Moc Fire In Tuolumne County Grows To 2,800 Acres, No Containment Reported
MOCCASIN (CBS13) — Here are all the latest updates on the Moc Fire that has caused evacuations in and near Tuolumne County:
4:20 p.m.
Cal Fire reported that there is still 0% containment in the Moc Fire, which the agency said has reached 2,800 acres in size this afternoon.
Tuolumne County Sheriff Bill Pooley said in a response to the public Friday that the fire erupted from 3 to 1,700 acres within its first 6 hours of burning.
Pooley said in his statement:
Knowing additional time and resources would be instrumental in safely evacuating threatened communities, we worked through the night to formulate and execute evacuation plans for everyone affected, especially our vulnerable populations. We continue to safely evacuate families, pets and livestock from threatened areas.
Your safety is my primary concern and I will not take unnecessary risks.
8:20 a.m.
As of Friday morning, Cal Fire's Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit is reporting that the Mom Fire has grown to 2,500 acres.
Containment still stands at 0 percent.
The fire, which has prompted evacuations, is burning near Highways 49 and 120.
Previous day's updates below:
9:46 p.m. Update:
More evacuations were added for Groveland and Pine Mountain Lake. Authorities said this includes up Highway 120 to Big Creek Shaft Road.
8:37 p.m. Update:
The sheriff's office said at 8:29 p.m. that evacuees can leave the area through Yosemite National Park by advising the park gate that they are evacuating due to the fire, which is now 600 acres and at 0% containment.
7:38 p.m. Update:
The Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office updated the county's evacuation order.
The updated evacuations also impact Highway 120 to Boneyard, Second Garrote, and Incense Cedar Trail, and everything West of Second Garrote, Cherokee Trail, and Yosemite Springs.
6:51 p.m.
Evacuations have been ordered as crews are battling another fast-growing blaze that sparked in Tuolumne County on Thursday.
The blaze, dubbed the Moc Fire, was said to be about 50 acres in size just before 2:30 p.m., and at around 3:40 p.m., Cal Fire said the blaze has rapidly grown to approximately 300 acres.
The Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office said the evacuations are in place for Highway 120 at Moccasin through Big Oak Flat, to Merrell Road in Groveland, including Priest Coulterville Road.
An evacuation warning has been issued for Groveland and Pine Mountain Lake.
Cal Fire said the fire is burning in the Moccasin area of Tuolumne County near Highway 49 and Highway 120 and is heading east at "a critical rate of speed."
Authorities said the Manzanita Building at the Mother Lode Fairgrounds is acting as an emergency evacuation shelter. Tuolumne County Animal Control officers are evacuating animals as well. An evacuation center for all animals has been opened at the Mother Lode Fairgrounds.
Additional evacuation warnings have been issued in Mariposa County for the following areas: Hwy 49N from Mariposa / Tuolumne Line to Mary Harrison Mine Hwy 132 from J132 (Greeley Hill Rd) to Priest Coulterville incl. Priest Coulterville Rd.
Details regarding what started the fire were not available.
Stay with CBS13 for more updates on this fire.
