Residents in parts of Calaveras County, who were on alert due to proximity to the 2-2 Fire, can now breathe easier as evacuation warnings have been lifted. The Calaveras County Sheriff's Office, through a social media post, announced the update following orders from Incident Command. The formerly warned zones, CCU-152A and CCU-155, have been cleared, but local authorities urge continued vigilance and caution for those commuting in the area impacted by the fire, especially in watching out for emergency personnel and vehicles.
The 2-2 Fire started in Stanislaus County, not far from the western edge of Calaveras County, and grew significantly within a single day. According to KCRA, as of the evening, the fire had consumed over 3,400 acres. Cal Fire reported an earlier count of 1,300 acres by early afternoon, showing how rapidly the situation evolved. The blaze, fanned by shifting winds, initially threatened areas along Highway 4 and northward due to its movement toward the Calaveras County border.
The intensity of the firefighting efforts led Cal Fire to integrate the 2-2 Fire with other nearby fires, including the 2-7 Fire and the 6-5 Fire, under the collective title of the TCU September Lightning Complex. The complex has reportedly burned through a total of 9,383 acres by the end of the day, with no clear estimate for containment. Cal Fire's strategic use of retardant appeared as an attempt to hinder the fire's spread, as stated in the KCRA report.
The origin of the fire remains unknown, but it arrives amid a spate of lightning strikes across Northern California, totaling over 9,600 in the first two days of September, an observation echoed by the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom. While the exact trigger of the fire is under investigation, these natural events have cast a shadow over the region's fire preparedness and response capabilities. In the interim, Highway 4 had been closed between Milton Road and Horseshoe Drive, with no indication of when it would reopen, impeding local transit and access, a detail captured by a KCRA 3 photographer on scene.
