Bird flying into power lines ignites fire in Atascadero
Crews stopped the fire’s forward progress in about 28 minutes
– A vegetation fire behind 1605 N. Ferrocarril in Atascadero was sparked after a bird flew into power lines, causing an electrical arc that ignited nearby vegetation, according to a press release from Atascadero Fire & Emergency Services.
Fire crews responded at 7:14 p.m. to a report of an unknown fire visible behind Home Depot. Updated dispatch information identified the incident as a vegetation fire within the mutual threat zone with Cal Fire, prompting a full wildland response from San Luis Obispo County Fire.
The first arriving unit reported about a half-acre burning in grass and oak woodland with a slow rate of spread. Structures were immediately threatened, and crews issued a life-safety alert because of the involved power lines. Officials estimated the fire had the potential to grow to 2 acres.
Officials said the fire was directly related to a power outage occurring in Atascadero at the time.
The response included 21 personnel, two command vehicles, six engines, one air attack aircraft, and one dozer from Atascadero Fire & Emergency Services, Templeton Fire & Emergency Services, Cal Fire San Luis Obispo Unit, San Luis Obispo County Fire, and Atascadero State Hospital.
The air attack aircraft confirmed conditions at the scene and remained until crews stopped the fire’s forward progress. Officials then determined additional aviation resources were not needed. Incident command also canceled the dozer response after crews stopped the fire’s forward progress and confirmed it was no longer required.
The fire area had recently undergone fuels reduction work along the Salinas River. Fire officials said the work contributed to the fire’s slow rate of spread and helped crews achieve rapid containment.
A partial power outage occurred as crews responded to the fire and multiple other incidents simultaneously, limiting Atascadero’s initial response to one engine and one battalion chief.
The outage also caused radio system instability, and dispatch personnel experienced communication difficulties that required them to rely primarily on portable radios, reducing clarity during the initial response. Because of the outage and the fire’s location within the mutual threat zone, San Luis Obispo County Fire dispatch assumed control of the incident and provided command and tactical radio frequencies through the end of the incident.
Crews stopped the fire’s forward progress at 7:42 p.m., about 28 minutes after dispatch. They continued mop-up operations, and officials declared the fire under control at 8:20 p.m.
No firefighters or civilians were injured.
