Crews Remain On Yankee Hill Fire Site
San Andreas, CA — 15 engines and eight crews have remained on site of the Yankee Hill fire overnight.
According to CAL FIRE Emergency Command Center Communications Operator Maryjo Boone, the Day Shift will consist of 10 engines and 15 crews. One strike team of engines from San Joaquin County has been released while one strike team of engines from Stanislaus County remains on site. Approximately 227 fire personnel remain on site.
The 102 acre fire was initially reported at 11pm Wednesday near Italian Bar and Yankee Hill Rd. and contained at 5pm Thursday.
Three firefighter injuries, a fractured arm, an ankle and a foot, have been reported by CAL FIRE officials.
All roads in the immediate vicinity have been reopened to local residents.
The fire was caused by individuals harvesting an illegal marijuana grow. They failed to report the fire departing the scene leaving several weapons and processed marijuana at their campsite.
Sheriff´s deputies contacted 25 homes regarding voluntarily evacuated. No structures were damaged
According to CAL FIRE´s Barbara George, Tuolumne County has now spent $1.5 million this year in suppressing fires at campsites of illegal marijuana grows. According to CAL FIRE´s Nancy Longmore four fires in the Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit have originated in marijuana gardens and three of those fires have been in Tuolumne County.
Written by Bill Johnson
