NORTH FORK – Folks on their way into North Fork on Road 200 this afternoon were witness to a large plume of smoke and quite the airshow.
The “Acorn Fire” was called in at 1:14 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 28, and engines from the Rancheria and Sierra National Forest in North Fork were on the scene in minutes.
The fire was burning just off Road 200 on Golden Acorn Court, and spread quickly in the dry grass, bushes and trees. (click on photos to enlarge).
Crews scrambled to get a hose lay up the hill as flames cracked around them.
While ground crews worked to get a line around the fire, one air attack plane and two helicopters doused it from the air.
A few people who live in the area decided to try and help the firefighting effort.
They soon abandoned that as a bad idea and left it to the professionals when this fire got really serious.
Resources on the fire included 9 Cal Fire engines, 1 from Sierra National Forest in North Fork, 1 dozer from Coarsegold, 1 Madera County engine, 3 Madera County water tenders, and 2 Cal Fire inmate crews from Miramonte.
After consuming some 7 acres, the fire was contained at 3:19 p.m. Though there were several homes in the area, none was involved in the blaze.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The planes were flying low over my house all afternoon. I live north of there along Bonnie Bee Rd. I was nervous about the fire being so close to home, but VERY happy that it was contained so quickly.
Once again, I am amazed and thankful that our fire crews have kept things at bay during such a dry year. They sacrifice so much during fire season. Time away from families and being exhausted all of the time, not to mention, little free time!
THANK YOU GUYS AND GALS!