Highway crash ignites Colorado Fire, prompting evacuations in Mariposa County

A cement mixer crash into an empty tour bus on Highway 140 triggered a wildfire dubbed the Colorado Fire in Mariposa County. Fire officials noted the fire grew from an initial 171 acres with zero containment to around 250 acres by Tuesday afternoon, burning uphill near the Merced River. Ground crews face difficulty accessing the flames due to rugged, steep slopes, so aerial assets are being used to suppress the blaze.

Authorities issued mandatory evacuations for Rancheria Creek Road, Briceburg campgrounds and the Octagon area, and placed an evacuation warning on Colorado Road from Highway 140 to Rancheria Creek. Both Highway 140 and Rancheria Creek Road are closed, and roughly 45 structures are at risk. The bus driver escaped unharmed, while the condition of the cement truck driver was not immediately known.