A fire that burned through about 40 acres of brush near the border of Stanislaus and Calaveras counties was battled by the Modesto Fire Department on Friday afternoon.
The Martell Fire began on a ranch near Highway 4 about 15 miles northeast of Woodward Reservoir at about 2:35 p.m., according to MFD Battalion Chief Jim Black. MFD was assisting the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Black said the fire was “in the middle of nowhere” and that no structures were destroyed. No injuries were reported, either. Black added the fire was contained at about 4:30 p.m…