Fire stops deputies from evacuating Del Puerto Canyon as Diablo Grande residents flee
Stanislaus County sheriff’s deputies conducted mandatory evacuations Monday afternoon along Del Puerto Canyon Road and later advised nearby Diablo Grande residents to leave as wildfires burned in the canyon west of Patterson.
County Office of Emergency Services spokesman Raj Singh said the roughly half-dozen deputies notified five properties along the canyon road from mile markers 12 to 15 before their work was stopped by fire. He said the properties were set far back from the road, adding to the challenge. He said in one case, a home was about two miles from the road.
Singh said Santa Clara County deputies, who were evacuating residents from the west, were notified about where Stanislaus deputies had to stop. He did not know how many residents got out. He said deputies were focused on notifying as many properties as possible in difficult circumstances.
Later about 18 Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department officers, from deputies to Sheriff Jeff Dirkse, notified 703 homes in Diablo Grande about an advisory evacuation for their resort community in the foothills near the canyon. Singh said residents took the advice and left, while others packed their cars and were ready to leave in an instant if it became necessary.
“There were people packed up and leaving,” Singh said. “Lots of people were loading up and ready to go. It was good to see that.”
He said deputies will provide additional patrols in the area while the wildfire threat continues, supplementing Diablo Grande’s security guards.
Singh said an evacuation shelter has been set up at Creekside Middle School, 535 Peregrine Drive, in Patterson. And he said authorities have closed Del Puerto Canyon Road where it changes to Sperry Avenue, just east of Interstate 5 and near Patterson.
Canyon fires at 0% containment
Cal Fire reported the fires in the canyon started Sunday and had burned 10,000 acres and were at 0% percent containment as of about 9 p.m. Monday.
Singh said earlier Monday that authorities feared the fire would move south, pushed by the wind. He also added thunderstorms and lightning are forecast for the canyon.
The Canyon Zone fires are among the wildfires burning across California as it and much of the West Coast broils under a prolonged, record-breaking heat wave.
Singh said Cal Fire asked Stanislaus County Office of Emergency Services for the mandatory evacuations of residents along Del Puerto Canyon Road.
This story was originally published August 17, 2020 at 9:28 PM.
