Evacuations ordered as winds pose challenges for firefighters battling California blaze

BISHOP, Calif. (AP) — Firefighters stopped the forward spread of a wildfire tearing through a remote area of eastern California, but evacuation orders for residents of hundreds of homes remained in place, officials said Monday evening.

The Silver Fire erupted Sunday afternoon along Route 6 in Inyo County, about 5 miles (8 kilometers) northeast of Bishop in the Owens Valley, near the Nevada border. The cause was under investigation.

It had churned through nearly 2.5 square miles (about 6.5 square kilometers) of grass and brush, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said Monday in a post on the social platform X. It was 47% contained.

Residents of about 800 homes near the tiny communities of Laws, Chalfant and White Mountain Estates had been ordered evacuated after the fire broke out. Officials didn’t provide an update Monday evening on how many people were still under those orders.

Crews were expected to stay overnight to keep an eye on hotspots and work on containment.

The potential for 65 mph (104 kph) gusts had limited flights by water-dropping helicopters and kept air tankers grounded, Cal Fire spokesperson Chloe Castillo said earlier Monday.

"The winds are very erratic," she said. “One minute they're pushing north, the next they're going east.”

Cal Fire said the blaze was threatening land belonging to the Bishop Paiute Tribe as well as habitats for endangered species including the Owens pupfish and desert bighorn sheep.

Inyo County has received very little recent precipitation and is abnormally dry, with some areas experiencing extreme drought.

Similarly, most of Southern California is in moderate to extreme drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

This image provided by the Cal Fire San Bernardino Unit shows fire crews battling the Silver Fire, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Inyo County, Calif. (Cal Fire via AP)

This image provided by the Cal Fire San Bernardino Unit shows a firefighter hosing down hot spots from the Silver Fire, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Inyo County, Calif. (Cal Fire via AP)

This image provided by the Cal Fire San Bernardino Unit shows fire crews battling the Silver Fire, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Inyo County, Calif. (Cal Fire San Bernardino Unit via AP)

This image provided by Cal Fire San Bernardino Unit shows the Silver Fire burning in a field, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Inyo County, Calif. (Cal Fire San Bernardino Unit via AP)

This image provided by Cal Fire San Bernardino Unit shows a helicopter being flown over the Silver Fire, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Inyo County, Calif. (Cal Fire San Bernardino Unit via AP)

This image provided by the Cal Fire San Bernardino Unit shows a dozer being used to set a containment line while crews battle the Silver Fire, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Inyo County, Calif. (Cal Fire San Bernardino Unit via AP)

WESTLAKE, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 7, 2025--

defi MANAGED SERVICING Remarketing, the remarketing services of the defi SOLUTIONS platform of products and services, has named Manheim Pennsylvania Auction of the Year.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250407516414/en/

Manheim Pennsylvania, along with Manheim’s more than 100 locations and mobile auctions, continues to achieve the highest standards of performance and customer service for defi and its lenders. This is the first recognition for Manheim Pennsylvania, Manheim’s flagship location, which is also known as the world’s largest wholesale auto auction.

“Congratulations to everyone at Manheim Pennsylvania,” said Steve Bissett, defi SOLUTIONS vice president of client services. “The entire team is phenomenal at delivering results and maximizing value for defi and our clients. We value our long-time partnership and look forward to continued success together.”

“We are incredibly honored to receive the Auction of the Year Award from Defi Solutions. This recognition is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our entire team. It inspires us to continue delivering exceptional solutions for our clients and partners. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this remarkable achievement,” said Emily Decker, general manager of Manheim Pennsylvania.

To qualify for the Auction of the Year Award, an auction must be a member of the National Auto Auction Association, be located within defi’s preferred auction network, and outperform its peers within a designated calendar year. Also being recognized are Carolina Auto Auction of Williamston, SC, and Manheim Riverside of Riverside, CA, in second and third places respectively.

defi MANAGED SERVICING Remarketing has presented the Auction of the Year Award for more than two decades through its National Quality Control Program. Established industry partnerships with top vehicle remarketing companies allow defi to minimize the turnaround time and maximize the resale value of off-lease and repossessed vehicles for its lenders.

About defi SOLUTIONS

defi SOLUTIONS is a market-leading lending software, products, and services company. We partner with the highest-volume captive auto lenders, banks, credit unions, and finance companies in North America to transform their operations. With more than three decades of experience, defi is a pioneer in enterprise cloud, SaaS-based lending and continues to provide innovative solutions for end-to-end originations, servicing, and managed servicing. Learn more at defisolutions.com.

Manheim Pennsylvania named 2024 Auction of the Year by defi SOLUTIONS, recognized for exceptional performance, customer service, and long-standing partnership supporting lender remarketing success.