A fire that ravaged through 24 acres in the New Idria area has
burned 13 abandoned structures in the old mining town. New Idria
largely is known as being one of North America’s largest mercury
producers during the 19th and 20th centuries.
A fire that ravaged through 24 acres in the New Idria area has burned 13 abandoned structures in the old mining town.
The fire that started late Wednesday night destroyed all the buildings, except for the school, on the north side of the road that divides the town in half, Calfire Battalion Chief Sam Walker said. Structures on the south side of the road were unharmed.
Calfire received the initial notice of the fire at 8 a.m. Thursday and had full control of the fire by 5 p.m., Walker said. Today, Calfire has three engines in the area in case the fire starts up again.
The cause of the wild fire is under investigation.
The New Idria Mine was one of North America’s largest mercury producers during the 19th and 20th centuries. During World War I, the mine was the top supplier of mercury for the U.S Department of Defense, which used it to make munitions and detonators. The mine was abandoned about 35 years ago.
During the subsequent years, acidic water flowing out of the mountainside has polluted nearby San Carlos Creek. The pollution has turned the water bright orange and made about five miles of the creek uninhabitable for aquatic wild life.
Look back for more on this story later today.
