MIDDLETOWN — To ensure that a forest and grassland fire that burned 550 acres in an area bordering Highway 29 four miles south of Middletown is totally extinguished, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF) personnel will spend at least one more day at the site.
Calling CDF”s departure from the site where the fire erupted on Monday a “day-to-day decision,” Dustin Nishimura of the CDF”s Emergency Command Center (ECC) office, said, “They”re going to work on it tomorrow (Friday) to make sure it”s completely out.”
Nishimura said that there were still 300 firefighters at the scene on Thursday continuing mop-up operations. But four helicopters that had dumped retardant on the blaze all week were no longer operating in the area.
As well as the helicopters, a total of 20 engines, 21 crews, five bulldozers and five water tenders were used to combat the fire.
No estimates of the cost of the fire in terms of personal property destroyed, or the cost of fighting it are yet available, Nishimura said.
Contact John Lindblom at jlwordsmith@mchsi.com.
