Atascadero brush fire closes Highway 41 as smaller blaze burns near Morro Bay

A quick, multiple agency fire response knocked down a fast-moving fire just south of the city of Atascadero around 4 p.m. Tuesday.

“Upon arrival, Atascadero firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze along with Cal Fire, San Luis Obispo County Fire, and other fire agencies across the county,” Chief Casey Bryson of Atascadero Fire & Emergency Services said in a news release.

The fire began to burn toward Highway 41 which prompted authorities to close the highway at San Gabriel Road and Los Altos Road.

“We did make a couple of air tanker drops which slowed the progress of the fire,” Cal Fire spokesman Adan Orozco said.

The fire was started by a vehicle that drove off the roadway into a large rock. The occupants of the vehicle were not injured, and the vehicle was completely burned.

The fire grew to more than 10 acres, threatening several homes, and damaging two residences. One residence was completely destroyed.

“Forward movement of the fire was stopped at approximately 5:43 p.m. with no injuries to report,” the Atascadero Fire & Emergency Services release said.

Another vegetation fire was reported around the same time on the hillside along Highway 1 south of Toro Creek Road. That fire was also quickly contained.

“The fire grew to be about two acres,” Orozco said. “Firefighters are still investigating the cause of the fire.”

This story was originally published June 9, 2020 at 10:01 PM.