Brush fire at Cuesta Grade now 100% contained
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY, Calif. - Central Coast fire crews battled a brush fire that broke out along Highway 101 at the Cuesta Grade late Saturday morning.
The fire was reported around 11:59 a.m. off the northbound side of the freeway near TV Tower Road between Santa Margarita and San Luis Obispo.
The first engine to arrive at the scene reported finding a one-acre fire with a moderate rate of spread. By 2 p.m., CAL FIRE reported the fire had spread to 20 acres where it was being held and was 10% contained. At 2:46 p.m.. the fire was considered 35% contained and all assisting aircraft were dismissed from the scene.
Sunday morning, CAL FIRE and SLO City Fire announced the burn was 90% contained and that it did not spread overnight.
(1/3) Yesterday afternoon SLO City Fire Engine 6 and Battalion 2 assisted @CALFIRE_SLO with the #TowerFire on the Cuesta Grade. The Fire was held at approximately 20 acres and the fire is currently 90% contained as no forward spread occurred overnight. pic.twitter.com/674rfQLKuT
— SLO City Fire (@SLO_City_Fire) June 6, 2021
Not long after at about 12:30 p.m., crews announced the fire was 100% contained.
Tower Fire update. The fire is now 100% controlled. All fire units have been released off the incident. #TowerIC
— CAL FIRE SLO (@CALFIRE_SLO) June 6, 2021
Saturday evening, crews said they had the fire surrounded by retardant and hoses to keep it from growing.
No structures were threatened during this incident.
Templeton Fire also responded to assist in the attack.
Crews said they will continue mop up procedures through Sunday and improve their control lines.
California Highway Patrol officers said the fire was located about halfway up the grade burning in grass and moving towards power lines, but the power lines were not damaged.
Caltrans was called to shut down the number three lane of the freeway at Old Stage Coach Road around 12:11 p.m. The lane remained closed for about six hours.
#CHP, #Calfire are on scene with a vegetation fire onUS 101 at the Cuesta Grade. Pay attention to emergency personnel and their directions to get you safely by the fire. pic.twitter.com/QSt66GZ1es
— San Luis Obispo CHP (@ChpSlo) June 5, 2021
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
We will update this story as more information becomes available.
