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SALINAS - A fire threatens a nearby learning center, sparking dozens of firefighters to jump on scene.
It happened Thursday afternoon near dry grass near Old Stage Road where 15 acres burned.
The upslope fire with steep terrain made it hard for fire crews on the ground to put the fire out that burned right near Rancho Cielo, a learning center that helps at-risk kids.
It took seven engines, one dozer, two air tankers, one helicopter and two hand crews from several agencies to put the fire out.
"It made a run up the first hill and then dropped down into a couple of little drainages," said Paul Avila, battalion chief for Cal Fire. "Engines weren't able to get into drainages. That's where the aircraft comes in."
Fire crews said they're having a difficult time determining how big the fire is because of all the hills and valleys in the area.
The weather didn't help much, either.
"Challenges off the bat were the wind. We have a five to 10-mile-hour wind coming from the west to the east pushing it uphill," Avila said.
Crews used mapping resources in the helicopter and GPS on the ground to help give them a better idea of what they're working with before finally putting the fire out.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
