, crosses Highway 108, destroys Dardanelle Resort"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830073820/https://www.uniondemocrat.com/localnews/6430273-151/donnell-fire-blows-up-crosses-highway-108-destroys |date=2018-08-30 }} The Union Democrat, August 6, 2018.Guy McCarthy photograph, [https://uniondemocrat.wescomphotos.com/images/744102 "The historic Dardanelles Bridge burned and fell into the Middle Fork Stanislaus River earlier this week"], The Union Democrat, August 7, 2018. a unique bridge listed on the Historic American Engineering Record.[https://www.loc.gov/item/ca1532/ Photographs of bridge], Historic American Engineering Record, Creator, F Manhart, California Division Of Highways, Palm Iron Works, Union Lumber Company, M A Jenkins, and J W Hoopes. Middle Fork Stanislaus River Bridge, Spans Middle Fork Stanislaus River at State Highway 108, Dardanelle, Tuolumne County, CA. California Dardanelle Tuolumne County, 1968. Documentation Compiled After. Both were at Dardanelle, an unincorporated community on California State Route 108, the highway to Sonora Pass.

The ancient Bennett Juniper was threatened by the fire, which came within half a mile,Susan Steade, [https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/08/13/california-fire-map-2000-year-old-bennett-juniper-threatened/ "California fire map: 2,000-year-old Bennett Juniper threatened"], [https://www.mercurynews.com/ The Mercury News], August 13, 2018.{{cite web |url=https://www.mymotherlode.com/news/local/381244/donnell-firefighters-at-bennett-juniper.html | website= MyMotherLode.com |date= 2018-01-10 |title= Donnell Firefighters At Bennett Juniper|access-date= 2018-08-10}}Amy Graff, [https://www.sfgate.com/california-wildfires/article/Bennett-Juniper-Donnell-Fire-California-wildfire-13152617.php "Treasured 2,000-year-old tree threatened by California wildfire"], [https://www.sfgate.com/ SFGate], August 13, 2018. but the fire front stabilized after sustained ground and air attacks, and by the evening of August 14, it was no longer advancing toward the tree.[https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/photos/CASTF/2018-08-04-1238-Donnell/picts/2018_08_15-10.01.41.326-CDT.jpeg Donnell Fire: Map showing containment lines at 2204 hours on August 14, 2018] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180816025559/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/photos/CASTF/2018-08-04-1238-Donnell/picts/2018_08_15-10.01.41.326-CDT.jpeg |date=2018-08-16 }}, Central Coast Incident Management Team, US Forest Service.

On October 1, 2018, InciWeb reported minimal fire activity. The fire was declared 100% contained on November 28, 2018.McCarthy, Guy, [https://www.uniondemocrat.com/localnews/6729093-151/forest-service-declares-destructive-donnell-fire-100-percent "Forest Service declares destructive Donnell Fire 100 percent contained"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181219230235/https://www.uniondemocrat.com/localnews/6729093-151/forest-service-declares-destructive-donnell-fire-100-percent |date=2018-12-19 }}, The Union-Democrat, November 29, 2018