UPDATE: Crews gaining toward containment of Pozo fire
UPDATE 10 p.m. Sunday: Cal Fire and the U.S. Forest Service efforts brought containment of the Pozo fire to 62 percent by Sunday night, according to authorities.
The fire has burned 1,263 acres since it started about 12:30 p.m. Saturday south of Highway 58, about 25 miles east of Santa Margarita near the town of Pozo, according to the Forest Service.
About 1,018 firefighters and other staff are battling the blaze, including six helicopters, one airplane, 16 bull dozers, 12 water tenders, 37 crews and 22 engines, authorities said.
The Forest Service expects to have the fire — burning about 30 miles northeast of San Luis Obispo — contained fully by 6 p.m. Tuesday.
The agency reports the following road closures remain in effect, as do a number of campground evacuations:
Navajo Road at Turkey Flat and Parkhill Road; Pozo Road at Avanales Ranch Road; Navajo Road west of Navajo Flat Off-Highway Vehicle Area and Navajo Road at Redhill Road west of La Panza Road.
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UPDATE 4:30 p.m. Sunday: Cal Fire and the U.S. Forest Service continue to fight a brush fire burning on federal land on Sunday south of Highway 58, about 25 miles east of Santa Margarita near the town of Pozo.
The fire has burned 1,500 acres and remains about 20 percent contained, according to Cal Fire.
Two planes, six air tankers, five helicopters, four bulldozers, six water tenders, five crews, 20 fire engines and more than 500 firefighters and other staff are working to put out the fire, Cal Fire reported.
The Forest Service expects to have the fire — burning about 30 miles northeast of San Luis Obispo — contained fully by 6 p.m. Tuesday.
The agency reports the following road closures remain in effect:
Navajo Road at Turkey Flat and Parkhill Road.
Pozo Rd at Avanales Ranch Road.
Navajo Road west of Navajo Flat Off-Highway Vehicle Area.
Navajo Road at Redhill Road west of La Panza.
ORIGINAL STORY
A fast-moving wildfire charred more than 1,500 acres near Pozo on Saturday, spreading into the Los Padres National Forest.
Cal Fire officials said the fire was first reported about 12:30 p.m. near East Pozo and Park Hill roads.
It was burning grass downhill and initially threatened several structures, officials said. No structures were damaged Saturday night.
The fire prompted crews to evacuate the Los Padres, Turkey Flat, Friis, Navajo, La Panza and Navajo Flats campgrounds.
By 9:30 p.m., more than 450 firefighters and staff from several agencies were called out to the fire, which was about 5 percent contained, according to Cal Fire.
Navajo, Pozo and Navajo Flats roads were also closed as a result of the fire.
A Los Padres National Forest command team was expected to arrive Saturday night and continue fighting the fire this morning.
This story was originally published August 21, 2010 at 2:29 PM with the headline "UPDATE: Crews gaining toward containment of Pozo fire."