MORE THAN 170 FIREFIGHTERS ARE WORKING TO QUELL THE METZ FIRE, BURNING EAST OF SOLEDAD (NEAR HIGHWAY 146 AND METZ ROAD). THE BRUSH FIRE, WHICH A CAL-FIRE SPOKESPERSON SAID IS NOW 80 PERCENT CONTAINED, BEGAN LAST NIGHT AROUND 6:30 P.M.
THE BLAZE IS BELIEVED STARTED WHEN 2 HIGH POWER TRANSMISSION LINES TOUCHED DURING YESTERDAY’S HIGH WINDS….SENDING DOWN A SHOWER OF SPARKS THAT IGNITED THE DRY GRASS BELOW.
ALTHOUGH VOLUNTARY EVACUATIONS FOR SOME AREA HOMES WERE ISSUED LAST NIGHT, RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN CLEARED TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES.
THERE IS STILL A SIFT CLOSURE OF HIGHWAY 146, WHICH MEANS THAT RESIDENTS AND EMERGENCY VEHICLES CAN USE IT, BUT THAT HIGHWAY 146 IS CLOSED TO THE GENERAL MOTORING PUBLIC.