Crews from the Higgins Area Fire Protection District in southern Nevada County and the Nevada County Consolidated Fire District joined more than 300 firefighters in battling the 3,000-acre Star Fire, which began burning near the Middle Fork of the American River Saturday morning, officials from the U.S. Forest Service said Sunday.

As of 6 p.m. Sunday, the fire had advanced to the French Meadow area of Placer County. The blaze, which began in the El Dorado National Forest south of the American River, headed north quickly Saturday, said James Simmons, Forest Service information officer.

The Middle Fork of the American River divides the El Dorado and Tahoe national forests.

Three helicopters, five air tankers, four bulldozers and three water tenders from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, as well as crews from Placer County were assisting firefighters in bringing the blaze under control, Simmons said.

There were no reports of injuries or structural damage, he said.

The cause of the fire has not been determined, Simmons said, adding that no containment date had been set.

[NCCFD sent B89]

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