3,000-acre California Valley fire is 50% contained, 2 structures destroyed, Cal Fire says
A fire that has scorched more than 3,000 acres and destroyed structures in California Valley was 50% contained as of 6:30 a.m. Wednesday, according to Cal Fire San Luis Obispo.
The Branch Fire broke out around 2 p.m. Tuesday near Soda Lake Road and Highway 58 and quickly spread. By 7 p.m. the blaze was up to 3,000 acres.
According to Cal Fire, the 3,030-acre fire had destroyed two structures and 10 outbuildings as of Wednesday morning.
Highway 58, which was closed Tuesday due to the fire, reopened by Wednesday morning, according to Cal Fire.
As of 11 a.m. Wednesday, evacuation orders were still in place for Belmont Trail from Soda Lake Road to Branch Mountain Road and from Belmont Trail to Greybriar Trail, according to the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office.
An evacuation center was set up at California Valley Recreation Center.
On Tuesday, the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office was conducting evacuations on Tuesday for Belmont Trail from Soda Lake Road to Branch Mountain Road, the Sheriff’s Office tweeted. Additional evacuations were ordered from Belmont Trail to Greybriar.
An evacuation center has been set up at California Valley Recreation Center. The Sheriff’s Office has not given any update on evacuation orders at this time.
Firefighters are continuing to build control lines around the blaze, which held at around 3,000 acres overnight, Cal Fire tweeted.
No injuries have been reported.
This story was originally published July 29, 2020 at 9:39 AM.
