Gast To Rebuild Destroyed Cold Springs Residence

Cold Springs, CA — According to Sean Gast, a Groveland area “hot shot” firefighter, his mother Susan Gast will rebulit the home she lost Friday afternoon to an escaped debris burn.

The structure was located at 29987 Mariposa Drive in a subdivision south of Hwy 108 and the Cold Springs Market. Gast added that it took some time to get resources on scene due to the early date (fires generally do not start this early) and the remote location.

According to CAL Fire Battalion Chief Barry Rudolph the fire was initially reported at 3:30pm. Point of origin of the fire was an escaped debris burn just off a dirt road south Kerns Rd. The party responsible for the fire is known to investigating authorities.

The incident command center was established at the Cold Springs Market. On hand numerous fire personnel, the Tuolumne County Sheriff´s Office which coordinated the evacuation effort, the CHP, Stanislaus National Forest personnel and Tuolumne County Ambulance. CAL Fire´s Air Attack and Helicopter 404 from the Columbia Air Base were heavily involved in the effort.

Hwy 108 remained open in both directions during the entire firefighting effort. Evacuees were sent to Black Oak Elementary School in Twain Harte.

CAL Fire personnel along with Sierra Conservation Center Basecamp crews were on site today dealing with hot spots from the 20 acre blaze that filled the sky with an extensive amount of smoke. They are scheduled to return tomorrow.

Written by Bill Johnson