Human remains found in area of Washington fire near Sonora, Tuolumne sheriff reports

Human remains were found in the area burned by the Washington fire near Sonora, the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office said Monday.

The remains were discovered near Silver Pine Drive, a winding road amid the 100 or so acres of brush and trees that have burned since Thursday.

The identity of the remains and the cause and time of death are under investigation, a sheriff’s Facebook post said.

The fire destroyed at least 14 homes off Highway 49-108 between Jamestown and Sonora. It was 75% contained as of 7 p.m. Monday, Cal Fire reported. Full containment is expected Wednesday.

Also Monday, residents were allowed back onto Silver Pine and Golden Dove Lane to see the damage from the fire. They were advised to not disturb the ash and other debris.

Other evacuation orders were lifted earlier. They had stretched to parts of Stockton Road, which is also Highway 49 in Sonora, and South Washington Street, the city’s historic core.

The cause is still unknown for the fire, reported Thursday afternoon in the area of Golf Links Road. Crews with Cal Fire and the city of Sonora continue to clear fuel from containment lines and put out hot spots.

Meanwhile, containment was reported at 75% as of Monday for the Airola Fire in Calaveras County. It was reported Wednesday near the Parrotts Ferry Bridge across New Melones Reservoir. No structures have been lost.

This story was originally published August 30, 2021 at 12:45 PM.

John Holland

The Modesto Bee

209-578-2385

John Holland covers agriculture, transportation and general assignment news. He has been with The Modesto Bee since 2000 and previously worked at newspapers in Sonora and Visalia. He was born and raised in San Francisco and has a journalism degree from UC Berkeley.