Pass Fire near Los Banos now 75 percent contained, firefighters say

Update:

The Pass Fire, near Highway 152 along the Pacheco Pass in Merced County, has burned about 2,192 acres and is about 75% contained as of Monday evening.

Cal Fire Battalion Chief Brian White said crews were dispatched about 11:49 a.m. Sunday, with flames spotted along Dinosaur Point Road, south of Highway 152.

White said an estimated 100 fire personnel, including five chief officers and two prevention officers, responded to the fire. About 17 fire engines, three bulldozers, four water tenders, four Cal Fire air tankers, three helicopters and six crews have been used to fight the fire, according to White.

Additional resources from the city of Los Banos as well as San Benito, Monterey, Santa Clara, Fresno and Tuolumne counties also responded.

Firefighters battled wind gusts reaching speeds of about 53 mph, White said, as they worked to contain the fire. It burned into the San Luis Reservoir area, threatening wind turbines.

“Just the significant amount of wind was a real contributing factor to our inability to contain this to less acreage,” White said.

Efforts were aided by the reservoir, which acted as a natural barrier, he said.

White said traffic along Highway 152 was not threatened.

One firefighter suffered an ankle injury, according to White, and was taken to an area hospital by ambulance.

Cal Fire resources are expected to work the fire throughout the night, White said, and hope to have the fire controlled by Monday afternoon.

Here was our original report:

Crews are working to contain a large grass fire west of Los Banos, according to the the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Merced County.

The fire is burning off Dinosaur Point Road south of Highway 152, according to Battalion Chief Joey Felix, who said the cause is unknown.

Few other details were immediately available. Smoke appeared to be spreading into the skies above Fresno and elsewhere.

The fire, which was reported at about 11:49 a.m., has burned about 1,000 acres and is about 10% contained, according to Cal Fire.

This story was originally published June 28, 2020 at 4:29 PM.