Update: Fire At New Hogan Lake
Update at 8:30 p.m.: CAL Fire reports that the forward rate of spread has been stopped at 45 acres for the Whiskey Fire burning in brush at the Whiskey Creek Day Use Area of New Hogan Lake in the Valley Springs area of Calaveras County. All aircraft have been called off the scene. Ground crews will remain on scene working towards full containment and mopping up into the night. What ignited the fire is under investigation.
Update at 7:45 p.m.: CAL Fire reports that the now titled “Whiskey Fire” burning in brush at the Whiskey Creek Day Use Area of New Hogan Lake in the Valley Springs area of Calaveras County has climbed to 45 acres, but crews are still making progress. Additional resources have been called in to help ground crews as the flames are “bogged down in some heavy brush,” according to dispatch.
Update at 7:20 p.m: CAL Fire reports that although the fire has grown to around 20 to 30 acres, crews area making progress on the brush fire that is burning in the Whiskey Creek Day Use Area of New Hogan Lake in the Valley Springs area of Calaveras County. Dispatch relays the the flames rate of spread has “diminished as well as the structure threat.”
Update at 7 p.m.: CAL Fire reports that the blaze is 5 to 10 acres in size and moving at a moderate rate of spread with equipment and structures threatened. The brush fire is at New Hogan Lake near the Whiskey Creek Day Use area in Valley Springs. The CHP is reporting that the fire resulted from possible gun fire.
Original post at 6:45 p.m.: Valley Springs, CA — Fire resources including Columbia aircraft are responding to the report of a grass/brush fire at New Hogan Lake in the Valley Springs area of Calaveras County. CAL Fire reports it is in the vicinity of the Whiskey Creek Day Use area.
The CHP is reporting that the fire is on a hillside and sending a lot of black smoke billowing into the sky. There is no word as to the fire’s size or whether any structures are threatened. We will have updates as soon as new information comes into the newsroom.
