Update: Pond Fire destroys 1 home, 13 other buildings; Containment up to 67%
Update, 7 p.m.
One home and 13 outbuildings have been destroyed in the Pond Fire, Cal Fire said Monday evening.
Containment has also increased to 67%. Full contianment is expected by Aug. 8.
Evacuation warnings remain in effect for Huer Huero Road from Random Canyon south toward Park Hill Road and east from Park Hill Road at Huer Hero Road to Earthstar Place.
According to Cal Fire’s evening updated, 100 engines, 21 hand crews, 17 dozers, 11 water tenders and four helicopters are assigned to the blaze. Firefighters have increased mop up operations from the fire perimter and will continue to extinguish hot spots throughout Monday night.
Update, 4:30 p.m. Monday
Cal Fire has stopped forward progress at 2,005 acres Sunday and containment remained around 60% Monday afternoon, according to Cal Fire public information officer Adan Orozco.
After having a crew member walk the perimeter of the fire, Cal Fire was able to gather more accurate acreage, Orozco said, accounting for 300 acres more than was reported Sunday.
Orozco said Cal Fire was able to release some handcrews and bulldozers from the scene to assist with other fires across the state.
“Firefighters have really made good progress,” Orozco said.
Strong winds were expected to pose a threat to containment.
Although it has been far less windy than anticipated, Orozco said, the heat and low humidity has still created challenges for firefighters.
The fire was expected to be 100% contained by Saturday.
Orozco said crews were on the scene MJonday assessing the potential damage to outbuildings in the area.
An update on the number of structures damaged and fire containment was expected to be released by Tuesday morning.
Original story
A fire burning near Santa Margarita was 60% contained as of Monday morning, but it will be several days before the fire is fully contained, according to Cal Fire.
The Pond Fire sparked around 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Katacreek Road and Huer Huero Road, south of Highway 58.
By Monday morning, the wildland fire reached 2,005 acres, burning an additional 300 acres since Sunday evening, according to a Cal Fire update.
Cal Fire expects the fire to be fully contained by Saturday.
Twenty-seven engines, 14 hand crews, 14 bull dozers, 12 water tenders, five helicopters, and two air tankers are on the scene Monday morning. In total, 415 emergency responders from 14 agencies are assisting in containing the fire and an air attack has been deployed.
Firefighters established effective fire containment lines Sunday, reducing the number of structures at risk from 450 to 200.
As of Monday morning, two structures had been destroyed, according to Cal Fire.
Huer Hero Road remained closed from Highway 58 to Random Canyon as of Monday morning, according to a Cal Fire update.
Evacuation warnings were still in affect for Huer Huero Road from Random Canyon south to Parkhill Road and from Parkhill Road at Huer Huero Road to Earthstar Place.
Cal Fire lifted the evacuation warning Sunday for residents south of Las Pilitas Road, west of Parkhill Road to Pozo Road, north and east of West Pozo Road to Highway 58.
Santa Margarita Elementary School, located at 22070 H St., is the designated evacuation center for those who need assistance.
Those needing livestock evacuation help can call Horse Emergency Evacuation Team at 805-550-0213, a livestock evacuation center has been set up in the Railhead Ranch Area.
Power had been restored to those affected by downed power lines in the area, Cal Fire said.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
This story was originally published August 3, 2020 at 9:18 AM.
