China Peak Mountain Resort is now serving as a base of operations for the U.S. forest Service as the Garnet fire rapidly expands across Fresno and Madera Counties. The blaze, which surpassed 50,000 acres over the weekend, prompted the strategic shift to utilize the resort’s existing infrastructure.
The move provides critical logistical support for firefighting efforts as crews battle the escalating wildfire. China Peak offers essential resources including internet connectivity, water, and gray water systems, enabling sustained operations in a remote area. This growth underscores the increasing strain on resources as California’s wildfire season intensifies, impacting communities and requiring innovative solutions for containment.
According to Jay Tracy,Public Information Officer for the Garnet Fire,the fire is currently being contained along the primary line. Firefighters are actively constructing secondary and tertiary defense lines, employing bulldozers and hand crews to create firebreaks, and reinforcing them with hose lines.
Resort owner, Kevin Cohee, is proactively preparing for potential worst-case scenarios by filling the snow-making reservoir with water to supplement firefighting resources. “We’re counting on and expecting CAL FIRE and the Forest Service to get a grip on this fire and hopefully slow it down, and get some turn in the luck,” Cohee stated. “Some colder temperatures should help out.”
residents can track the progression of wildfires across California with an interactive map: https://abc30.com/feature/california-wildfire-map-fresno-county-madera-mariposa/6378522/.Copyright © 2025 KFSN-TV. All Rights Reserved.