The Gloria Fire south of San Benito County has blackened 6,000
acres east of Gonzales and was 15 percent contained at 7 a.m.
today, Cal Fire officials said. Fire officials said the blaze,
which apparently was touched off about 3 p.m. Thursday by
agricultural fireworks devices used to scare birds, was threatening
100 homes and a 270-kilovolt transmission line.
By Julia Reynolds, McClatchy News Service
The Gloria Fire has blackened 6,000 acres east of Gonzales and was 15 percent contained at 7 a.m. today, Cal Fire officials said.
Fire officials said the blaze, which apparently was touched off about 3 p.m. Thursday by agricultural fireworks devices used to scare birds, was threatening 100 homes and a 270-kilovolt transmission line.
One home has been destroyed and evacuations are taking place along Highway 146 and Bryant Canyon, Cal Fire said.
About 475 firefighters with 71 engines and 14 bulldozers are fighting the blaze that spread quickly Thursday night into the dry foothills, causing concerns that it could threaten the Pinnacles National Monument.
Cal Fire spokeswoman Mary Welna said the fire was burning toward the southeast and was getting near the national monument border. She wasn’t certain where the partial containment points on the fire line are.
Evacuation orders were in place along Highway 146 east of Metz Road to the Pinnacles, she said.
An evacuation center has been set up at Soledad High School, she said.
The size of the fire doubled overnight, and firefighters expect they will face fierce conditions this afternoon as heat and winds increase.
The SPCA of Monterey County is operating an emergency animal shelter at Soledad High, which officials said is open to all animals.
Overnight, the SPCA said six dogs were sheltered overnight. For people with animals who need help, call the SPCA at 373-2631 or 422-47-21.
