Crews increase containment of Avila Fire to 50-percent

UPDATE (8:00) - CAL FIRE SLO is reporting that the Avila Fire is still at 400 acres and now 50-percent contained. Fire officials say crews have made good progress.

Handlines and hoselines have been laid around the entire fire.

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UPDATE (2:30 p.m.) - A separate, small fire broke out Tuesday near Avila Beach.

The fire was reported just before 2 p.m. in the 1500 block of Apple Orchard Ln.

CAL FIRE says it was contained after burning 1/4 acre.
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UPDATE (12:45 p.m.) - Spyglass Dr. and Avila Beach Dr. Northbound Highway 101 off-ramps are expected to be open within 30 minutes. Officials advise drivers to use caution in the area.
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UPDATE (11 a.m.) - Fire officials say their objective Tuesday will be to keep the Avila Fire west of Thousand Hills Road, south of Indian Knob Road, east of Highway 101, and north of Shell Beach Drive.

Officials said there is no known fire history in that area, so the vegetation is dense, and crews will be working hard to maintain fire lines.

Firefighters will also continue to conduct mop-up near homes that were threatened and make sure the fire does not flare up again.

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UPDATE (7:30 a.m.) - Officials with CAL FIRE SLO report containment of the Avila Fire near Shell Beach has increased to 20 percent.

Firefighters worked overnight to build containment lines and mop up the burn area. Fresh crews are heading out to the line Tuesday morning to continue that work.

The fire burned 400 acres by Monday night and has not increased in size.

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(5:41 a.m.) - All lanes of Highway 101 are back open Tuesday after a brush fire prompted a full closure Monday.

The Avila Fire, which burned about 400 acres Monday afternoon near Shell Beach, jumped the highway and threatened 100 homes.

One northbound lane remained closed overnight and into the early morning hours.

As of 5:30 a.m. Tuesday, all northbound and southbound lanes are open, according to Caltrans.

However, the northbound on and off-ramps at Spyglass Rd. remain closed. Caltrans officials say the northbound Avila Beach Dr. off-ramp will be closed until further notice.

At last report, the Avila Fire was holding at 400 acres burned and is 10 percent contained. Cal Fire is expected to give an update on the fire at 7 a.m. Tuesday.