Yesterday at approximately
3pm Camino Dispatch received reports of multiple vegetation fires in the area
between of Stony Creek Road
about a half a mile after Argonaut High school and Pardee Lake.
A short time later at least 2 more fires that we know of were reported- one on
Hurricane Hill and another at the Martell Y in front of the Panda House
Restaurant. Those two fires were extinguished quickly. Crews from all across
the county and even neighboring Calaveras responded to the Stony Creek and
Pardee area. Jackson Valley
crews, Cal Fire, the US Forest Service, Amador Fire Protection District, Ione
Fire Departments, Jackson City Crews, Sutter Creek Fire, Pine Grove, hand crews
from Pine Grove Camp and Growlersburg, MCSP crews, Tuolumne-Calaveras Units,
and EB MUD, all responded in force. Helicopters and dozers were quickly called
to the scene. Even local residents were doing their part with their sprinklers
running and shovels in hand.
As of the last report from Camino dispatch there were a total of 7 fires
between Jackson and Pardee Lake.
Five of them were quickly extinguished and covered only about one and half
acres combined while the largest fire was reported as being contained and at
least 30 acres in size. The acreage on the second fire was confirmed to be
smaller than 30 acres but actual acreage has yet to be confirmed. For the
larger fire alone, 19 engines, 4 chief officers, 1
dozer, 6 hand crews, 2 water tenders, 2 tankers, two helicopters and an air
attack plane all responded. --Prevention officers were called to the
scene as there were reports of a white Ford F150 short bed in the area right as
the fires began. Local law enforcement immediately began the search for the
driver of the vehicle and Prevention officers began to follow some leads, one
being that the vehicle was seen traveling on Stony Creek Road and apparently had
sparks coming from it’s undercarriage. According to latest report from Camino
Dispatch this morning they believe that the fires were not set intentionally.
They believe the cause of the fires was vehicle malfunction that sparked road side
fires and that the driver was unaware of the situation.
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