SHAVER LAKE, Calif. (KFSN) \u2014 Six years after the Creek Fire erupted in Fresno and Madera counties, first responders and survivors say the memories of the devastating wildfire remain vivid as communities continue to recover and rebuild.<\/p>\n
The fire burned close to 380,000 acres and forced hundreds of people to evacuate. It tore through mountain communities, destroying homes, businesses and livelihoods. Burn scars are still visible across the landscape years later.<\/p>\n
For Chief Steve McQuillan of the Shaver Lake Volunteer Fire Department, the images of the fire remain unforgettable.<\/p>\n
\u201cI remember describing to myself, days, and weeks and months later, as a \u2018picture of hell.\u2019 Walls of fire that were moving towards Shaver,\u201d McQuillan said.<\/p>\n
He also recalled the dangerous conditions firefighters faced.<\/p>\n
\u201cI remember the smoke was so thick that driving 5 or 10 miles per hour was all but impossible,\u201d McQuillan said.<\/p>\n
The Creek Fire injured just over two dozen people. More than 200 evacuees were trapped near Mammoth Pool Reservoir and some required airlifts to safety.<\/p>\n
The wildfire also damaged dozens of buildings and destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses, including Cressman\u2019s General Store along Highway 168.<\/p>\n
North Fork resident Kris Hamilton remembers the day the fire began.<\/p>\n
\u201cI remember going out the front door and looking up towards what I know is Shaver Lake, and that area where it happened, I saw the huge plume of smoke and said, \u2018Oh my god, somebody\u2019s having a bad day,’\u201d Hamilton said.<\/p>\n
Hamilton and her husband had previously lost their home in the 2017 Mission Fire. After rebuilding and living in their new home for a year, the Creek Fire broke out in 2020, one day after the anniversary of the Mission Fire.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just watched as the Creek Fire kept approaching from the San Joaquin River basin and was starting to encircle us,\u201d Hamilton said.<\/p>\n
Despite the destruction, Hamilton\u2019s home ultimately survived the flames. In the years since the fire, the region has shown signs of recovery.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe forest is growing back. It\u2019s a lot shorter than it was. There\u2019s a lot more brush. But it is a little bit more green than it was over the last six years,\u201d McQuillan said.<\/p>\n
As the community continues rebuilding, the Shaver Lake Volunteer Fire Department is also expanding. McQuillan said staffing has more than doubled since the fire. The department is now focused on raising money for a new fire station and hopes to begin construction within the next six months.<\/p>\n
Click here<\/a>\u00a0if you would like to donate to the new Shaver Lake Fire Station.<\/p>\n By\u00a0 Ana Torrea on Facebook<\/a>,\u00a0X<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n Copyright \u00a9 2026 KFSN-TV. All Rights Reserved.<\/p>\n