Cause Of SPI Mill Fire Determined

San Andreas, CA — The arcing of electrical lines on a poll above a pump station control unit has been cited as the cause of the Thursday afternoon five acre fire adjacent to the Sonora Sierra Pacific Industries mill.

That determination was made by Battalion Chief-Fire Prevention Officer Dennis Townsend. According to CAL Fire Communications Operator Ed Allendorf the fire was initially reported at approximately 1:10.

Response included all aircraft from the Columbia Air Base (Air Attack 440, Copter 404 and Tankers 82 and 83) and 10 CAL Fire engines. Also from CAL Fire: three Baseline fire crews and one dozer. Also responding were three U.S. Forest Service engines, one engine from Sonora City Fire and two engines and three water tenders from the Tuolumne County Fire Department. 

There was one reported firefighter injury. No structures were damaged. The fire was contained at 5:10pm.

Standard Rd. was closed to thru traffic at the outset of the fire.