Update: Grass Fire Ignites Structure In Calaveras County, Evacuations Lifted

CAL Fire crews gain control of Rainbow Fire with smoke diminishes in the sky

Update at 4:30 p.m.: Crews continue to make progress on the Rainbow Fire that ignited in grass and spread to a structure in the one o’clock hour. The blaze that ignited in the 7400 block of West Old Immigrant Trail, between Hangmans Tree and Rustlers Pass in Mountain Ranch. CAL Fire spokesperson Lindy Shoff updates, “Forward progress has been stopped on the 11.5-acre fire. One structure and one vehicle have been destroyed. The cause of the fire is under investigation.”

The Red Cross has been called in to help the residents of the home that was destroyed. Residents on both sides of West Old Immigrant Trail, between Hangmans Tree and Rustlers Pass, were forced to leave their homes for about 45 minutes as a mandatory evacuation was ordered. Crews will be working towards full containment and mopping up for the next couple of hours.

Update at 3:50 p.m.: Crews are getting a handle on the Rainbow Fire that ignited in grass and damaged a structure. The flames broke out around 1 p.m. in the 7400 block of West Old Immigrant Trail, between Hangmans Tree and Rustlers Pass in Mountain Ranch. The blaze remains seven acres in size. All aircraft have been released from the fire with crews working towards full containment. The CHP has reopened West Old Immigrant Trail to traffic. A structure was damaged in the fire with more than half the structure engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived on the scene. There is no update on the type or damaged sustained to the building.

Update at 3:20 p.m.: The Rainbow Fire burning in the 7400 block of West Old Immigrant Trail, between Hangmans Tree and Rustlers Pass in Mountain Ranch is holding at seven acres. CAL Fire spokesperson Lindy Shoff reports that the main fire is holding within the retardant lines with some spot fires igniting outside the lines that have quickly been contained. Crews continue to work towards full containment. Residents that were evacuated are being allowed back into their homes along West Old Immigrant Trail, but the roadway remains closed to the public. One structure was damaged in the fire, but there are no details regarding the type of building.

Update at 2:30 p.m.: CAL Fire ground and air units are making progress on the Rainbow fire burning in the grass in the 7400 block of West Old Immigrant Trail, between Hangmans Tree and Rustlers Pass in Mountain Ranch. One structure was on fire. CAL Fire spokesperson Lindy Shoff updates, “The fire is approximately seven acres and its holding within the retardant lines. The mandatory evacuations on West Old Immigrant Trail have been lifted. However, CHP is keeping a hard closure of the roadway in the fire area, which is inside the Butte Fire burn scar. The public is asked to remain out of the area so that crews can continue unimpeded, states Shoff.

Update at 1:50 p.m.: The Rainbow fire has grown to five acres and one building is 50 percent burned while another is threatened. The flames ignited in some grass in the 7400 block of West Old Immigrant Trail, between Hangmans Tree and Rustlers Pass in Mountain Ranch just after 1 p.m. Crews are working to knock down a fire in a structure and another is threatened. CAL Fire spokesperson Lindy Shoff that there are mandatory evacuations on both sides of that roadway as the flames could potentially jump the road. The CHP is reporting that West Old Immigrant Trail is being shut down in the area of the fire. Also, CAL Fire is asking that the public stay out of the area as there is plenty of activity going on with lots of personnel and equipment.

Update at 1:40 p.m.: CAL Fire spokesperson Lindy Shoff reports that the dubbed “Rainbow Fire,” which is burning in the 7400 block of Old Immigrant Trail, between Hangmans Tree and Rustlers Pass in Mountain Ranch, is a half-acre in size and moving at a moderate rate of spread. She adds that one building is 50 percent engulfed in flames at this time and threatening a second structure. There is no word on the type of buildings impacted.

Original post at 1:15 p.m.: Mountain Ranch, CA — CAL Fire resources including all Columbia aircraft are battling a vegetation fire into a structure in the Mountain Ranch area of Calaveras County.

The fire broke out in some grass in the 7400 block of Old Immigrant Trail, between Hangmans Tree and Rustlers Pass. Cal Fire spokesperson Lindy Shoff relays that it is a small grass fire and crews are working on knockdown of the flames in the structure, but she did not know what type of building it is. An update will be provided as soon as new information comes into the newsroom.