Firefighters battle 3,500-acre blaze filling Central Valley skies with smoke

Smoke filled the Central Valley skies as fire crews battled the Waverly Fire, a vegetation blaze that started in Calaveras County and has spread to eastern San Joaquin County.

By nightfall Friday more than 3,500 acres had been burned, more than doubling in size from the early evening. The Cal Fire Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit has closed Milton Road and evacuations are underway in the communities of Milton, Salt Springs Valley and Rock Creek Road.

The Waverly Fire broke out Friday a little after 3 p.m. near Milton off North Waverly Road and North Shelton Road, east of Linden. Dry, hot and windy conditions contributed to swift growth; by early evening the fire had consumed 1,500 acres, according to the state Department of Fire and Forest Protection. Before dark it has spread to 3,500 acres. The fire is 10 percent contained.

A type 3 strike team from Stanislaus County has been sent to assist with this incident. The strike team includes engines from Keyes Fire Protection District, Turlock Rural Fire Department, Modesto Fire Department, Burbank Paradise Fire Dept and Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District.

A massive plume of smoke was visible throughout Stanislaus County. No injuries have been reported.

This story was originally published June 29, 2018 at 7:28 PM.