COARSEGOLD — Firefighters were called out to two separate fires in the early morning hours, one near Yosemite Lakes Park and another just south of Hensley Lake.
Just after 12:30 a.m., a young man from Coarsegold was southbound on Road 400 approaching Yosemite Springs Parkway.
He fell asleep at the wheel, according to CHP at the scene, drove off the left side of the roadway and overturned about 25 feet off the road in a field. The 18-year-old was able to get out of the Ford Fusion, which caught fire and was soon fully engulfed in flames, spreading into the surrounding vegetation.
Cal Fire and Madera County engines responded, along with a water tender and a crew out of Mt. Bullion. By 1:05 a.m., firefighters had the fire contained at about 1/4 acre, with a bit of assistance from the rain that fell overnight.
The young man suffered only minor injuries, and was checked out by Sierra Ambulance personnel at the scene.
Just as the vehicle fire was being dispatched, reports of a structure fire on Road 603 near Run Way came in. More engines were called out to that incident, and resources not needed on Road 400 were diverted to assist.
Shortly after 1 a.m., reports came in that the structure was fully involved. Once again, the lack of water tender drivers had an impact on suppression efforts, and it was after 2 a.m. when a second water tender arrived at the scene.
No drugs or alcohol contributed to the vehicle accident.
There is currently no further information on the structure fire.
