Update: Wednesday Aero Fire Information

Update at 6:15 p.m.: CAL Fire reports that the acreage on the Aero Fire, burning along Rock Creek Road and Highway 4 in the Copperopolis area of Calaveras County, has held steady at 5,351 acres, and the containment has grown from 33% to 45%. Further details regarding the fire can be viewed below.

Update at 2 p.m.: Calfire is asking the Copperopolis Community to conserve water. They note that due to the Aero fire situation, cooperation is “vital in keeping our community safe.” Updates will be provided as the situation evolves and they thank the community for their “understanding and support during this critical time.”

Update at 11:30am: The earlier “evacuation warnings” in Calaveras County have now all been lifted. There are still some evacuation orders in place near the fire. Click here to view the latest map. 

O’Byrnes Ferry Road is back open, along with Highway 4.

Road Closures still in effect: Pyle Rd at O’ Byrnes Ferry Rd, Rock Creek at Highway 4, Britchen Dr at the
fire perimeter line, Rock Creek at the fire perimeter line.

The Calaveras Sheriff’s Office reports, “Public safety crews will have a strong presence in the repopulated and evacuated areas for the next several days to ensure the protection of our residents and their property. We will continue to monitor the active fire areas, as well as those areas remaining closed due to critical infrastructure concerns or safety hazards. Be aware there may be traffic flow interruptions due to fire crews and utility workers still operating in the area and PG&E is working diligently to restore power to the affected areas. Coming home after a wildfire can be difficult. When a wildfire burns through an evacuated area, we take many things into consideration before allowing residents to return. Trees, brush, power lines and utility poles may have become weakened by the fire, and they need to be cleared. Crews continue to check for gas leaks, as well as any burning hazardous material that may need attention, prior to allowing residents to return.

Update at 11:18 am : Highway 4 is back open between Angels Camp and Copperopolis, near the Aero Fire, according to Caltrans.

Update at 11:12 am: The Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office reports that all evacuation warnings have been lifted in Tuolumne County from the Aero Fire. No announcement has been made yet about Calaveras County.

Update at 11:07 am: The CHP reports that O’Byrnes Ferry Road is back open on the Tuolumne County side, after being closed on Monday due to the Aero Fire. No word yet about the Calaveras side. We will pass along more information as it becomes available.

Update at 7:38 am: CAL Fire has updated the size and containment of the Aero Fire in Copperopolis.

It is 5,351 acres and 33% contained. The incident command team reports, “Favorable conditions and increased overnight relative humidity contributed to the growth in containment of the fire. Firefighters continue to observe pockets of heat in dense areas of vegetation and tree torching with the potential of ember cast that can affect the fire line. Crews will continue to construct and strengthen containment lines and cool hot spots within the perimeter throughout today.“

All of the earlier announced evacuation orders and warnings remain in place as of this morning.

Original story posted at 6:36 am:

Copperopolis, CA — CAL Fire reports that the size of the Aero Fire, burning along Rock Creek Road and Highway 4 in Copperopolis, is now estimated to be 5,351 acres and is 23% contained.

While there was minimal growth on Tuesday, the Incident Command Team reports, “pockets of heat in heavy fuels and embers from trees torching continue to have the potential to impact the fireline.”

Three structures have been destroyed and one damaged, with 3,690 still threatened.

One firefighter reported a minor injury while fighting the fire.

840 firefighters remain on the scene, 101 engines, 36 dozers, 27 water tenders, five helicopters, and nine hand crews. The road closures, evacuations, and shelter information remain the same. Evacuation shelters remain open at the Mark Twain Elementary School, San Joaquin County Fairgrounds in Stockton, and the Valley Springs Veterans Hall.

Click here to view detailed evacuation maps.

All of the earlier power outages around Angels Camp and Murphys have been restored. There are still a couple of hundred without power in Copperopolis. The estimated restoration time for remaining power outages is 8 p.m. this evening.

A team will be out today further assessing the damage impacts from the fire.