CDF NEWS RELEASE
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
 

 TUOLUMNE-CALAVERAS UNIT
CONTACT:
Sharon Torrence, CDF Information Officer
Mary Pitto, County Public Information Officer
(209) 754-2739 and (209) 754-6303		   RELEASE
DATE: Sept 24, 2001

TIME: 1330 hours

The Darby Fire Final

     San Andreas - "The Darby Fire " which consumed 14,280 acres, was declared 100% contained as of 6 PM Sunday, September 16, 2001. Full control will be declared at 6PM this evening, September 24, 2001 Injuries totaled 44, most of which were minor. The only structure destroyed was a travel trailer.

     Success in fighting the fire was due to the cooperative efforts by CDF, USFS, Ebbetts Pass FPD, Murphys FPD, Copperoppolis FPD, San Andreas FPD, Mokelumne Hill FPD, Altaville Melonies FPD, Angels City Fire, Sonora City Fire, Tuolumne City Fire, Tuolumne County Fire, California Highway Patrol, California Department of Correction, California Youth Authority, California Conservation Corp., California Department of Fish and Game, Calaveras County Office of Emergency Services, Calaveras County Sheriff's Department, Calaveras County Public Works and Human Services, Los Angeles County Fire, Orange County Fire, Red Cross, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. and Sierra Pacific Industries. Through the Multi - Agency Coordinating Group (MAC), these and other agencies developed an integrated management team, who delivered coordinated incident operations.

     At the height of the fire, there were 3,112 personnel assigned to the incident. Total cost of the fire is $21,476,122.00. The total cost of property damaged and/or destroyed is $17,177,600. That figure includes, structures, vehicles, the Utica Flume, Flume short -term project, the Flume mid-term project, PG&E, Pacific Bell, Timber (6127acres), Oak Woodland (4390acres), Brush (3382acres), Grass (375acres), and 4 Fire Apparatus (1 Riverside Engine # 15 destroyed, 1 Office of Emergency Service Engine # 257 received major damage and 2 CDF Engines 1767 and 1760, received minor damage) The dollar value of the property that was threatened or saved is $297,184,633. That figure includes structures (2435), Timber (7100acres), Calaveras Big Trees State Park Structures, and Big Trees State Park….."PRICELESS"

     Information may be found at the CDF Website at www.fire.ca.gov and the County's Website at www.co.calaveras.ca.us.

CDF investigators are continuing to look for anyone with information about a maroon colored pickup seen in the Camp 9 area the afternoon of September 5, 2001. They have received dozens of leads, but have not yet been able to identify the vehicle. The vehicle is a newer model (1994-2001) 4-wheel drive Toyota with a matching cab-high camper shell. There is possibly a sticker on the rear wheel fender in large lettering "TRD", and the camper shell possibly has tinted windows. It was seen in the Camp 9 area near the Collierville powerhouse about the time the fire started. There were two occupants, the driver being a male. If you have any information about this vehicle or any other vehicle seen in the Camp 9 area September 5, 2001, please contact fire investigators at 532-0821.