Fast-spreading Aero Fire forces evacuations in Calaveras County

COPPEROPOLIS — A fast-spreading vegetation fire has burned at least 5,009 acres and forced evacuations in the Copperopolis area of Calaveras County, officials said Monday.

Cal Fire's Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit said the fire, dubbed the Aero Fire, was in the area of Aero and Hunt roads. Containment was at zero percent. Wind gusts of up to 60 miles per hour have contributed to the fire's quick spread.

Mandatory evacuations were first in effect for the areas of Copper Town Square and O'Byrnes Ferry Road to the county line, the Calaveras County Sheriff's Office said. All residents within that area should immediately evacuate. Additionally, Copper Cove Drive, west Of Black Creek, is under an evacuation warning.

People with small animals can evacuate to the Veterans Hall San Andreas at 156 Saint Charles Street. People with large animals can evacuate to the Frogtown Fairgrounds at 2465 Gunclub Road in Angels Camp.

In nearby, neighboring Tuolumne County, no mandatory evacuations were in place but evacuation warnings were in effect for O'Byrnes Ferry Road from the Tuolumne-Calaveras County line to Highway 108.

Road closures were in place along Highway 4 between Little John and Pool Station roads. Additionally, Hunt Road at Milton Road, Salt Springs Valley Road, Felix Road, and Rock Creek Road are closed.

The Calaveras County Sheriff's Office said about 5,000 people are without power due to the fire.

"Once we started seeing it spread with the wind, we started packing," evacuee Joseph Tax said. "So we got a bunch of stuff together, and the sheriff came and knocked on the doors, told us all to evacuate."

Cal Fire said it has requested additional resources to assist.

No injuries or structural damage have been reported.

This is an area impacted by a red flag warning that was issued for Monday. Gusty winds and dry conditions all across the region create a higher fire risk and a chance for flames to spread quickly.