Big Hill Fire Update

Fire crews are battling two wildfires in the Mother Lode this Morning…

In the Columbia area, firefighters are working a brush fire in steep terrain off Big Hill Road and Rancho Castanea Road. Addition fire units were called to the fire first reported around 7:30 a.m. this morning.

Firefighters at the scene say they were having a heck of a time reaching the blaze which as burnt about a 1/2 acre so far. A firefighting helicopter has now arrived to assist crews on the ground.

Dawn Palmonari lives in the area, she says she was headed to a doctors appointment when a neighbor pointed out the fire. “It´s a little too close for comfort,” she said. “I decided to turn around and come back home.” Palmonari lives off of Rocky Top Road. She said she´s been seeing a lot of smoke and flames down the hill, about a mile from the old Hatler Saw Mill.

CHP has set up traffic control on Big Hill Road due to all the fire equipment parked in the area.

In a remote section of Calaveras County northeast of West Point, firefighters are battling a wildfire that has blacken just over 2 acres in the Blue Creek area off Spur Four Road and Winton Road. That fire reported early this morning.

Fire officials say it will be at least five or six hours before these fires are brought into containment.