Valley Fire 50% Contained

Mariposa, CA — Cal Fire reports the Valley Fire is now 50% contained and remains at 90 acres.  All aircraft from Columbia that was sent to battle the blaze yesterday has returned to base this morning.

The flames broke out around 5:30 last night in the Hunters Valley Road area near the southeast shore of Lake McClure.  Three structures have been destroyed, but there is no word on what type of structures.  Forty structures remain threatened.  A Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office evacuation order remains in effect for portions of Bear Valley Road and Hunters Valley Road. There is a Red Cross evacuation center at the Catheys Valley Baptist Church. Also, Hunters Valley Road and Hunters Valley Access Road are still closed to the public.

There are 356 firefighters on scene, 15 engines, 12 fire crews, 4 helicopters and 5 dozers.

The Valley Fire is in the same region where the 677 acre Hunters Fire started on Memorial Day and was contained on June 2.

Click here for a map of the fire area.