250-acre fire sparks beneath Foresthill Bridge, prompts evacuation orders near Auburn
A fire that started underneath the Foresthill Bridge on Sunday afternoon prompted evacuations from the Auburn State Recreation Area, according to Cal Fire officials.
The wildfire, dubbed the Bridge Fire by Cal Fire’s Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit, started just before 1 p.m. and grew to about 250 acres by 7 p.m.
Cal Fire officials said that the California Department of Parks and Recreation was evacuating visitors at the Auburn State Recreation Area near the fire as it began spotting across Foresthill Road.
A mandatory evacuation was in place for the Lake Clementine area to the southeast, including the confluence area off Foresthill Road, Old Auburn Foresthill Road to Upper Lake Road to Lake Clementine.
The Placer County Sheriff’s Office said at 9:45 p.m. that “law enforcement is providing escorts through road closures to residents who need to get to their homes to quickly gather essentials.”
Evacuation warnings were in place for portions of the Clipper Gap and Applegate south of Interstate 80.
The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District said it would be sending a multi-agency strike team of five wildland fire engines to the Bridge Fire.
The Foresthill Bridge is about 3 miles northeast of the city of Auburn.
This story was originally published September 5, 2021 at 4:56 PM.
