Yuba County Wildfire: Ponderosa Fire Update, Evacuations, and Closures

UPDATE — On Monday at around 11:30 PM, Cal Fire issued a release stating that the Ponderosa Fire was caused accidentally by an individual who was working on a vehicle using an impact wrench. Friction from the wrench generated enough heat that dry grasses ignited, and the individual could not extinguish the flames using available hand tools and water. The subject called 9-1-1, waited at the scene of the fire, and was “completely cooperative with Cal Fire’s investigation.”

OREGON HOUSE — On Sunday, August 10, at around 3 PM, firefighting agencies responded to a vegetation fire north of Collins Lake in Yuba County. A significant plume of smoke was visible on an ALERTCalifornia camera by 3:13 PM, and by 3:30 PM, 10 engines, four hand crews, two water tenders, two air tankers, and two helicopters had been requested according to radio traffic and reporting by Watch Duty.

Around 5 PM on Sunday, the Yuba County Office of Emergency Services issued evacuation orders for three zones in an area including Thousand Trails Lake of the Springs campground and recreational vehicle park. Officials also established a staging site at Sycamore Ranch on Highway 20. Later, the Sheriff’s Posse Arena at 5396 Marysville Road opened to accommodate large animals.

The fire continued to expand through Sunday afternoon, and the perimeter was mapped at 83 acres by 7 PM. An hour later, Cal Fire updated its estimate to 87.2 acres, where it remained through Monday morning. At 8:00 AM on August 11, Cal Fire reported that forward progress had been stopped and the fire was 20% contained. By 8:50 AM, containment was revised to 26%.

Evacuation orders and warnings are viewable at https://tinyurl.com/yzwtum2b. Road closures include Willow Glen Road between Frenchtown Road and Marysville Road, and the entirety of Frenchtown Road.