A year after the Creek Fire ignited in the Sierra Nevada, Madera County is facing a lawsuit related to injuries sustained by campers who became trapped by the fire in the backcountry. The 11 plaintiffs on the lawsuit suffered burns and other injuries while camping near Mammoth Pool Reservoir when the intense, fast-moving fire began. On Sept. 5, 2020, according to official estimates from the U.S. Forest Service, the fire exploded in size from 600 acres at 10 a.m. to 45,500 acres by 5 p.m. During that time, the fire consumed roughly 10 miles between the Big Creek area, where it ignited, and the reservoir, taking fire officials by surprise and trapping hundreds of campers at the water’s edge . After emergency calls poured in from the campground, two helicopters deployed by the California Army National Guard airlifted 242 people and 16 dogs to safety. According to the agency, 21 of those people were immediately transported to the hospital with burns and other injuries. Many remained in the
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