Vegetation Fire Just Off Highway 49 North Of Ahwahnee

AHWAHNEE – Crews responded to a vegetation fire north of Ahwahnee this afternoon, burning west Highway 49 just south of Nipinnawasee.

At 1:20 p.m. firefighters were dispatched to a fire reported near Dapple Grey Lane.

The first engine at scene reported the fire at about five acres with wind buffering it. Within a few minutes, the fire had grown to ten acres and was reported with a dangerous rate of spread. Five additional engines were requested.

The fire was located on Metcalf Gap Road, not far from the Incident Command Post for the Ferguson Fire.

Air Attack was overhead within minutes, and four air tankers and four helicopters were requested. Cal Fire, Madera County Fire and Sierra National Forest engines responded. Dozers cut line around the fire.

There was at least one structure immediately threatened, but no one was home. Madera County Sheriff and CHP also responded.

Power lines were reported down in the area, and Crooks Mountain Road and Metcalf Gap road were closed in the vicinity due to the danger posed by the fire and downed electrical lines, and to allow quick access for fire equipment.

At 2 p.m., two aircraft were cancelled.

At 2:10 p.m., Air Attack reported that the forward progress was stopped and units not already at scene were cancelled.

At 2:33 p.m. the fire was reported to be 50 percent contained.

This is the second fire in three days in this general area. A fire at the end of Knickerbocker Road burned just over two acres on Friday.