High school evacuated before Highway 65 grass fire stopped in Placer County
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Grass fires near Highway 65 burned 140 acres and triggered school evacuation.
- CHP warned drivers about low visibility from smoke.
- Firefighters halted the blaze’s forward progress by late afternoon Monday.
Grass fires that burned more than 100 acres Monday afternoon along Highway 65 in Placer County prompted a nearby high school to evacuate and the California Highway Patrol to warn drivers about smoke.
The grass fires burned in an area along Highway 65 north of Rocklin and Lincoln, according to the CHP Auburn Area Office. The CHP at 3:38 p.m. warned drivers that smoke from the fires could cause visibility problems, and they urged drivers to slow down and watch out for emergency response vehicles and personnel in the area.
Shortly before 4 p.m., officials from Twelve Bridges High School announced they had closed the campus until further notice due to the fire east of Highway 65. In a Facebook post, school officials asked parents not to go to the campus on Fieldstone Drive in Lincoln.
“Students and staff who were on campus have been asked to evacuate,” Twelve Bridges High officials said in the Facebook post. “Students who do not drive have been directed to the Leatherby’s parking lot for pickup.”
About 4:40 p.m., Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District officials announced they were asked to send a strike team of firefighters, along with four fire engines, to assist in corralling the fire that was quickly growing.
The Cal Fire Nevada Yuba Placer Unit said its crews were assisting the Lincoln Fire Department with the vegetation fire near the Whitney Ranch subdivision. Shortly before 5 p.m., Cal Fire announced that firefighters had stopped forward progress of the blaze that had burned about 140 acres.
