Update: Deer Fire caused by illegal marijuana grow, Cal Fire says
Update July 14, 2015: – Investigators have determined that the cause of the Lake Nacimiento Deer Fire stemmed from an illegal marijuana grow operation, Cal Fire reported Sunday morning.
As of today, the fire is fully contained. The investigation into the cause of the fire led Cal Fire to discover the remote marijuana grow operation. Officials suspect whoever was tending the cannabis lit the fire that sparked it all, according to KSBY. Investigators believe that whoever was tending the operation lit a camping fire, or was smoking.
The plants were being grown underneath highly flammable manzanita plants, to disguise the plants from the air, which added fodder to the fire.
No one has been arrested yet as a result of the investigation, however many leads are being investigated, reports say.
Update 8:30 a.m., July 12, 2015 – The Deer Fire near Lake Nacimiento is 75-percent contained at 150 acres, according to a report from Cal Fire. Aircraft, engines and firefighters continue to the battle the blaze that started on Friday at 12:41 p.m. Cal Fire reports 379 personnel, 15 fire engines, 14 fire crews, two helicopters and a dozer at the scene south west of the lake. Two firefighters sustained injuries over the weekend, according to reports.
Cal Fire mans a command center in the woods south west of Lake Nacimiento at South Shore Drive and Squirrel Lane. Hundreds of firefighters are fighting the blaze, according to eye witnesses. Photo by Richard Coffey.
Update 10:59 a.m., July 11, 2015 – Firefighters continued Saturday to attack a large fire that started Friday afternoon near Lake Nacimiento. “Aerial and ground resources continue to battle the 140 acre #DeerFire located SW of Lake Nacimiento,” Cal Fire reported this morning on Twitter. As of 6 a.m. Saturday morning, the fire was 20-percent contained, Cal Fire reports. No damages, injuries or evacuations have been reported. But the terrain is difficult and steep, Cal Fire reports.
Residents in the lakeside community of Rancho Del Lago report the fire is about a mile away. There are 13 homes with eight full-time residents at Rancho Del Lago. The next closest neighborhood is Cal Shasta with about 100 homes.
Videos show Cal Fire air tanker assault on large fire near Lake Nacimiento
Videos above of Cal Fire tankers attacking the Deer Fire near Lake Nacimiento by Keith Landes.
Video above of Cal Fire helicopter re-loading with water at Lake Nacimiento by Richard Coffey.
– Update 7:44, July 10, 2015: The Deer Fire near Lake Nacimiento has grown to 140 acres, Cal Fire reports. Firefighters report the fire is 10-percent contained. The attack continues with several tanker planes and a helicopter.
Photo courtesy of Richard Coffey.
Brush fire ignites near Lake Nacimiento
– Original report: Firefighters are responding to a brush fire that broke out today at about 1 p.m., near Lake Nacimiento, in the Running Deer Ranch area, Cal Fire reports. Cal Fire reported that the “Deer Fire” is burning approximately one mile southwest of the intersection of South Shore Drive and Squirrel Lane.
The fire is currently estimated to be about 10-15 acres in size, but could grow at a rapid rate, reports say.
Photo courtesy of Richard Coffey.
