Firefighters Still Battling 600-Acre Blaze Near Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant

By David Sneed, The Tribune, San Luis Obispo, Calif.

Jan. 15–Fire crews are still battling a wind-driven fire in rugged terrain north of Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant.

As of this morning the fire had blackened 600 acres, said Clint Bullard, spokesman with California Department of Forestry/County Fire in San Luis Obispo. More than 200 firefighters are on the scene, and retardant tankers are expected to start making drops on the blaze this morning.

Firefighting efforts have been hampered by the rugged, steep terrain and an abundance of brush and other fuels for the fire. The area has not burned in 70 years, Bullard said.

“The weather is playing a big role,” he said. “We hope to have a real good hold of it by tomorrow morning.”

The fire started Sunday afternoon about a mile and a half north of the plant and has been driven by gusting winds. The cause is under investigation, Bullard said.

The nuclear plant continues to operate at fill power, and the transmission lines from the plant are not in danger, Diablo Canyon spokesman Jeff Lewis said.

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Copyright (c) 2007, The Tribune, San Luis Obispo, Calif.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.

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