Local Firefighters Kept On The Run Tuesday

Tuolumne County firefighters were kept busy this afternoon responding to a number of calls.

Units were called out to the Columbia Village Townhomes in Columbia where a broken fire sprinkler pipe in one of the units caused water damage.

Firefighters responded shortly after 2 p.m. this afternoon to the Sierra Pacific Industries Chinese Camp mill for a fire in a wood chip hopper.

Fire Marshal Kary Hubbard said the fire to sawdust caused about $800 in damage to the product and in lost wages when workers were sent home early because of the blaze.

Hubbard believes the fire was caused by mill equipment nearby, but they are still investigating.

Fire units in the Twain Harte area quickly knocked down a small grass fire on Forest Vista Drive, also Tuesday afternoon, Hubbard said.