UPDATE (7:30 p.m.): In a tweet posted Sunday evening, CAL FIRE says the Pond Fire has reached 1,700 acres and is 55% contained.
Evacuation orders are still in place. 200 homes are still threatened.
#PondFire off of Kata Creek Road and Oak Creek Place, East of Santa Margarita in San Luis Obispo County is 1700 acres and 54% contained. Evacuation Orders are in place. Unified Command: @CALFIRE_SLO @LosPadresNF pic.twitter.com/dP9WXX7VFj
— CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) August 3, 2020
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ORIGINAL STORY: The Pond Fire, which broke out Saturday afternoon east of Santa Margarita, has burned 1,550 acres and was 10 percent contained Sunday morning, according to CAL FIRE.
Fire officials say heat and wind are a concern in the fight Sunday to contain the blaze.
Evacuation orders remain in place for the area south of Highway 58, West of Huer Huero Road, north of Las Pilitas Road and east of Pozo Road.
Evacuation warnings are in effect for the area south of Las Pilitas Road, west of Park Hill Road to East Pozo Road, and north and east of West Pozo Road to Highway 58.
#PondFire For evacuation map please follow the link below. https://t.co/TdjnWVVvw2 pic.twitter.com/LL6tgCjTb5
— XSL IMT (@xslimt3) August 2, 2020
An evacuation center is set up at Santa Margarita Elementary, located at 22070 H Street in Santa Margarita, and those needing help with animal evacuations can call the Horse Emergency Evacuation Team (HEET) of San Luis Obispo County at (805) 550-0213.
Multiple agencies are helping in the fight against the fire, which grew quickly shorting after breaking out around 4:30 p.m.
Firefighters say the steep and rugged terrain is posing a challenge.
Sunday, firefighters were working to establish containment control lines. Fire officials say "critically dry and receptive fuel beds and drought stressed trees are a concern." They add that the area where the fire is burning has a "very active" fire history.
More than 300 personnel are assigned to the fire along with 40 engines, 12 water tenders, two helicopters, 14 hand crews, 12 dozers and one air tanker.
Atascadero Firefighters are assisting with the #AppleFire in Southern #California on strike team 1472A with Paso City Fire, Camp Roberts Fire, SLO County Fire, SLO City Fire and Five Cities Fire. #atascaderofire @5CitiesFirePIO @PasoRoblesES @SLO_City_Fire @CALFIRE_SLO pic.twitter.com/Ct3B1UK826
— Atascadero Fire (@ATAFireL3600) August 2, 2020
At least two structures have burned and 450 are threatened, according to CAL FIRE SLO.
Road closures are in place on Huer Huero Road from Highway 58 to Park Hill Road.
The cause is under investigation and no injuries have been reported.
To learn more about wildfire preparedness, visit CAL FIRE's Ready for Wildfire website here.
