COARSEGOLD – Though firefighters have stopped the forward progress of the fire burning on the Veater Ranch north of Coarsegold, Highway 41 remains closed.
A slow rollover accident by a dozer cutting fire lines on a steep slope next to the roadway, left that dozer precariously perched above the highway in danger of rolling down.
As a matter of public safety, Highway 41 will remain closed until at least 8 p.m. or until the dozer can be moved into a safe position.
The dozer operator was wearing his seat belt and came away unscathed.
A hard closure is in place between the Coarsegold Community Center on the south and, as of 6 p.m. CHP says the closure on the north has been extended to Victoria Lane in Oakhurst.
Residents only who live between Victoria Lane and Serpa Canyon will be allowed to get to their homes, with the only access being from the north.
As of 5:30 p.m. the fire is holding at 10 acres and with 30 percent containment.
There are currently 10 engines assigned to the incident, along with two ground crews, one water tender, two dozers, two helicopters and one air attack. Air tankers have been released back to base.
The Bullis Fire was reported just after 3 p.m. this afternoon, when calls began coming in to 911 of a fire on the west side of the road, north of Coarsegold and south of the Broken Bit – the same general area as a fire that closed down Highway 41 on Monday.The first engine at scene reported the fire at about 1/2 acre, burning in grass and oak woodland.
A full wildland dispatch was called up, and CHP responded to provide any traffic control necessary.
At 3:16 p.m., the fire was reported at 2 to 3 acres and moving north.
At 3:21 p.m., CHP implemented one-lane traffic control.
At 3:43 p.m., Air Attack reported the fire at about 10 acres with retardant all the way down the right flank and across the head. The active part of the fire was stopped.
At this point, the incident commander reported that a dozer had rolled over while working the fire. No obvious injuries to the operator, but EMS was requested to respond to check him out.
At 3:50 p.m., Highway 41 was shut down in both directions – at the Coarsegold Community Center on the south and at Serpa Canyon on the north. Estimate two hours for a hard closure.
At 4:01 p.m., the incident commander reported the fire at about 10 acres, and the forward progress had been stopped.
At approximately 5 p.m. it was reported that the road would be closed for another three hours.
At 5:30 p.m., the fire was still holding at 10 acres with 30 percent containment.
At 9 p.m. better GPS mapping showed the fire at 6 acres. It is now 80 percent contained.
Investigators are at scene working to determine the cause of the fire.
We will update here as conditions develop.
