OAKHURST – The Sky Fire has now grown to over 125 acres, and evacuations continue along Sky Ranch Road (Road 632) just north of Oakhurst.
The fire was reported at 2:35 p.m. on Thursday, June 18, when a vehicle caught fire and spread into the surrounding vegetation.
Sheriff’s deputies and Citizens on Patrol and making their way through the heavily forested area, from Calvin Crest, up through Grey’s Mountain Nelder Grove, Soquel, Texas Flat and all the other campgrounds in the area, imposing a mandatory evacuation and helping folks find their way out.
Road 632 is closed from Highway 41 up to Soquel, and deputies and COPs are stationed along the route to assist people in getting out. One deputy led a line of cars about 100 strong across Forest Road 6210X to Beasore Road. The convoy continues into the evening as campers pack up and leave ahead of the approaching fire.
The next area to evacuate may be Sugar Pine if the fire keeps moving, according to Cal Fire Prevention Specialist Karen Guillemin-Kanawyer.
The fire started about 1.8 miles off Highway 41, but quickly spread through tinder-dry vegetation and dense forests.
It is burning up the Nelder Creek drainage, and running north and east, parallel to the Calvin Crest Road.
There are currently 6 overhead, 8 crews, 3 dozers, 36 engines, 6 water tenders, 7 air tankers, 2 helicopters and one air attack.
Cal Fire and the Forest Service have been in unified command up until this point, and command will be transitioning over to the Forest Service some time this evening, as it is burning on National Forest land.
Photo by Alicia Arce
