Update: Whiskey Fire Ignites In Mountain Ranch

Update at 5:13pm: CAL Fire officials say windy conditions and steep terrain are factors slowing progress on fighting the Whiskey Fire, now 50 percent contained.

According to CAL Fire spokesperson Emily Kilgore, resources will continue working through the overnight into the morning towards achieving full containment of the wildfire, which broke out early this morning in the Mountain Ranch area by Whiskey Slide and Jesus Maria roads. She adds that the cause is still under investigation.

Update at 1pm: CAL Fire officials say control is growing on the Whiskey Fire, now reported as 25 percent contained.

According to CAL Fire spokesperson Emily Kilgore, the fire, located near Whiskey Slide and Jesus Maria roads, remains at 35 acres. She adds that CAL Fire’s Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit (TCU) has additonal resources lined up and remains fully staffed due to the red flag warning in effect for high winds through 11 o’clock tonight.

Update at 9:45am: CAL Fire reports that crews remain busy trying to gain further containment on the 35-acre Whiskey Fire in the Mountain Ranch area. PG&E reports that early this morning there were five customers that lost electricity due to the fire. It is not immediately clear when those homes will have the power restored. The forward rate of spread remains stopped.

Original story posted at 7:20am: Mountain Ranch, CA — An early morning vegetation fire ignited in Calaveras County near the area of Whiskey Slide Road and Jesus Maria Road.

CAL Fire reports that it burned 35 acres and thankfully the forward rate of spread has been stopped. That said, it is considered only 15-percent contained. Resources will remain on scene through today and likely into Tuesday. There were some nearby homes evacuated but no injuries have been reported at this time. What ignited the fire remains under investigation. We’ll pass along more information as it becomes available.