UPDATE (10:34 p.m.) – CAL FIRE says all lanes of eastbound Highway 46 and one lane of westbound Highway 46 have reopened so traffic is no longer being diverted through Shandon.
Drivers are still asked to be cautious while driving through the area.
UPDATE (9:17 p.m.) – CAL FIRE says equipment and personnel will remain on the fireline throughout the night to strengthen containment lines and extinguish hot spots.
A strike team of engines will reportedly be on the line Thursday.
UPDATE (9:05 p.m.) – CAL FIRE, CHP, and Caltrans are working to open one lane of westbound Highway 46, as well as all lanes of eastbound Highway 46 in order to stop diverting traffic through Shandon.
#McMillanfire (update) CAL FIRE, CHP, and CAL Trans working to open one lane westbound and all lanes eastbound of Hwy. 46 East. Once open, no traffic divert thru Shandon.
— CAL FIRE SLO (@CALFIRE_SLO) June 13, 2019
UPDATE (8:30 p.m.) – CAL FIRE says containment numbers and acreage likely won’t change until Thursday when crews are able to assess the scene in the morning.
A briefing is expected around 6 a.m.
UPDATE (8:03 p.m.) – CAL FIRE is releasing some air tankers and helicopters from the scene as firefighters get a better handle on the fire.
More than 100 fire personnel, including 15 engines from stations across north county, as well as Santa Barbara County, responded to tackle the fire.
Traffic on Highway 46 East is being rerouted through Shandon until smoke hazards are mitigated.
UPDATE (7:06 p.m.) – CAL FIRE tells KSBY that crews are expected to stay at the scene of the fire into Thursday.
People in the surrounding area can expect to see smoke in the air.
#McMillanfire (update) Fire remains 50% contained and structure threat has been mitigated. Both directions of Hwy. 46 East open but diverted thru Shandon. Expect delays. pic.twitter.com/FuFu4mAMz3
— CAL FIRE SLO (@CALFIRE_SLO) June 13, 2019
UPDATE (6:29 p.m.) – Both directions of Highway 46 are now open to traffic.
UPDATE (5:54 p.m.) – Firefighters continue to make progress containing the more than 2,000-acre McMillan Fire in Shandon, according to CAL FIRE.
Officials say while additional air and ground resources are being released, smoke may still be seen in northeastern San Luis Obispo County for some time.
#McMillanfire pic.twitter.com/UNSxtqKheQ
— CAL FIRE SLO (@CALFIRE_SLO) June 13, 2019
UPDATE (5:24 p.m.) – CAL FIRE says forward progress of the McMillan Fire has been stopped and it is now 50 percent contained.
Eastbound traffic on Highway 46 is open.
UPDATE (5:11 p.m.) – CAL FIRE says firefighters are making good progress containing the McMillan Fire burning in Shandon.
The fire has burned more than 2,000 acres and is reportedly 30 percent contained.
CAL FIRE says the incident commander is beginning to release some of the tankers assigned to the fire.
Meanwhile, the California Highway Patrol is allowing some eastbound traffic through on Highway 46. Still, motorists are asked to avoid the area if possible.
KSBY Meteorologist Dave Hovde’s McMillan Fire forecast:
UPDATE (4:43 p.m.) – Both directions of Highway 46 in Shandon are now closed to traffic because of the fire.
UPDATE (4:28 p.m.) – The McMillan Fire has grown to 2,000 acres and is 20 percent contained, according to CAL FIRE.
Wow – pretty scary stuff – the fire just jumped the river and came very close to where we were standing… we can still feel the heat from across the highway @KSBY pic.twitter.com/mVkjKBgSQR
— Melissa Newman (@melnewmantv) June 12, 2019
UPDATE (4 p.m.) – The California Highway Patrols plans to shut down both eastbound and westbound lanes of Highway 46 in Shandon because of the McMillan Fire. Motorists should take an alternate route.
The closure is expected to last for about an hour.
Check out all this smoke from the #McMillanFire – CHP says because of this fire, they plan on shutting down Hwy 46 westbound – before a potential full closure later this evening @KSBY pic.twitter.com/n3VxSPf5eK
— Melissa Newman (@melnewmantv) June 12, 2019
UPDATE (3:44 p.m.) – The McMillan Fire has burned 1,200 acres and is 30 percent contained.
Fifteen engines from several local fire agencies, four dozers and numerous aircraft are working to contain the fire.
KSBY’s Melissa Newman is at the scene and will have a live update on the fire during an early edition of KSBY News at 4 p.m.
UPDATE (3:01 p.m.) – The McMillan Fire has grown to 1,000 acres, according to CAL FIRE.
#McMillanfire pic.twitter.com/cCCD63DeVa
— CAL FIRE SLO (@CALFIRE_SLO) June 12, 2019
UPDATE (2:39 p.m.) – CAL FIRE reports that the McMillan Fire burning in Shandon is now 20 percent contained.
UPDATE (1:52 p.m.) – The McMillan Fire has now grown to 600 acres.
#McMillanfire pic.twitter.com/SGnx38CiHT
— CAL FIRE SLO (@CALFIRE_SLO) June 12, 2019
UPDATE (1:42 p.m.) – The McMillan Fire has grown to 200 acres, according to CAL FIRE, and is spreading at a “moderate to rapid rate.”
Posted by Tanna Campbell on Wednesday, June 12, 2019
UPDATE (1:21 p.m.) – CAL FIRE reports that the McMillan Fire, burning in the Shandon area, has grown to 50 acres.
(1:11 p.m.) – Firefighters are responding to a brush fire in the Shandon area.
CAL FIRE SLO first tweeted about the fire around 1 p.m. Wednesday.
The fire, which has been called the McMillan Fire, is burning east of McMillan Canyon Road on Highway 46.
Within about five minutes of the first tweet, firefighters announced the fire was at 10 acres and was growing at a moderate rate of spread.
Stick with KSBY for updates on this developing story.
#McMillanfire 10 acres with a moderate rate of spread. pic.twitter.com/ic7poTlx5Y
— CAL FIRE SLO (@CALFIRE_SLO) June 12, 2019
