Update: Lightning-sparked fire near Cayucos fully contained after 4 days
Update to this story >> >> Air quality alert issued as smoky skies cover San Luis Obispo County
Update, 3:45 p.m.:
A fire east of Cayucos that was sparked by lightning was now fully contained as of Tuesday afternoon, Cal Fire announced.
Old Creek Road has re-opened to vehicles, the agency said.
The Whale Fire was the largest of three San Luis Obispo County fires caused by lightning over the weekend.
It burned a total of 312 acres near Old Creek Road and Santa Rita Road east of Cayucos, the agency said in a news release.
No injuries or damaged property were reported.
Cal Fire said that one fire engine will remain on patrol in the area as a precaution.
Original story:
Two out of three fires sparked by lightning Saturday afternoon in San Luis Obispo County were fully contained as of Tuesday morning, according to Cal Fire.
However, the largest of the three fires, the Whale Fire, continued to burn near Old Creek Road and Santa Rita Road east of Cayucos as of Tuesday morning, according to Cal Fire. The fire had reached 210 acres as of Tuesday morning.
The 2-2 fire in Nipomo, which reached 68 acres, and the 2-3 fire east of Cayucos, which ended up at 20 acres, were both 100% contained with no injuries and no structures damaged or destroyed, according to Cal Fire.
The 2-2 fire was extinguished Sunday and the 2-3 fire was put out Monday night.
The Whale Fire reached 65% containment as of 7 a.m. Tuesday, with firefighters increasing containment overnight, according to Cal Fire.
Firefighters continued to battle the Whale Fire for a fourth day in extreme temperatures.
While, evacuation warnings for the Whale fire were lifted, Old Creek Road was expected to remain closed until 5 p.m. Tuesday, according to Cal Fire.
No structures had been destroyed or damaged as of Tuesday. And no structures were threatened, according to Cal Fire.
Two water tenders and two hand crews were on the scene Tuesday morning. Two foxtrot strike teams had also joined mop up efforts Tuesday, Cal Fire reported.
This story was originally published August 18, 2020 at 9:38 AM.
