Update: Aero Fire In Copperopolis (Monday)

HWY 4 photo by Bruce Lodge

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You can find a new Aero Fire story for Tuesday, June 18, by clicking here. 

Update at 8:14 pm: Crews will continue to battle the Aero Fire through the evening and early morning hours with more resources to arrive on Tuesday. The Calaveras County Office of Emergency Services has set up an Aero Fire information phone line at 209-754-6777. The earlier evacuation orders and advisories remain in place.

To view the latest updated evacuation maps, click here. 

Update at 7:24 pm: In addition to the evacuation orders and warnings in place in Calaveras County, the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office has issued an evacuation warning for O’Byrnes Ferry Road from the Tuolumne/Calaveras line to Highway 108.

Update at 7 pm: CAL Fire is updating that the acreage of the Aero Fire in Coppopolis is 1,525 acres. The evacuation information, and road closures, remain the same as below.

Update at 6:23 pm: The Aero Fire that ignited earlier in the afternoon near Aero Road in Copperopolis is up over 1,500 acres and there is no containment yet. The blaze has been moving at a fast rate spread.

The latest update from the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office is below: 

Road Closures: Highway 4 at Little John Road (Highway 4 at Obyrnes Ferry) is closed. Pool Station Road at Highway 4 remains closed. Hunt Road at Milton Road, Salt Springs Valley Road, Felix Road, and Rock Creek Road are also closed.

Evacuation Order: The areas of Copper Town Square and Obyrnes Ferry Road to the county line are under an evacuation order. All residents are ordered to immediately evacuate.

Evacuation Centers: Valley Springs Veterans Hall (for residents west of the Town Square): 189 Pine Street, Valley Springs, CA 95252.

Mark Twain Elementary School (secondary evacuation center for those east of Pool Station): 646 Stanislaus Ave, Angels Camp, CA 95222.

Animal Evacuation:

Domestic animals can be taken to Bret Harte High School.

Livestock can be taken to the Calaveras County Fairgrounds: 2465 Gunclub Road, Angels Camp, CA 95222. The Red Cross is already en route to these evacuation centers to provide assistance.

A link to the evacuation map can be found here. 

Update at 6 pm: The latest size estimate on the Aero Fire in Copperopolis is still about 1,000 acres. The power outage in Calaveras County is now stretching up the Highway 4 corridor from Copperopolis, over to Angels Camp, into Murphys, and Arnold. PG&E does not have an estimated restoration time. Over 10,000 customers are without electricity.

Update at 5:45 pm: The Aero Fire has reached 1,000 acres. Highway 4 remains closed between the Copper Town Square and Pool Station Road.

The earlier evacuation information below remains unchanged. PG&E now reports that over 6,000 customers are without electricity, including most of Copperopolis and Angels Camp.

Update at 5:20 pm: An evacuation center has been opened at the Valley Springs Veterans Hall at 189 Pine Street for residents west of the town square. Domestic animals can be taken to the Veterans Hall. Livestock can be taken to the Calaveras Fairgrounds. The Red Cross is en route to the evacuation centers to assist. A hotline number is being developed. In addition, 827 people are without power in the Copperopolis area due to the fire.

Update at 5:01 pm: The  Aero Fire continues to grow at a fast rate of spread and is now approximately 932 acres. Additional resources of hand crews and engines are responding to the fire. An evacuation order has been issued from Rock Creek Road from Highway 4 to Hunts Valley Road and O’byrnes Ferry Road to Copper Cove and Highway 4 West to Copperopolis Town Square. An evacuation warning has been issued for east of Pool Station Road to Appaloosa and Bar 20.

Update at 4:47 pm:  The fire continues to grow at a fast rate of spread and is currently at 500 acres.

Update at 4:37: An evacuation warning has been added for North of Highway 4 from Rock Creek Road to Hunt Road. The fire has grown to 400 acres.

Update at 4:32 pm: The 250-acre Aero Fire continues to burn at a dangerous rate of spread. Due to the fire, a hard closure has been put in place on Highway 4 at Pool Station Road.

Update at 4:18 p.m.: The fire has grown to approximately 250 acres with a described dangerous rate of spread. Highway traffic is anticipated to be disturbed by this fire on Highway 4.

Update at 3:51 p.m.: The fire acreage has grown to 150 acres with a continued rapid rate of spread. One structure is threatened. The cause of the fire is unknown.

Original post at 3:38 Copperopolis, CA– Air and ground resources are responding to a vegetation fire named the Aero Fire in Copperopolis in the 4000 block of Aero Road and Hunt Road. The fire is currently 30 acres with a rapid rate of spread. One structure is threatened.

Thanks to community news partners Dave Stayer and Larry England for sending in photos.