Aero Fire: Fast-moving vegetation fire in Copperopolis prompts evacuation orders, Highway 4 closed

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A vegetation fire in the Copperopolis area of Calaveras County is sending a large plume of smoke into the sky on Monday afternoon and “growing at a dangerous rate of spread,” Cal Fire said. Evacuation orders are in progress, the sheriff’s office said.Cal Fire said the Aero Fire is located near Aero Road and Hunt Road and had burned 5,000 acres as of 9:00 p.m., less than six hours after the fire was first reported.More than 7,300 households are without power as of 10:30 p.m., according to PG&E.Highway 4 is closed from Poole Station Road to O’Byrnes Ferry Road. Hunt Road at Milton Road, Salt Springs Valley Road, Felix Road, and Rock Creek Road is also closed.The areas of Copper Town Square and Obyrnes Ferry Road to the county line are under an evacuation order, according to the sheriff’s office. All residents are ordered to immediately evacuate.An evacuation warning is in effect for Copper Cove Drive west of Black Creek.An evacuation warning is also in effect for O’Byrnes Ferry Road from the Tuolumne-Calaveras County line to Highway 108, according to the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office.The Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office said evacuation centers have been set up for both people and animals. For people:For residents west of the Town Square, use Valley Springs Veteran Hill at 189 Pine Street, Valley Springs, CAFor residents east of Pool Station, use Mark Twain Elementary School at 646 Stanislaus Avenue, Angels Camp, CADomestic animals can be taken to Bret Harte High School.Livestock can be taken to the County Fairgrounds at 2465 Gunclub Road in Angels Camp.The Red Cross is en route to the evacuation center to provide assistance, the sheriff’s office said.Here is where to find updates on evacuation orders and warnings. During an evacuation order, there is an immediate threat to livelihood. It’s mandatory to evacuate in this case.An evacuation warning means that fire behavior could threaten nearby homes and businesses. During a warning, evacuations aren’t mandatory but they are encouraged.The Mark Twain Union Elementary School District said there would be no summer school on Tuesday. The elementary school gym is set up as an evacuation center.This comes as dry grasses and a north breeze have created an elevated risk for fast-spreading grass fires across the region. Meteorologist Heather Waldman says winds gusted up to 30 mph Monday afternoon but have since weakened. Winds on Tuesday will remain relatively light.Follow updates from Cal Fire here. | MORE | A 2024 guide for how to prepare for wildfires in CaliforniaHere are key websites that are important for all Californians during wildfire season.Cal Fire wildfire incidents: Cal Fire tracks its wildfire incidents here. You can sign up to receive text messages for Cal Fire updates on wildfires happening near your ZIP code here.Wildfires on federal land: Federal wildfire incidents are tracked here.Preparing for power outages: Ready.gov explains how to prepare for a power outage and what to do when returning from one here. Here is how to report track and report PG&E power outages.Keeping informed when you’ve lost power and cellphone service: How to find a National Weather Service radio station near you.Be prepared for road closures: Download Caltrans’ QuickMap app or check the latest QuickMap road conditions here.This story is developing. Stay with KCRA 3 for updates.

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