By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Monday Afternoon Fire Impacts Two Counties
Water drop
Two helicopters were brought in to drop water on a vegetation fire at McHenry Recreation Area on Monday afternoon, July 3. The fire jumped the Stanislaus River and burned in both San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties, covering about 20 acres. Marg Jackson/The Times

A 20-plus acre fire that burned on both sides of the Stanislaus River on Monday afternoon, July 3, kept fire crews busy for several hours.

The call came in shortly before 3:30 p.m. to Escalon, said Fire Chief Rick Mello, and was reported as a vegetation fire in the area of McHenry Avenue and River Road.

The river bottom fire was in McHenry Recreation Area; Mello said the area was evacuated, including getting some kayakers off the river, and crews moved in to attack on the ground. Air support was called in from two helicopters including Stanislaus County Air 101 and Tuolumne County Unit-Cal Fire 205, to provide assistance from the air with water drops.

Units battled the fire on both sides of the Stanislaus River, with a few acres on the Stanislaus County side, close to 20 acres on the San Joaquin side.

Containment was reported on the Stanislaus County side about 6 p.m. Monday; the San Joaquin side containment was anticipated a few hours after that.

Cause was still under investigation; there were no structures threatened and no injuries reported.

Look for the full story and photos in the July 5 issue of The Times.