GILROY
– The 130-acre wildfire burning off Pacheco Pass near the Old
Pacheco Dam was 75 percent contained by noon Tuesday, according to
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Capt. Joe
Gonzalez.
GILROY – The 130-acre wildfire burning off Pacheco Pass near the Old Pacheco Dam was 75 percent contained by noon Tuesday, according to California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Capt. Joe Gonzalez.
The blaze started about 4 p.m. Monday a half mile west of El Toro Ranch when a spark from a motorcycle accident on westbound Highway 152 ignited the dry vegetation in the area.
The driver of the motorcycle, 47-year-old William Brand Stater of Turlock, was uninjured in the accident, according to the California Highway Patrol.
“This is one of those lucky ones where no structures are threatened and nobody gets injured,” Gonzalez said. “The weather helped, too.”
Thanks to cool evening temperatures and mild winds, the CDF was able to quell the fire Monday. Now they are dealing mostly with small hot spots, although the fire is not growing anymore, Gonzalez said.
Five engines, one bulldozer, two hand crews of 17 firefighters and one helicopter were called to fight the fire.
All lanes of Pacheco Pass Highway have remained open during the fire and Gonzalez said he does not expect any lane closures.
