Update: Upper Quail Mine Structure And Vegetation Fire Contained
Update at 5:35 p.m.: Tuolumne County Sheriff’s spokesperson Sgt. Andrea Benson reports all the roads are open now in the area and all evacuations along Upper Quail Mine and Old Mine Road have been lifted. CAL Fire relays that the cause of the fire remains under investigation. Further details on the Quail Fire are below.
Update at 2:30 p.m.: CAL Fire spokesperson Lindy Shoff tells Clarke Broadcasting that the Quail Fire in the Columbia area is contained at two acres and the flames have been extinguished in both of the homes. She also noted that investigators are on scene, in the 20000 block of Upper Quail Mine Road, working to determine what sparked the blaze. Shoff reports that the fire broke out in one home and the flames spread to nearby vegetation and then a second home.
Tuolumne County Sheriff’s spokesperson Sgt. Andrea Benson reports that all evacuations and road closures remain in place. She adds that once the road closures are lifted, those who have been evacuated will be allowed to return to their homes.
Crews will remain on scene mopping up for the next couple of hours.
Update at 2 p.m.: The Red Cross is working with those displaced by the house fires in the 20000 block of Upper Quail Mine Road in the Columbia area.
The local American Red Cross spokesperson Adel Welty shares that the organization is responding to provide assistance to one household impacted by the fire and has rallied volunteers in the event of need for further support. According to Welty, customary household fire response includes support for any medical needs, such as prescription, eyeglass and medical equipment replacements as well as comfort kits with essential items. The Red Cross also provides some monetary assistance, which can help cover initial hotel accommodations for the first 48 hours. Subsequent support team aid helps act as a conduit for longer-term housing and other recovery resources. Additional details on the fire, evacuations and road closures are below.
Update at 1:45 p.m.:Â Â CAL Fire spokesperson Lindy Shoff tells Clarke Broadcasting that ground crews have stopped the forward rate of spread on the vegetation fire at 2 acres, but crews continue working on the structure fires, which she confirms are homes.
When firefighters arrived on the scene of the Quail Fire, burning in the 20000 block of Upper Quail Mine Road in the Columbia area, two structures were fully engulfed in flames along with about an acre of vegetation. Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Deputies spokesperson Sgt. Andrea Benson relays these additional road closures: Sawmill Flat Road at Covington Road and Big Hill Road at Glory Gulch Road. Further details on the fire, evacuations and road closures are below.
A special thanks to our community partners Kayleen Gibson and Connie Cassinetto for sending in photos.
Update at 1:30 p.m.: CAL Fire has dubbed it the “Quail Fire.” It is burning in the 20000 block of Upper Quail Mine Road in the Columbia area.  CAL Fire reports that the blaze broke out in one structure initially and the flames spread to another and vegetation. CAL Fire spokesperson Lindy Shoff has the latest, “There are currently two structures that are fully engulfed in flames. Fire crews are making good progress on the wildland fire, it is approximately 2 acres. I also believe that all aircraft have been released from the scene.”
While Shoff could not confirm whether the structures were homes, she acknowledged that the Red Cross has been notified. Shoff also noted that investigators are at the scene working to determine what sparked the blaze.
Tuolumne County Sheriff’s spokesperson Sgt. Andrea Benson reports that deputies evacuated residents on Upper Quail Mine and nearby on Old Mine Road. Sgt. Benson relayed these road closures: Gunsight Road at Quail Mine Road, Lower Quail Mine Road at Upper Quail Mine Road and Lower Quail Mine Road at Rattlesnake Gulch.
Update at 12:45 p.m.: CAL Fire reports that there are now two structures and vegetation involved in a fire in the 20000 block of Upper Quail Mine Road in the Columbia region. Flames have spread from the original structure to another and about one acre of grass, according to CAL Fire. Tuolumne County Sheriff’s spokesperson Sgt. Andrea Benson reports that deputies are currently conducting evacuations on Upper Quail Mine and nearby on Old Mine Road.
Air and ground resources continue to battle the blaze. At one point, two black plumes of smoke could be seen in the skies overhead. We will continue to update with any developments.
Original post at 12:30 p.m.: Columbia, CA — Firefighters are responding to a structure fire reported in the 20000 block of Upper Quail Mine Road in the Columbia region.
Some heavy black smoke is visible in the area. Be prepared for activity.
