A wildfire in Mariposa County, California, dubbed the Colorado Fire, has rapidly expanded to about 250 acres, triggering mandatory evacuation orders for nearby residents. The blaze originated from a fiery highway crash on Highway 140.
Mandatory evacuations are in effect for Rancheria Creek Road, Briceburg, including all campgrounds, and the Octagon area. An evacuation warning has been issued for Colorado Road, stretching from Highway 140 to Rancheria Creek. As of Tuesday afternoon, the fire remained at zero containment.
The fire began after a cement truck collided with a small tour bus on Highway 140. The tour bus driver, the sole occupant, was uninjured. The condition of the cement truck driver was not immediately known, but authorities reported they were conscious following the crash.
Crews are facing challenges in their efforts to contain the fire due to the steep and rugged terrain surrounding the blaze. The fire is progressing upslope near the Merced River, threatening approximately 45 structures. Aircraft are being utilized to attack the flames from above while ground crews work to access the fire.
Highway 140 is closed between Briceburg and the Bug Hostel, and Rancheria Creek Road is also shut down due to the fire. Incident commanders are working to combat the blaze in the difficult landscape.
