Friday, 17 August 2007 01:46

Fire Yesterday Sends Smoke Billowing Above Calaveras and Amador Counties

A fire between Moke Hill and San Andreas yesterday afternoon sent smoke billowing into the skies above Calaveras and Amador Counties. The fire, reported around 4:45 pm, caused the closure of Hwy 49 near the Golden Hills subdivision in Calaveras County through the Hwy 49/12 split. Crews form the Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit of Calfire, local Calaveras County Fire Departments, and units from the Amador ElDorado Unit all joined the firefighting effort.  Air support, in the form of four fixed wing tankers and 2 helicopters fought the fire from the ground while 14 state engines, seven local engines, 10 hand crews, three dozers, operated on the ground. Around 6:30 the fire jumped the highway from west to east and began traveling up the ridge jumping from tree to tree. CAL Fire reports that no structures were at risk although they do believe this fire began as a structure related fire. No evacuation orders were issued. The fire was brought under control by around 9 p.m. Fire crews continued to work overnight