Vegetation fire burns along Highway 198 west of Coalinga

Firefighters were working a 3-acre vegetation fire in the 36300 block of CA-198/Warthan Canyon southwest of Coalinga, where crews reported a moderate rate of spread and said the blaze could grow to 20 acres. Multiple agencies were on scene as the fire burned along the Highway 198 corridor in western Fresno County.

The location puts the fire directly on a road corridor used by residents, ranchers and travelers moving west of Coalinga. With the fire already moving at a moderate pace and the potential to more than double in size, the situation stayed fluid for anyone traveling through Warthan Canyon or working nearby land along CA-198.

This stretch of highway has seen repeated wildfire activity. On June 12, CAL FIRE reported the Firestone Fire at Highway 198 and Firestone Ave west of Coalinga at about 482 acres and 54% contained. Two days later, CAL FIRE listed the El Dorado Fire at Highway 198 and South El Dorado Ave in Coalinga as active and under investigation.

The area also has a longer fire history. A 2016 wildfire near Coalinga burned 2,900 acres and threatened homes, underscoring how quickly fire can spread through the dry brush and hills west of the city. That history makes the current blaze in Warthan Canyon more than a routine roadside fire, especially with multiple agencies already committed to the scene.

CAL FIRE maintains statewide active incident updates during wildfire events, giving crews and the public a central source for current fire activity. For Fresno County, the latest fire adds to a corridor that has already seen major acreage, active investigations and repeated response along Highway 198.