OAKHURST – Just after 4 p.m. today crews were called out to reports of a vegetation fire on Road 425B near Green Acres Drive in Oakhurst, about one-quarter mile off of Highway 41 near the top of Deadwood.
Cal Fire Battalion Chief Chris Christopherson spotted the smoke from Oakhurst and called the Command Center to report it. Sierra National Forest Engine 313 and Stanislaus National Forest Engine 34 were in the area and responded immediately.
Madera County Fire Engine 12 was first on scene along with Chief Christopherson, and they quickly got a hose lay around a home that was immediately threatened.
The homeowner, along with PG&E Supervisor David Bales grabbed shovels and began cutting a fire line around the house, mitigating any threat to the structure.
The Madera County Sheriff’s Office and CHP quickly responded to assist with road closures and any evacuations that may have been necessary, allowing fire equipment clear access for a fast response.
The fire started on the uphill side of 425B in a hairpin turn and jumped across the road. Law enforcement closed Road 425B in both directions, and firefighters quickly got a line around the fire. It was contained at 4:42 p.m. at just over one acre.
In an abundance of caution authorities briefly began notifying everyone on 425B to evacuate while they waited to see how the fire was going to behave, but those evacuations were not necessary, as firefighters made quick work of their suppression efforts.
Road 425B remained closed until about 6 p.m., as crews continued mop-up work, and the fire was called controlled at 6:45 p.m.
Road 425B runs from Highway 41 at the top of Deadwood on the south to Road 426 in Oakhurst on the north.
Cal Fire Engines 4285, 4260 and 4264 responded, along with Madera County Fire Engines 12, 16, 17, and 212, Water Tenders 16 and 17, Mount Bullion Crew 2, and Transport Dozer 3344. Air resources were dispatched, but were called off as crews got a handle on the fire early on.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
