PORTERVILLE, CA. - The south bound lanes entering highway 65 from Olive Avenue was cordened off today by CalTrans to safeguard those drivers who could have come into harms way because of another senseless Tule River fire. Backed up for almost half a mile, you could clearly see the frustration with drivers -- and Porterville's local CalTrans workers.
"Every year, this river seems to catch on fire, says Lino Beatran - who's home is right next to the river. If it's not over where we live then it's further up stream. And it got just a little too close."
Dan Hollaway, who was on the scene and who's the Public Education Officer for the Porterville Fire Department, had some concerns as to the fires origin. Once the department locates the place and origin of any fire, the Post was told, then it's easier to determine the cause.
Porterville Fire Department Press Release from Dan Hollway briefly stated that about 11:00am hours the PFD was dispatched to a "grass fire" over in the 1200 block of West Date.
Once they arrived they discovered a grass and brush fire burning along the "north side" of the Tule River
Eventually the fire "spotted" onto the south side of the Tule River and caught an open field on fire. Both City and County Fire units converged to this area quickly and got a handle on the fire in about an hour. All total Porterville City Fire department had 3 engines which responded, 2 patrols, 1 Battalion Chief, and 2 overhead units.
Wind, heat and low humidity’s contributed to the rapid spread of the fire, stated Mr Holloway and once the fire was out it took another 4 hours to mop it up. It was reported that approximately 10 acres were burned at this sight and the majority the fire damage was in Tulare County’s jurisdiction.
Great work guys ! Now ... let dig a little more and find out how this fire was set.
For info contact Dan Holloway at (559) 782-7526.
