MARIPOSA COUNTY — The Detwiler Fire was reported at 15,500 acres this morning, however it has been pushing south and west all morning, and is now threatening Hornitos and Catheys Valley.
Evacuations and road closures have been expanded (see list below).
Activity on the fire started early today, with reports coming in about 8 a.m. that it was “hitting pretty substantially” on Hornitos Road and toward Catheys Valley on the west, and was making a run toward Mt. Bullion Camp on the east side of Highway 49.
A strike team was sent in for protection of Mt. Bullion Camp, and Operations requested two helicopters to Hornitos Road and Old Toll Road.
By 8:22 a.m., the division commander on the southwest portion of the fire reported they had up to 3,000 acres burning on the south side of Old Toll Road, and one structure had already been lost. There were multiple spot fires, and the fire had burned past Mt. Gaines Road, heading towards Hornitos.
The order was given to launch all air tankers to the incident, including the 911 VLAT.
By 8:35 a.m., the fire had reached Quail Meadows and Hornitos Road. Dozers were ordered up to keep the fire from crossing the gulch south of Old Toll Road, and structure protection was needed immediately.
Just after 9 a.m., Air Attack advised that they had about 30 minutes until the Mt. Bullion Road was impacted and the Mariposa Airport needed to be closed down. Helicopter operations will be moved to Castle Air Force Base in the Atwater area.
Highway 49 is closed between Coulterville and Agua Fria, and at 9:16 a.m., CHP announced they implemented a closure on Highway 140 at Hornitos Road in Catheys Valley.
The Sheriff’s Office urges everyone to please stay out of the area. Emergency vehicles need safe, clear access, and fire conditions are changing rapidly.
Updated evacuations from the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office:
- Hornitos Road from Mt. Gaines to Highway 140, including Bear Creek and Whispering Oaks, El Toro Road, McCay Road and Granite Lane
- CYA Camp Road
- Morrissey Road
- Mosher Road
- West Whitlock Road from Golden Creek Lane to Mosher Road
- Detwiler Road – ALL Homes
- Hunters Valley Road – All Homes
- Hunters Valley Access Road – All Homes
- Bear Valley Road – Between Hunters Valley and Hunters Valley Access Road (Both sides of Bear Valley Road)
- Cotton Creek Road – All Homes
- Bear Valley Road from Cotton Creek Road to Hwy 49N (Both Sides of the Road)
- Bear Valley Road from Cotton Creek to Exchequer Road- (North Side of the Road only
- Hwy 49N – Mt. Ophir to Fremont Fort (Monument at the top of the Bagby Grade)- (Both Sides of the road)
- Pendola Gardens to Old Toll Road
- Mount Bullion Ridge Road from Highway 49N to CYA Road
- Old Toll Road between Corbett Creek Road and Highway 49N, including Corbett Creek Road
- Mount Gains Road to No.9 Road including No.9 Road
- Highway 49N from Mount Bullion Ridge Road (Fremont Fort) to old Toll Road
- Pendola Gardens Road from Highway 49N to Old Toll Road
- Highway 49N from Old Toll Road to Agua Fria Road
- Area known as Mount Bullion
- Mount Bullion Cut off Road and Agua Fria Road from Highway 49N to Highway 140
Advisement Only (NOT an Evacuation Order, simple advisement of fire in the area only)
- Hornitos Road
- Bear Valley Road – All homes from Exchequer Rd to Hornitos Road
- Hornitos Town Area
- Highway 140 from Hornitos Road to Agua Fria
Road Closures:
- Highway 49N at Mykleoaks Road on the south, and at Highway 132 (Coulterville) on the north
- Mt. Gaines at Hornitos Road
- Mt. Bullion Cutoff Road at Highway 140
- W. Whitlock from Mosher Road and Golden Creek Lane
- Agua Fria at Creek Crossing
- Old Toll at Hornitos Road
- Bear Valley Road at Exchequer Road
- Mt. Gaines at No.9 Road
These conditions change by the minute, so please be prepared to evacuated if you live in the fire area.
The Red Cross Shelter and Small Animal Shelter is located at the Mariposa Elementary School at 5044 Jones Street in Mariposa.
Central CA Animal Disaster Team has been deployed to set up a small animal shelter at this location. For animal evacuation, residents need to call the Mariposa Sheriff’s Office at 209-966-3614.
The fire was reported just before 4 p.m. Sunday afternoon and grew to thousands of acres in just a matter of hours.
The cause is under investigation.
Are volunteers being sought to help vacate or stage livestock?