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On May 15, Cal Fire responded to a fire on New Idria Road, marking the second wildfire in San Benito County in 2024. The first, the three-acre Hernandez Fire, occurred near Coalinga-Hernandez Road on May 5.
Units from San Benito, Fresno, Merced and Santa Clara counties responded to the 29-acre fire by air and ground.
According to Curtis Rhodes from Cal Fire, in response to a call about smoke in the area, a plane left from Hollister Airport while fire engines from Antelope, Bear Valley and Hollister were dispatched. Because of the location and length of time needed to get there, Fresno units were also dispatched and arrived before the others. The plane was able to drop retardant before ground operations arrived.
As of 2:30 p.m. May 16, the fire is 80% contained and the cause is under investigation.
Cal Fire recommends residents living in fire risk areas to harden their homes and have an evacuation plan.
An evacuation plan involves monitoring disaster events, having emergency supplies in the car, having the car ready and a plan for evacuating pets.
Cal Fire’s website states: “Being ready starts with hardening your home and maintaining adequate defensible space around your home and property. Home hardening means using ignition-resistant materials on and around your home to help it withstand flying embers and radiant heat. Defensible space is the buffer created by removing dead plants, grass and weeds to help keep wildfire away from your home.”
The county is currently working on updating its 2010 fire plan and is seeking input from residents about areas they feel are important. A survey about the plan is here.
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