Campers Evacuated, CHP Closes Roads In Fire Area
Firefighters this afternoon are battling a fire in a remote section of the Stanislaus National Forest this evening, about 11 miles east of Groveland.
Fire officials say the fire has jumped Cherry Lake Road in the remote Tuolumne River Canyon area burning to the southeast.
Law enforcement and forest rangers are getting people out of the Lumsden Bridge Camp and Camp Towenga. Officers are alerting people in other camping areas of the fire danger.
California Highway patrol is closing some roads in the area of the Tuolumne Fire. The CHP has closed Cherry Lake Road, Evergreen Road and Mather Road are closed to traffic.
Forest Service spokesman Pat Kaunert says the fire was first reported around 12:30 p.m. this afternoon and is burning in the remote Tuolumne River Canyon on the south side of the river between the river and Cherry Lake Road near Lumsden Bridge Camp.
Air tankers from the Columbia Air Attack Base are flying the fire, helping in the battle.