Wildfire erupts near Clayton, California, spreads to 125 acres; Evacuation Warning Issued: Details | Today’s news
The fire broke out Friday afternoon near Clayton in California’s Contra Costa County, sending a plume of smoke visible from the Mount Diablo area. According to Watch Duty, the fire started near the intersection of Morgan Territory Road and Marsh Creek Road in Clayton.
The fire is burning roughly 25 miles southwest of the more densely populated Mount Diablo area. According to media reports, many residents in the Mount Diablo area reported seeing smoke from the fire due to strong winds.
Here’s what we know:
At the time of publication, the fire had spread to about 125 acres, with dozens of fire engines responding to the blaze, according to Watch Duty.
According to the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, the fire started at about 2:00 p.m. (local time) near the 2430 block of Morgan Territory Road at Marsh Creek Road. The flames initially burned nearly two acres before racing uphill through brush and timber on steep slopes.
Around 4:40 p.m., officials issued an evacuation warning for residents in zones CCC-249 and CCC-250, which are located between the Morgan Territory Regional Preserve and Mount Diablo State Park. Although no evacuation orders had been issued as of Friday afternoon, officials warned residents to be prepared for worsening conditions.
In their emergency alert, firefighters said: “Gather any important items you may be carrying, including medicine, baby supplies, money, important papers and photographs,” adding: “Find any pets or animals and be prepared to cage or lead them. If you need more time to evacuate, you should leave now.”
As the fire intensified, the Air Attack requested additional aircraft to assist the crews on the ground. The response grew to eight Type 1 air tankers and four helicopters, according to reports of the incident.
Because of the wildfire’s proximity to Morgan Territory Road, the Contra Costa County Fire Department named it the “Morgan Fire.”
Located in east-central Contra Costa County, Clayton is located at the eastern base of Mount Diablo. The fire started just outside the Mount Diablo Mine, west of Oak Hills Trail and Morgan Territory Road. Reports indicate that since this is a sparsely populated mountain area in Northern California, no immediate danger to structures or residences has been reported.
Several local residents shared photos and videos of the wildfire on social media, and a thick cloud of thick black smoke was seen in the Mount Diablo area. Firefighting helicopters were also deployed to help crews battle the fast-moving fire from the air. The cause of the fire is under investigation, so far no injuries have been reported.
Video shared by KTVU, the local FOX affiliate, showed smoke and a firefighter helicopter circling the area as crews worked to contain the blaze.
Mount Diablo has no permanent residents as it is a protected state park. However, a local community of around 1,000 people lives in nearby Diablo.
Residents of the affected area were advised to remain alert and monitor official emergency announcements and asked to be prepared to leave immediately if an evacuation order is issued.
