Update: “Bell Fire” In Amador County 50% Contained

Update at 6:15 p.m.: The Bell Fire burning off Highway 49 near Bell Road in Plymouth is 50 percent contained at 46 acres. Amador County Cal Fire Unit spokesperson Robert Little notes that all aircraft, include Columbia air attack and two tankers, have been released from the scene. He adds, “Through the night our crews will continue to strengthen the lines and get a full hose lay around the fire. I expect the containment number to go up overnight.”

Resources on scene include 150 firefighters, seventeen engines, five fire crews, one dozer and three water tenders. A section of Highway 49 at Bell Road was under one-way traffic control for about five hours on Friday afternoon.

The fire is burning in grass and oak woodland. No structures are threatened. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Update at 4:30 p.m.:  Amador County Cal Fire Unit spokesperson Robert Little states that round and air crews have halted the flames forward rate of spread on the Bell Fire burning off Highway 49 in Amador County.  The fire is 25 acres in size and 20 percent contained. No structures were threatened. Columbia aircraft and several local engines are helping to battle the blaze. Little reports ground crews will continue to battle the blaze into the evening an most likely overnight mopping up.

Update at 4 p.m.: Cal Fire reports the Bell Fire is 25 acres and 20 percent contained.  It is burning along Highway 49 at Bell Road and started after 1 p.m. between the communities of Plymouth and El Dorado.  The CHP reports officers are directing one-way traffic on the highway at Bell Road.

Update at 3 p.m.: The Bell Fire remains 20 to 30 acres with no containment, according to Amador County Cal Fire Unit spokesperson Robert Little. Columbia aircraft and several local engines are helping to battle the blaze along Highway 49 at Bell Road in Plymouth.  Little reports the resources on scene include fourteen engines, five fire crews, two dozers, five water tenders , two helicopters and four air tankers.  There remains no word on the flame’s rate of spread or whether any structures are threatened.

The CHP reports officers are directing one-way traffic control on the highway at Bell Road.

Update at 2:10 p.m.: Columbia aircraft and several local engines are helping to battle the what has been dubbed the “Bell Fire” burning off Highway 49 in Plymouth.

Cal Fire reports the fire is 20 to 30 acres in size and there is no containment. It is burning along Highway 49 at Bell Road and started after 1 p.m. between the communities of Plymouth and El Dorado. The CHP reports officers are directing traffic at Bell Road and the highway.

There is no word on the flame’s rate of spread or whether any structures are threatened.

Original post at 1:40 p.m.: Sonora, CA — If you heard aircraft fly overhead from Columbia it was air attack and two tankers responding to a vegetation fire in Amador County.

Cal Fire reports the flames broke out along Highway 49 at Bell Road between the communities of Plymouth and El Dorado. There is no word on the fire’s size or flame’s rate of spread or whether any structures are threatened.

Cal Fire notes that one local engine is also enroute to the blaze. We will have updates on this fire as soon as more information comes into the news center.