Update: September Lightning Complex Updates

View Photos
View Video

Update at 4:19 PM: The Tuolumne County Sheriff states deputies have been released from the Cedar Fire incident, and fire crews continue to mop-up. They are asking individuals to “Please avoid the area while crews continue cleaning up.”

Update at 4:19 PM: The Cedar Fire was last updated at 4 acres with no aircraft working at that incident.

Update at 3:59: The 5-2 Fire that started near East Bald Mountain Road has broken through the retardant line, and more resources have been requested for that incident. Further updates will be posted here.

Update at 3:43: A couple of impacts of the ongoing fires in the region. The scheduled Angels Camp City Council meeting is canceled. And the Calaveras County Visitors Bureau posted on social media advising people to avoid visiting the city of Murphys do to fire activity.

Update at 3:31: 6-5 and 6-2 Fires in Red Hills, Chinese Camp, Don Pedro area will be posted here. All evacuation warnings for the 6-5 fire that started near the Don Pedro Overlook have been upgraded to orders. That includes Six Bit Ranch Road, Six Bit Gulch Road, East Side of Red Hill Road from J59 to Hwy 120, J59 to Old Don Pedro Road, Chinese Camp Town from Highway 120 and East of Red Hills Road, including Main Street, Curry Street, Yosemite Street, Washington Street, Solinsky Alley, and Maiden Lane. Don Pedro Dam Road, Old Don Pedro Dam Road Menkee Hess Road, South side of Highway 120 from Chinese Camp to the Highway 120 Bridge, South side of Highway 120 from Chinese Camp to the Highway 120 Bridge.  An evacuation map for this incident can be found here.

Update at 3:05: Latest evacuation information for the 6-5 fire in the Don Pedro Overlook area. Evacuation orders issued for Six Bit Ranch Road and Six Bit Gulch Road, and Evacuation Warnings for the East Side of Red Hill Road from J59 to Highway 120, J59 to Old Don Pedro Road, and Chinese Camp from Highway 120 and East of Red Hills Road, including Main Street, Curry Street, Yosemite Street, Washington Street, Solinsky Alley and Maiden Lane.

Update at 2:52: 2-7 Updates are here. Due to fire activity, Highway 4 is closed between Main Street in Murphys to Six Mile Road in both directions. Drivers are asked to avoid that area if possible. Murphy’s Grade Road is currently open as an alternative route, but could also be closed depending on fire activity.

Update at 2:36: A vegetation fire is burning in the area of Cedar Ridge near the area of Keltz Mine. Authorities are asking people to avoid the area, and Tuoloumne County Sheriff Deputies will be working with fire personnel to assist with any potential evacuations.

Update at 2:03: A shelter connected to the 2-7 fire on Six Mile Road has been established at Bret Hart High School at 364 Murphy’s Grade Road in Angels Camp.

Update at 1:45: The 2-8 fire, which is burning 2 1/2 miles south of Copper Cove in Copperopolis, is now at 150 acres. Additional resources have been requested to help with this incident.

Update at 1:27: The 2-7 Fire, burning in the 3200 block of Six Mile Road, has reached 100 acres and triggered evacuation orders and warnings. The latest updates on those evacuations can be found here.

Update at 1:04 pm: The fire burning near the Don Pedro overlook, named the 6-5 fire, is now approximately 200 acres and burning towards Highway 120 in what is being described as a dangerous rate of spread.

Update at 12:53 pm: An evacuation warning has been issued due to the 2-2 fire that is burning close to the western border of Calaveras County.  Areas under a warning include the Diamond 20 Ranch Estates. That area extends westward to the intersection of Highway 5 and Milton Road along the north side of the roadway.

Update at 12:12 pm: There is a 20-plus-acre fire near the Don Pedro overlook that has air and ground resources assigned.

Update at 12:07 pm: Air and ground resources are continuing to fight a fire in the 20000 block of East Bald Mountain Road in Sonora. It has been putting up a mix of black and white smoke, visible in the downtown district. The fire is estimated to be a couple of acres in size.

There has also been smoke related to small fires in the Cedar Ridge area, and the Vallecito region, which have air resources assigned. They are in addition to the larger incidents in the Copperopolis area.

Update at 11:37 am: There is a new fire spotted in the area of Lyons Bald Mountain Road that officials are arriving on the scene of in Sonora. Smoke is visible from the downtown area. View the fire from our Eye in the Sky Southwest Webcam here.

Update at 10:52 am: In addition to the larger incidents, there have been smaller lightning-caused fires in other parts of the Mother Lode. CAL Fire Tuolumne-Calaveras spokesperson Emily Kilgore says there have been 13 fires in the unit, to this point. The largest is the 1,200-acre “2-2 Fire” near Highway 4 and Dutton Road. Highway 4 remains closed in both directions, near the fire. The second biggest is the “2-3 Fire” on O’byrnes Ferry Road, which is around 30 acres. The third is the 2-4 Fire, which is 25 acres, on Highway 4 near Horseshoe Road. All other fires have been under an acre. Some are just a single tree. Smaller fires have been reported near Don Pedro, Sonora, Groveland, Murphys, Angels Camp, and other areas.

Update at 9:46 am: The “2-2 Fire” on Highway 4 near Dutton Road, west of Copperopolis, is now estimated to be 1,200 acres, according to CAL Fire. Firefighters are fully engaged in suppression efforts. Highway 4 remains closed in both directions, near the fire.

Meanwhile, the “2-3 Fire” on O’Byrnes Ferry Road near Reed Turnpike is still estimated to be 20-30 acres.

The Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office is monitoring both incidents, working with CAL Fire. The sheriff’s office reports that no evacuation advisories have been issued at this time for the fires.

Update at 8:11 am: Caltrans is closing Highway 4 near Telegraph Road due to the now 400-acre 2-2 Fire. The fire has been moving to the north toward Highway 4. Travelers will need to avoid the area.

Update at 7:51 am: Firefighters are at the scene of a new incident, a 20-30 acre vegetation fire near O’Brynes Ferry Rd and Reed Turnpike in Copperopolis.

Update at 7:05 am: There is a revised size estimate on the 2-2 Fire, which is near Highway 4 and Dutton Road (West of Copperopolis). CAL Fire’s Emily Kilgore says it is estimated to be 300 acres. Additional resources are responding.

Original story posted at 6:54 am: Copperopolis, CA — Numerous lightning strikes have been reported across the Mother Lode region this morning, and also some isolated rainfall.

Fire officials have been busy this morning investigating potential fire starts and will continue to monitor the situation throughout the day. To this point, the forward progress has been stopped on two small incidents, one off of Pool Station Road near Angels Camp, and the other in the Valley Springs/Campo Seco area.

The largest incident is located on Highway 4 near Milton Road (2-2 Fire). It is estimated to be 5-10 acres, according to CAL Fire spokesperson Emily Kilgore. Additional resources are arriving in that area.