Large Fire Burning Near Modesto

More than 700 firefighters are continuing to battle a 4,700-acre blaze in Stanislaus County.

The fire started yesterday morning in Del Puerto Canyon east of Modesto. The blaze is threatening 34 structures. Fire crews are dealing with steep terrain, dry conditions, triple digit temperatures and erratic winds as they try to fight the fire. There´s also a lack of water.

California Department of Fire Protection Fire Captain Mark Mancini said the fire started at about 10:30 a.m. just off of Del Puerto Canyon Road, about 15 miles north of Patterson. Fire crews were on scene, battling the blaze, when it took a turn for the worse at about 3 p.m. Sunday afternoon. Mancini says, “It just blew up on us and took a big run.”

The cause of the blaze is still unknown. Two firefighters have been treated for heat-related injuries.