Crime & Safety

[Updated] 'Controlled Burn' Off SR 78 Spreads to 1,500 Acres

By Melissa Phy

Updated at 9:20 p.m. May 32, 2013

A controlled burn Thursday afternoon near the San Felipe area that spread when winds shifted has burned 1,500 acres, Cal Fire has reported.
The agency said that as of 9:20 p.m., the fire is 30 percent contained.
Multiple resources were called in for backup, but no structures were threatened and no injuries were reported, Cal Fire said.
Authorities closed county Highway S2 between state Route 78 and Montezuma Valley Road.

Updated at 3:15 p.m. May 23, 2013

A controlled burn near the San Felipe area that required extra resources Thursday afternoon after a wind shift caused the fire to change directions has spread to 250 acres and is 5 percent contained, Cal Fire reported.

At around 1:15 p.m. Cal Fire Capt. Mohler said the fire was still considered control, but an hour later the fire had spread to 100 acres and more than 100 firefighters were on scene.

According to the fire captain, fire planes and helicopters were also called in to help contain the fire that had spread past the controlled burn lines.

Authorities closed county Highway S2 between state Route 78 and Montezuma Valley Road.

Cal Fire reported that no structures were being threatened. 

Patch will keep you updated.

Original Story:
A controlled burn Thursday near state Route 78 and S2 required extra resources, "just to be safe," Cal Fire Capt. Mike Mohler said.

"It's still considered a controlled burn," Mohler said around 1:15 p.m. "The wind shifted and caused the fire to change directions."

The Cal Fire captain said the fire was only at about 40 acres at the time, but California Highway Patrol was shutting down roads and assistance was being called in for good measure.

"It's better to be safe than sorry," he said.

CHP was closing portions of S2, at S22 and SR 78.

Patch will keep you updated.


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