Power Fire Contained
Pinecrest, CA — The Power Fire in the Stanislaus National Forest is contained. About 20 fire fighters remain on the scene as well as one engine and water tender. The fire broke out around 6am on August 5th along the eastern edge of Beardsley Reservoir, near Hells Half Acre Road. It has burned 1070 acres of vegetation and threatened a hundred homes and some service roads were closed. It was called contained at around one this afternoon; just a little over a week since it started.
Forest Service officials say the rough and steep terrain made it hard for fire fighters to battle the blaze. They say one key weapon that helped them get a foot hold on the fire was the DC-10 airplane that dropped nearly 12,000 gallons of fire retardant onto the flames. The first couple of days smoke filled the air as trees and brush burned.
Pinecrest which was just four miles below the blaze was blanketed in smoke. The hazy skies could also be seen as far down as Sonora. A smoke alert was issued in Tuolumne County warning of the dangers to those with respiratory problems, the elderly and small children. Also, Highway 108 was closed down intermittently due to smoke, but local businesses and recreation areas remained open. Towards the end of the fire some service roads were closed to allow crews to move equipment.
At the height of the fire some 570 fire fighters battled the blaze with13 hand crews, 38 engines, 5 helicopters 2 fixed wings, 14 water tenders and 3 dozers. The agencies involved included: US Forest Service, CAL FIRE, Tuolumne County Fire, California Highway Patrol, Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office, Caltrans, PG&E and Tri-Dam Project.
