Blown tire sparks 2 wildfires on Highway 46 in SLO County, Cal Fire says

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Two vegetation fires burning on both sides of Highway 46 West near Cambria Monday afternoon were contained after a quick response from Cal Fire.

The two fires were flanking the highway, according Cal Fire assistant chief Tom Swanson.

The larger fire was contained at nine acres and the second fire contained at a quarter-acre, he said.

The cause of the fire was a tire blowout on a Mini Cooper that was being towed behind a larger motorhome, Swanson said.

The blazes were reported near the highway’s North Green Valley Road exit at 12:27 p.m., according to emergency response app, PulsePoint.

Initial reports placed the first fire at three to five acres in size with the potential to spread to 25 acres, according to emergency scanner chatter. The second fire was estimated to be between a quarter-acre to a half-acre.

Both fires had a slow to moderate rate of spread, Swanson said.

Cal Fire resources were expected to be on scene for about the next two hours mopping up, he said.