Big Creek Fire in Groveland

UPDATE at 6:25 PM:  Fire is now at around 35 acres and still spotting forward.  They are setting up a camp.


  UPDATE at 6:10 PM:  The fire is estimated at 10-15 acres at this point, mostly on the south side of Hwy 120.


    UPDATE at 5:50 PM:  Another water tender and air attack has been requested. Many homes have been already been evacuated in that area. A spotter copter has been asked to stay up until dark to help locate fire spread.

   They are trying to use bulldozers to draw a line to stop the fire.


   UPDATE at 5:30 PM:  This is not what any of us want to hear. The fire has now spread across to the north side of Hwy 120. Ordered water tenders for immediate response.


   UPDATE at 5:20 PM:  All other units available have now been dispatched to the Big Creek Fire in both Calaveras and Tuolumne counties.

     Hwy 120 is being closed. Roadblocks will be set up for cross traffic as well.


   UPDATE at 5:15 PM:  Fire is moving and spotting in a southerly direction. CHP and law enforcement has been dispatched to handle traffic control and evacuations.


    UPDATE at 5:10 PM:  They ordered a type 1 helicopter (holds more water) and were told one is not available, so they will try for a type 2.  Now they are starting evacuations in the area.

    The fire is being called the Big Creek Fire.

 UPDATE:  At 5 PM they ordered a helicopter. It is now 4 to 5 acres in the timber. You can tell in the voices, this is not a place they want another big fire.  A large air tanker has been assigned.

   July 29, 2015 at 4:45 PM:  A fire was just reported on Hwy 120 at Sprague Road in Groveland.

   They immediately assigned an air tanker and several engines. It is around 2 acres torching into the trees as the first engine approached.