Four fires along Auburn Folsom Road prompt evacuations

Firefighters extinguished four vegetation fires in Auburn early Wednesday afternoon. According to Auburn Fire Battalion Chief Robert Zaucha, the spot fires ignited along the shoulder of Auburn Folsom Road at noon. According to Mary Eldridge, public information officer for CAL FIRE, the cause of the fires was determined to be automotive related, as pieces of catalytic converter were found at the site of the second fire. Zaucha said at the command post it was "reasonably clear they appear to be related. They happened on the same side of the road at the same time." Zaucha confirmed the first fire started at Auburn Folsom Road and Van Riper Lane and burned one-half acre. The second fire occurred eight-tenths of a mile away, between Van Riper Lane and Tyler Drive, burned an area 10 feet by 10 feet and was put out by a passerby. The third fire, another half-mile away, burned 1.79 acres, climbing a hill near Machty Court, and the fourth burned 1.029 acres on Auburn Folsom Road just north of Tyler Drive, two-tenths of a mile from the third fire. That fire climbed a steep hill and progressed toward the home of Auburn City Councilman and CAL FIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal Assistant Deputy Director Daniel Berlant. That blaze was halted at a fence 50 feet from Berlant's home, where he built defensible space. According to Zaucha, evacuations were issued in the area due to two structures that were immediately threatened and a warning was issued in the vicinity of the fires. A helicopter was on scene dropping water in the area. CAL FIRE NEU reported resources would remain on scene for two-plus hours. Responding agencies included CAL FIRE/Placer County Fire Department, Auburn City Fire Department and Auburn Police Department. Auburn Folsom Road was closed to traffic from Indian Hill Road to Powerhouse Road.