MARIPOSA – As firefighters work to get a handle on the Boyer Fire, burning at the end of Boyer Road in Mariposa County, residents are being ordered to evacuate.
At 2:35 p.m., the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office ordered mandatory evacuations for Sherrod Road from the east end to the Owl Creek Bridge. A Red Cross Evacuation Center is being set up at 5089 Cole Road at the New Life Christian Church.
How the fire situation developed:
At 1:39 p.m., engines from Cal Fire, Mariposa County Fire, and the Sierra National Forest were dispatched to reports of a vegetation fire near the address of 5375 Boyer Road.
With so many resources committed to other incidents, response times were extended, and the incident commander at the Raymond Fire released two engines and a dozer to head for the Boyer Fire.
A Fresno Kings Unit strike team that had been cancelled earlier from the Raymond Fire was also called up.
Air Attack lifted off Fresno at 1:57 p.m., and Helicopter 551 from Yosemite and another out of Columbia responded.
The first unit at scene reported the fire at five acres with three structures immediately threatened. He noted that aircraft would be essential to stop this fire moving into Lush Meadows, and requested two more air tankers, five additional Type 3 engines, two ground crews, and two more dozers.
At 2:13 p.m., the fire was estimated at 10-15 acres, and it was reported that structures were involved.
The fire is reportedly moving north and east for the ignition point.
At 2:15 p.m., two additional tankers, for a total of six, and one more helicopter were requested.
Evacuation notices were then started on Sherrod Road and Owl Creek Ridge.
As of 2:15 p.m., the fire was estimated at 20 acres.
An engine strike team is being formed from Tuolumne Calaveras Unit to head to the fire, and additional resources continue to arrive as the come available.
Air Attack reports the fire is spotting out well ahead of itself, and structure protection is a priority.
At 2:35 p.m., the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office ordered mandatory evacuations for Sherrod Road from the east end to the Owl Creek Bridge. A Red Cross Evacuation Center is being set up at 5089 Cole Road at the New Life Christian Church.
At 2:53 p.m., the fire was reported at 25 – 30 acres. It has reached the top of the ridge and backing down toward the Wire Ranch.
At 3:15 p.m., Air Attack estimated the fire at 35 acres.
At 3:24 p.m., the Sheriff’s Office sent out evacuation ADVISORY ONLY for Clouds Rest Road- on the ridge side (West Side) only, from Half Dome Road to Lehamite Road including W. Illilouette Fall Road.
PG&E reports that 99 customers have lost power due to lines being deenergized because of the fire.
At 4:10 p.m., the fire was estimated at 65 acres with 5 percent containment. Crews and aircraft are focused on the northeast corner. There is still a serious structure threat.
At 5:30 p.m., PG&E reported that power had been restored in the Bootjack area.
We will update this article as conditions develop.
The cause of the fire is not known at this time.
