Vegetation Fire Knocked Down in Salinas River in Paso Robles

PASO ROBLES, CA – At approximately 2:00 p.m. on Monday, September 21 Paso Robles Fire and Emergency Services was dispatched to the area of Niblick Bridge for a vegetation fire. The first fire engine arrived on the scene within approximately 5 minutes. The initial arriving units found fire burning within a large dead tree in the riverbed, on the south side of Niblick Bridge. The fire was isolated to a large downed tree and burning with a slow rate of spread into the surrounding vegetation, despite windy conditions. Due to the vegetation management treatments, the first arriving fire engine was able to contain the fire to the dead tree and cancel additional responding fire units. The area of the fire had recently been grazed by goats and sheep, which reduced the lighter vegetation that causes fire to spread rapidly, making it difficult to control. Two fire engines, one squad and one Battalion Chief from Paso Robles responded. Under the City’s automatic and mutual aid agreements four aircraft, six engines, two dozers, two hand crews, one water tender and a Battalion Chief responded from cooperating agencies.