Wildfire consumes 2,289 acres

Blaze lights up Porterville sky

By 8 a.m. Monday firefighters had all but extinguished the Roadrunner Fire on P Hill southeast of town, but for several hours Sunday the fast moving blaze lit up the nighttime sky.

The blaze broke out on the north side of the hill which sits just southeast of the Porterville Developmental Center at 4:45 p.m. Sunday and quickly took off.

The blaze burned most of the eastern side of the hill which has no name other than P Hill because the city’s “P” sits on the side facing town. The fire began to the east of the P and moved away from that marker.

It burned up to Reservation Road in some areas where firefighters were able to stop it, then burned through thick, dry grass all the way to close to Deer Creek and Road 296 in some areas.

Before firefighters got a handle on it, the blaze blackened more than 2,289 acres, however some of that burned area was from backfires ignited by firefighters to stop the fire’s spread.

Toni Davis, spokesperson for Calfire, said no structures were lost and no injuries were reported. She said the fire was 65 percent contained by 8 a.m. Monday and only a few firefighters could be found at 9 a.m. By late afternoon, contaiment was put at 80 percent with just some interior hot spots and re-enforcing fire lines to be completed.

At its peak, about 6 p.m. to past midnight, flames could be seen for several miles and the smoke from the fire could be seen for more than 40 miles. Besides the grass, Davis said the fire claimed “a few oak trees,” and briefly threatened about five structures. Firefighters were also able to give cattle owners time to move their cattle to safety.

At its peak, Calfire had four hand crews, 17 engines and several air tankers on the fire. Tulare County Fire and Sequoia National Forest also assisted.

Davis reminds people of the dry conditions and how quickly a fire can take off.

The cause of the fire was still under investigation.

RECORDER PHOTOS BY RICK ELKINS A Calfire crew from San Diego doused a burning fence post still burning from the Roadrunner Fire, which began on the north side of P Hill, burned most of that hill Sunday night.

The Roadrunner Fire which began on the north side of P Hill, burned most of that hill that stretches to Avenue 296 and Tea Pot Dome Avenue. In all, 1,500 acres burned Sunday night.