Aero Fire evacuation orders, road closures lifted near Copperopolis
COPPEROPOLIS – All evacuation orders have been lifted in Calaveras County due to the Aero Fire as containment has increased to 67%.
Several zones within the fire perimeter were the last areas with an evacuation order, including along Rock Creek Road to the fire perimeter and around Copperopolis and Copperopolis Reservoir. However, those evacuations were downgraded to warnings on Friday.
The evacuation warnings outside of the fire's perimeter were also lifted, as well as road closures.
The fire has burned 5,351 acres, Cal Fire said.
Thursday's operations included strengthening control lines and mop-up operations. Cal Fire said they had three helicopters and more than 1,000 personnel working the fire.
Crews worked in and around Copperopolis and Rock Creek Road where they say there was still some heat around homes that they wanted to mitigate before allowing people back in the area.
Due to the evacuation orders that were lifted on Wednesday, the Calaveras County Office of Emergency Services said the emergency shelters at Mark Twain Elementary and Vets Hall were closed.
The Calaveras County Water District is urging people to conserve water in the Copperopolis area due to the amount of water that has been used during the firefight.
Three buildings were destroyed and one was damaged.