Fire burns around 40 acres near Stanislaus County border
A fire that burned through about 40 acres of brush near the border of Stanislaus and Calaveras counties was battled by the Modesto Fire Department on Friday afternoon.
The Martell Fire began on a ranch near Highway 4 about 15 miles northeast of Woodward Reservoir at about 2:35 p.m., according to MFD Battalion Chief Jim Black. MFD was assisting the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Black said the fire was “in the middle of nowhere” and that no structures were destroyed. No injuries were reported, either. Black added the fire was contained at about 4:30 p.m.
“Good progress is being made toward containment and forward progress of the fire has been stopped by firefighters. The airtankers have been released,” read a CalFire update released at 4:14 p.m.
MFD contributed two engines, a water tender and a battalion chief to the fight. CalFire contributed eight engines, a water tender, a helicopter and an air tanker.
The cause of the fire was unknown as of early Friday evening.
This story was originally published September 26, 2025 at 5:13 PM.
