Hunters Fire Burning More Than 500 Acres In Mariposa County

MARIPOSA COUNTY (CBS13) — Cal Fire is battling a fast-moving blaze in Mariposa County that has forced the evacuations of 100 homes.

The Hunters Fire is burning off of the Hunters Valley access road in the Bear Valley area, about two-and-a-half hours southeast of Sacramento.

As of 10 p.m. on Monday, the fire had already burned at least 500 acres.

An evacuation center has been opened at McKay Hall.

Cal Fire's Daniel Berlant said the fire started around 3:30 p.m. and fed off of dry conditions, hot temperatures and quickly grew in the somewhat rural area.

While the exact cause of the fire is under investigation, Berlant said a structure that burned was on fire and those flames spread to the wildlands.

"We are seeing conditions that we would typically see in summer," Berlant said. "This is not the type of fire activity we should be seeing this time of year, but unfortunately because of how dry it is, this is the result."