Fires Continue Saturday In Calaveras County

The fires in Calaveras County continue to burn this morning with firefighters working through the night and the firefighting aircraft ready to go at daybreak.

At last report, over 1000 acres of land had been burned around the community of Sheep Ranch near Murphys.

Also one wooden weekend cabin and one travel trailer have been confirmed destroyed by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

The Calaveras County Sheriff´s Department is reporting that at least 120 people have been evacuated in the area of Mineral Mountain, Indian Creek and Fullen Road.

According to the Calaveras County Office of Emergency Services, an evacuation center has been set up at Avery Middle School.

Fire crews from as far away as Stockton, Modesto, and even Sacramento were brought in to assist with the fires.

And that wasn´t all. About 45 miles to the southwest near Diamond XX west of Copperopolis, another fire broke out later yesterday afternoon.

That fire has burned over 1700 acres as of a report this morning, and the Saddle Creek subdivision and the area around Pommel Way had also reportedly been evacuated late yesterday afternoon.

As many as fifty homes were threatened in the Saddle Creek area.

Evacuees in that case were being sent to Copperopolis Elementary School.

Officials at the CDF are also asking folks to take extra care, watch out for emergency equipment and fire trucks and if possible, stay clear of the roadways in all areas close to the fires burning this morning.

In addition, they´re telling residents to not call 9-1-1 for fire updates. Keep the emergency lines clear for people with real emergencies.