Airola Fire about 35% contained
The Airola Fire that burned about 700 acres of Stanislaus River watershed and other slopes and ridges in Calaveras County near Parrotts Ferry Road and Vallecito was estimated to be 35% contained as of Friday morning.
More than 340 firefighters and support staff were assigned to the fire Friday morning, including 34 engine crews, seven water tank truck crews, 13 hand crews, and 10 dozer crews, supported by two helicopters.
The fire broke out about 2:55 p.m. Wednesday near the high-water mark of where the river flows into New Melones Reservoir, upstream from the new Parrotts Ferry Road bridge. The cause of the fire remained under investigation, the Cal Fire Tuolumne-calaveras Unit said in a statement.
No injuries or fatalities had been reported connected to the fire, and no structures had been destroyed or damaged. About 200 structures remained under threat from the 700-acre burn area, according to Cal Fire.
Crews expected to continue building fire containment lines in steep, rugged terrain above the Stanislaus River canyon and on other edges of the burn area. Warming temperatures with lowering humidity were expected Friday and into the weekend. Winds were expected to be upslope during the day and downslope at night.
Evacuation warnings remained in effect for the towns of Vallecito, Douglas Flat, and Murphys, along Parrots Ferry Road from the Tuolumne/calaveras county line at the river/ reservoir bridge crossing to Highway 4 including the Moaning Cavern and Camp Nine Road areas; and east of Red Hill Road to Parrots Ferry Road.
Animal evacuation centers for small animals were at Calaveras County Animal Services, 891 Mountain Ranch Road in San Andreas; large animals were welcome at Frogtown Fairgrounds, 2465 Gun Club Road outside Angels Camp.
Agencies working on the fire included the California Highway Patrol, Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office, Calaveras County OES, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and the California Conservation Corps.
Also Friday, the Calaveras health officer and Calaveras Air Pollution Control District issued a joint air quality advisory for potential poor air quality conditions primarily due to smoke from the Airola Fire in Calaveras County near Vallecito, the Washington Fire in Tuolumne County, the Caldor Fire in El Dorado County, the Dixie Fire in Plumas County, and other fires burning in Northern California.