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The Spring Fire - photo Rebecca Ballinger

Spring Fire Jumps Highway 49, Roadway Closed

MARIPOSA COUNTY — Additional resources are responding to a vegetation fire burning along Highway 49 at Allred Road near the Lutheran Church southeast of Mariposa.

Spring Fire- photo courtesy Ron Iudice

At 1:45 p.m., a full wildland dispatch was called up for reports of the fire, which was estimated at 3 acres when the first resources arrived at scene at 1:56 p.m.

The fire has since grown to an estimated 125-150 acres.

Air Attack is overhead, with four air tankers and three helicopters, and engines from Cal Fire, Mariposa County Fire and Sierra National Forest.

Resources just released from the Ben Fire are being diverted to the new “Spring Fire,” including two strike teams of engines and five crews from Mt. Bullion.

At 2:45 p.m., the fire jumped Highway 49, forcing the closure of the road in both directions. Highway 49 South is CLOSED from Silva Road to Varain Road. Motorists are allowed to use Darrah and Triangle as a detour.

The Sheriff’s Office is notifying nearby residents of a mandatory evacuation in the path of the fire:

  • Ching Road to Silva Road
  • Allred Road to Morning Star Road
  • Ashworth Road to Old Oak Lane
  • Grist all the way to Old Oak Lane

As of 4:35 p.m., the fire crossed Allred Road to the east and evacuations have been ordered:

  • Silva Road to Carlton Road, both sides,
  • Carlton To Morning Star, west side only,
  • All of Morning Star

Engines are staging for structure protection throughout the threatened areas.

At 3:08 p.m., five additional engines from the Madera County Cal Fire Stations were dispatched to the fire, including Bass Lake, Rancheria and Coarsegold.

PG&E is reporting a power outage stretching from Triangle and Darrah Roads on the north, south to Eastman Lake, affecting 2,071 customers. The are working to restore power at this time.

PCFs are being called up to man their engines and staff the Cal Fire stations left un-staffed due to the Spring Fire.

An evacuation center has been opened at Woodland School, 3394 Woodland Drive.

We will update this article as conditions change.

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