Vulcan Fire: Flames burning near Friant Road 40% contained, roads reopened
CAL FIRE said this fire, named the Vulcan Fire, was sparked Sunday in the area of Friant and Willow.
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Firefighters worked to gain containment over a brush fire burning north of Fresno overnight.
The Vulcan Fire sparked late Sunday afternoon near Friant Road between Willow and Lost Lake as the area saw triple-digit temperatures.
The blaze quickly took off, burning about 145 acres. As of Monday morning, the fire was 40% contained.
Crews were forced to close Friant Road for a short time while they battled the flames. Thick grey smoke could be seen billowing into the sky above cars as traffic remained at a standstill for hours.
The roads have since reopened.
CAL FIRE officials said the biggest challenge crews face is the fire's location, which is burning in an area with thick vegetation.
On the west side of Friant Road, dry grass and trees fueled the flames as they scorched several acres.
CAL FIRE Battalion Chief Roger Raines said winds carried hot embers to the east side of Friant Road, sparking grass fires and threatening homes.
"Once it got into the lighter fuels, the rate of spread really picked up. We had a lot of spot fires to deal with and not a lot of resources right away, so we really had to prioritize what we were going to do,' Raines said.
As crews on the ground fought the flames, six aircraft aided them from the skies stopping the fire in its tracks.
Firefighters successfully saved the buildings on the fire line, and no one was hurt.
Fire crews have slowed the progress of the Vulcan Fire, but they are not letting their guard down.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
This is a developing story. Stay with Action News for updates.
Editor's Note: The video above is from an earlier broadcast and will be updated.
