Corral Fire evacuations downgraded to warnings

Tracy, California – Cal Fire SCU announced Sunday that a mandatory evacuation order issued for parts of Tracy, California, has been downgraded to an evacuation warning, effective 6 p.m. PDT.

For much of the day, evacuees stood in line to see if their belongings escaped the worst of Mother Nature's fury.

Amanda Momaney and her family were allowed into the neighborhood to gather essentials before leaving.

“We came home to get our dogs out of the house. And to get some clothes and stuff,” she said. “It’s very scary.”

This small neighborhood, just off I-580 and CA-132, was in danger of being wiped off the map. The Corral Fire, which started at 1 p.m. Saturday, blackened 14,000 acres near Tracy, Calif., and cost one family their home.

“They were able to evacuate. They took the dogs and the turtle. And they're at Motel 6 right now, trying to determine the extent of the damage,” said evacuee Travis Curtiss.

He has the unenviable task of telling his parents that their home of nearly 30 years is now in ashes.

“You give them a really big hug. All you can do is just be there and support them and help them rebuild,” he said.

Other residents escaped with little or no damage. But the ordeal was painful.

One family will literally experience growing pains later this week, all while wondering if they will still have a house to call home.

“My wife is pregnant. We are expecting a delivery this week. And she is in the car. No options,” said Amit Kumar, as he stood in the midday sun at a sheriff's checkpoint. His wife, Kanika, added: “It's so scary because I have a baby. I'm too scared for this. And I'm really grateful for saving our lives and our home.”

Some in this rural subdivision decided on Saturday to stay, and face the possible end without blinking.

Angel F., who did not want to give his full last name, said his mother and aunts left, but he, his uncles and his father waited all night.

“I can't run away from everything. That's life. It's part of the… like I said, you can see everything burned. We can't do nothing. They can't do nothing. We've all done our best,” he said.

For this small part of the Central Valley, emotions run the gamut from anxiety to relief to resignation because during fire season, many things spiral out of control.

“They're alive. The dog is alive. The turtle is alive. So you can't replace that. All of that you can replace,” Curtiss said.

Cal Fire officials said all lanes of eastbound I-580 also reopened as of 6 p.m. But the affected neighborhoods remain closed to those who do not reside there.

Jesse Gary is a reporter based in the station's South Bay bureau. Follow him on Instagram, @jessegonv

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