Aero Fire in Calaveras County scorches over 5,000 acres, leaves thousands without power

A fire near New Melones Lake in Calaveras County has scorched over 5,000 acres since it began Monday, prompting evacuations throughout the area.

Three structures have been destroyed, one was damaged and 3,690 are threatened, according to Cal Fire. No injuries or deaths are reported.

The Aero Fire was reported to be at 5,245 acres and 20% contained as of Tuesday morning. It straddled Highway 4 and stretched northwest near Carmen City and southeast to Copperopolis — where the fire originated.

According to a Modesto/Stanislaus/Turlock incident summary, local crews are helping fight the blaze.

“Firefighters had a small decrease in winds and an increase in relative humidity overnight that assisted crews with construction of fireline,” stated the California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, on Tuesday. “The Aero Fire is burning in an area that has not experienced a large fire since 2003 and is burning in grass and oak woodlands.”

Highway 4 is closed from the Stanislaus County and Calaveras County Line at Murphy Drive to about six miles west of Angels Camp at Poole Station road. Detours are available, according to Caltrans.

On Monday evening, over 5,000 residents were without power.

The areas of Copper Town Square and O’Byrnes Ferry Road. Evacuation centers were set up at Mark Twain Elementary School in Angels Camp, Veterans Hall in Valley Springs and at the San Joaquin Fairgrounds. All centers were equipped to handle household pets. Those with large animals were urged to evacuate them to the Calaveras County Fairgrounds.

Cal Fire set up a map so residents can see where evacuation orders are in effect.