Evacuation orders are still in effect for parts of Calaveras County as crews battle the Aero Fire.
COPPEROPOLIS, Calif. — The Aero Fire in Copperopolis is 33% contained as of Wednesday and has burned 5,351 acres.
Cal Fire said typical season weather is expected over the fire area through Thursday. Temperatures in the 80s with decent relative humidity are expected, which will help with overnight recoveries.
“The conditions are not what they were yesterday, and we’ve made significant progress on stopping the spread of the fire. But the conditions are still dynamic out there,” Carhart said Tuesday.
The fire is burning south down O’Byrnes Ferry Road and to the east toward the Tuolumne County line, generally toward Copperopolis.
“In the area that it’s burning, it was really receptive to fast growth, burning in a lot of grassy areas, growing to 5,000 acres very quickly. Overnight, they have been able to slow the spread of the fire and had successes,” Cal Fire spokesperson Rick Carhart said Tuesday.
About 840 personnel and 101 engines have responded to the fire so far. Cal Fire said the fire is burning grass and oak woodlands in an area that hasn’t had a large fire since 2003.
A firefighter was hurt during the blaze with what officials described as a “minor” injury on Tuesday. Three structures were destroyed, one structure is damaged and 3,690 structures are threatened as of Wednesday morning, according to Cal Fire.
Some evacuation orders are still in place, but evacuation warnings have been lifted in Calaveras County. Evacuation warnings have also been lifted in Tuolumne County.
Stay Informed
Evacuations
All Evacuation Warnings were lifted in Calaveras County as of 11 a.m. Wednesday, according to Cal Fire. Evacuation orders are still in place for the following zones: CCU – 147-C, CCU – 152-B, CCU – 153-B, CCU -168-B.
All evacuation warnings in Tuolumne County were lifted, according to Cal Fire.
Here are the latest road closures:
- Pyle Road at O’ Byrnes Ferry Road
- Rock Creek at Highway 4,
- Britchen Drive at the fire perimeter line
- Rock Creek at the fire perimeter line
Cal Fire said there will be public safety crews in the repopulated and evacuated areas for the next several days to keep residents and their property safe. There may be traffic interruptions due ot fire crews and utility workers. PG&E crews are also working to restore power to impacted areas.
Fire Perimeter Maps
This is a map from Cal Fire as of June 19 at 6 a.m.
A map from the National Interagency Fire Center is available below.
WILDFIRE PREPS
If you live in a wildfire-prone zone, Cal Fire suggests creating a defensible space around your home. Defensible space is an area around a building in which vegetation and other debris are completely cleared. At least 100 feet is recommended.
The Department of Homeland Security suggests assembling an emergency kit that has important documents, N95 respirator masks, and supplies to grab with you if you’re forced to leave at a moment’s notice. The agency also suggests signing up for local warning system notifications and knowing your community’s evacuation plans best to prepare yourself and your family in cases of wildfires.
Some counties use Nixle alerts to update residents on severe weather, wildfires, and other news. To sign up, visit www.nixle.com or text your zip code to 888777 to start receiving alerts.
PG&E customers can also subscribe to alerts via text, email, or phone call. If you’re a PG&E customer, visit the Profile & Alerts section of your account to register.
What questions do you have about the latest wildfires? If you’re impacted by the wildfires, what would you like to know? Text the ABC10 team at (916) 321-3310.
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