Evacuations ordered for 1,200-acre Parkhill Road fire near Santa Margarita
Update 7:55 a.m.
Cal Fire has confirmed that one structure was destroyed last night. Officials haven’t been able to confirm yet whether it was a house or an outbuilding, Cal Fire spokesman Chris Elms said. The current acreage of the fire is still at about 1,200 acres, Elms said, and firefighters took advantage of lower temperatures and higher humidity overnight to try to contain the fire.
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Update 1:15 a.m.
The fire has grown to 1,200 acres and is 10 percent contained, according to Cal Fire. Crews are preparing to work through the night, and all evacuation orders and road closures remain in effect.
Update 9:15 p.m.
Highway 58 east of Santa Margarita, between Parkhill and Creston roads is closed both ways because of the fire, Caltrans says.
Update 8:15 p.m.
The fire has grown to 900 acres, Cal Fire spokesman Chris Elms confirmed.
According to Elms, heavy brush, steep terrain, narrow roads and warm temperatures all contributed to the fire’s rapid escalation.
“It’s still a very, very dynamic fire,” Elms said Monday evening. “And very, very fast.”
He said there were rumors that one structure has been destroyed by the blaze, but has not yet been able to confirm.
Crews will work throughout the night, utilizing the cooler temperatures, to try to get the fire under control before organizing more air attacks in the morning, Elms said. As of 8 p.m., about 25 engines and crews were working at the scene, though that was expected to increase over night as more resources arrived.
Sheriff’s spokesman Tony Cipolla said he estimated around 250 people had been evacuated.
MANDATORY EVACUATIONS:
Parkhill Road east of Oak Canyon including La Entrada, from Stagecoach Canyon Road to Huer Huero Road
North of Parkhill Road to include Wilson Creek Road, Katacreek Road, Golden Pond Way, Random Canyon Way to Horseshoe Canyon Road.
Huer Huero Road to Highway 58 including Black Mountain Resort Road, Blue Road, Blue Ridge Road east to Shooting Star Road, south to Golden Pond Way and back over to Random Canyon Way.
EVACUATION WARNINGS:
South of Parkhill Road from La Entrada to Huer Huero Road. West of La Entrada on Parkhill Road to Highway 58. Huer Huero Road northwest from Random Canyon Way to Highway 58 including Black Mountain Resort Road and Blue Road.
Update 6:30 p.m.
An evacuation center has been set up for evacuated residents at Santa Margarita Elementary School at 22070 H St.
Update 6:25 p.m.
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office has issued mandatory evacuation warnings for Huer Huero Road to Highway 58 including Black Mountain Resort Road, Blue Road, Blue Ridge Road east to Shooting Star Road, south to Golden Pond Way and back over to Random Canyon Way.
These are in addition to the existing evacuation orders along and around Parkhill Road.
Update 6 p.m.
The fire has grown to 500 acres, and additional evacuation warnings have been issued.
The SLO County Sheriff’s Office has issued a warning for possible evacuations in the following areas:
▪ South of Parkhill Road from La Entrada to Huer Huero Road.
▪ West of La Entrada on Parkhill Road to Highway 58.
▪ Huer Huero Road northwest from Random Canyon Way to Highway 58 including Black Mountain Resort Road and Blue Road.
Update 5:50 p.m.:
The fire has grown to 300 acres, according to Cal Fire.
Original story:
A fast-burning fire near Santa Margarita has prompted mandatory evacuations, and continues to threaten several structures, according to Cal Fire.
The fire broke out around 3:30 p.m. in the area of Parkhill Road and Rue De Leon, Cal Fire spokesman Chris Elms said.
As of 5:30 p.m. it has grown to about 175 acres.
“It’s still growing,” Elms said. “It’s a dynamic fire at this point.”
Mandatory evacuations are being coordinated by the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office.
The office has ordered evacuations for:
▪ Parkhill Road east of Oak Canyon including La Entrada, from Stagecoach Canyon Road to Huer Huero Road
▪ North of Parkhill Road to include Wilson Creek Road, Katacreek Road, Golden Pond Way, Random Canyon Way to Horseshoe Canyon Road.
Elms said it is “entirely possible” that people are stuck in the vicinity of the fire, but engines are making their way to all of the addresses in the vicinity to help residents evacuate the area.
This story was originally published June 26, 2017 at 5:40 PM with the headline "Evacuations ordered for 1,200-acre Parkhill Road fire near Santa Margarita."