A brush fire covering about 40 acres near the border of Stanislaus and Calaveras counties was contained on Friday afternoon. The Modesto Fire Department (MFD) responded to the incident, which began on a ranch near Highway 4, approximately 15 miles northeast of Woodward Reservoir. MFD Battalion Chief Jim Black said the department assisted the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire) after being alerted at around 2:35 p.m.
Black described the area affected as remote and confirmed that no structures were destroyed. No injuries have been reported. He stated that firefighters had contained the fire by approximately 4:30 p.m.
“Good progress is being made toward containment and forward progress of the fire has been stopped by firefighters. The airtankers have been released,” according to a CalFire update issued at 4:14 p.m.
The Modesto Fire Department contributed two engines, a water tender, and a battalion chief to support efforts, while CalFire provided eight engines, a water tender, a helicopter, and an air tanker. As of early Friday evening, authorities had not determined what caused the blaze.
