The Old Gulch Fire

Twenty-three years ago on August 16th, 1992 our county was declared a disaster area with over 25,000 acres burned in the next few days.  Many areas were evacuated including Fricot City, Sheep Ranch Cae City and part of Michel and Old Gulch Road.

Four thousand firefighters were here in our county, some from Southern California and all neighboring counties.

The fire was caused by an auto exhaust on Old Gulch Road near Mountain Ranch.  They used the pasture behind the Alberts residence in Mountain Ranch for a staging area.  We served cold drinks to the young firefighters who asked “Where are we?”  Mountain Ranch Realty provided local maps so they could see what area they were in.

The fire moved in an easterly direction fron Old Gulch toward Fricot City, south of Sheep Ranch toward Highway 4 at Forest Meadows, Murphys and Indian Creek.

Mary Oslen’s home on Indian Creek became a victim of the Old Gulch Fire.  This historical building was once the Valente Store, run by Mary’s family since the Gold Rush.

Many more homes were lost in its path toward Ebbetts Pass, including the mansion at Fricot City.

Your Mountain Ranch Fire Department was assigned to protect the homes along Cave City Road with equipment considered old and out of date today.  We never lost a home.  The only community in the fire path that did so.

For a few days there was mass confusion with firefighters and equipment by the hundreds, evacuating people out of  harm’s way and protecting as many homes as possible, and because of their endurance today there is hardly a scar left to see.

Here is a partial list of equipment, manpower and losses from this fire:

*  521 engines, 76 bulldozers, 14 helicopters, 16 air tankers and 28 water tankers have been pressed into service.

*  An estimated 15,000 people reside in the evacuated area, which stretches from Sheep Ranch to Big Trees Village.

*  $9.5 million was spent to supress the fire.

*  11 minor injuries to firefighters have been reported.

*  54 structures have been destroyed, including 35 residences, 11 outbuildings, and 5 commercial buildings.  Residences  lost include 16 at Fricot CIty, four at Mineral Mountain, three along Ponderosa Way, two at Forest Meadows, and 15 at Northwood.

*  22 vehicles and two travel trailers have been incinerated.