NORTH FORK — Just after 2:30 p.m. today a report came in of a vegetation fire on Mammoth Pool Road about a mile east of the Indian Creek Mobile Home Park.
The fire started on the north side of the roadway in tall grass and vegetation and, even though it isn’t generating a lot of heat, the very steep slope caused it to initially move quickly. At 3:15 p.m. the Incident Commander reported the fire at about five acres.
No structures are threatened.
Rocks and loosened vegetation are rolling down onto the highway and CHP has closed Mammoth Pool Road at the Indian Creek Mobile Home Park, the turnoff to Italian Bar Road, off of Road 225 in North Fork.
According to two witnesses, a large white Ford dually was headed down the hill with its brakes on fire in that location. The vehicle has not been determined to have been the cause of the fire.
Cal Fire engines are on scene, along with Madera County water tenders and crews from Mt. Bullion and Miramonte. Air resources also responded, including one helicopter, two tankers and Air Attack.
Though the fire has a slow rate of spread, by about 4:15 p.m. it has now reached the top of the ridge where winds are becoming a factor.
As of 9 p.m., the size of the fire has been mapped at about five acres in a long, skinny line running about one-quarter mile to the top of the ridge.
There is no report on containment.
We will continue to report as additional information becomes available.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
