Aero Fire in Calaveras County subdued, Copperopolis saved as temperatures intensify
Firefighters began to pull in the reins on the Aero Fire by Thursday morning, with the blaze being just over 50% contained as residents begin to return to their homes in the Copperopolis area of Calaveras County.
The fire’s expansion slowed significantly. It burned over 5,200 acres within two days. In the past 24 hours, its growth stifled and is now contained to about 5,300 acres.
Pictures and video from the scene show that large flames are largely nonexistent. The California Department of Forestry & Fire Prevention, or Cal Fire, reported that large fuels and “stump holes” continue to hold heat and smolder.
“Overnight, firefighters constructed additional fireline and reinforced the existing fireline with mop-up,” read a Cal Fire statement Thursday. “These efforts will continue today.”
Rick Carhart, the Cal Fire spokesman assigned to the Aero Fire, added that the fire essentially did not change in size overnight. Crews were still in the area attending to hot spots, but “big flames” were not a problem.
“We’re just really making sure that everything around there is out and cold, fixed up and dialed in so that those people can get back home as soon as possible,” Carhart said.
Many residents of Copperopolis, where the fire originated, were allowed to return home Wednesday. Several areas around the small Calaveras County town were still under an evacuation order as of Thursday. Other areas were under an evacuation warning. A map of this can be found on Cal Fire’s website
By Tuesday, three structures were destroyed with one damaged and this stayed the same by Thursday. Carhart said he could not confirm if these structures were homes, but inspectors were on site and would make their reports available in the future, through the county.
Copperopolis was spared from the flames. Carhart said Cal Fire’s first priority is people, then property and then forest. Resources were immediately sent to guard the town from flames.
Firefighters are mainly dealing with flare-ups within the fire’s original perimeter, keeping an eye on unburned “islands” that were not scorched when the blaze first expanded.
Carhart said Cal Fire “felt really good” about where it is with the fire and is confident no other structures would be destroyed.
The heat will no doubt be a factor in firefighters’ continued efforts to subdue lingering smolders. A heat advisory was issued for Saturday, where temperatures are expected to reach up to 104 degrees. Sunday’s high is forecast at 103 degrees.
The high heat will begin Friday, with a high of 98 degrees, and will continue through the weekend. Monday’s high is forecast to be 101 degrees.
