NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Firefighters in Mendocino and Napa counties have been working a number of wildland fire incidents over the last few days.
Cal Fire reported that there were two small wildland fires in Mendocino County on Monday afternoon.
The first fire, the Spy incident, started just before 3:30 p.m. Monday at mile post 77 along Highway 101 in Laytonville, Cal Fire said.
The agency said the Spy incident burned half an acre of grass and brush and was contained just after 5:20 p.m.
The second fire, the Tan incident, started at 3:45 p.m. at the Tan Oak Park in Leggett, according to Cal Fire.
The Tan incident was contained at 5:45 p.m. and burned four and a half acres acres of grass and heavy timber, with difficult access for firefighters. Also presenting challenges for firefighters were downed power lines, Cal Fire reported.
Cal Fire said the initial response included one copter, two tankers and multiple engines and crews.
Patrol of the fire area continued on Tuesday, with three engines and two crews assigned, Cal Fire said.
Cal Fire's incident commander reported that the grass and timber were very dry and burned like late July conditions.
Cal Fire's Mendocino Unit also reported that it is staffing up in order to be ready to respond to the season's very dry conditions.
Then, on Tuesday afternoon, Cal Fire's Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit and the Napa County Fire Department responded to the Garage Fire in Napa County.
The wildland fire was first reported shortly before 3:30 p.m. near the intersection of Howell Mountain and Pope Valley roads, the agency said.
Structures were threatened but none were burned thanks to air tanker and helicopter drops that – in concert with ground forces – kept the fire away from the buildings, according to a Tuesday evening report from Fire Capt. Joe Fletcher.
Fletcher said suppressing the fire was a challenge due to gusty winds and steep terrain. However, forward progress of the fire was stopped when fire line around its perimeter was complete just after 4 p.m.
Altogether, the fire burned 36 acres and was 75-percent contained, according to Fletcher's Tuesday night report.
Engine companies and fire crews were scheduled to work on mop up and patrol throughout the night, Fletcher said.
Approximately 220 residents in the Pope Valley and Berryessa Estates communities were expected to be without electrical power until midnight because Pacific Gas and Electric was completing power line repairs, Fletcher said. Howell Mountain Road between Pope Valley Road and Ink Grade Road was to remain closed while the repairs took place.
There were no injuries, Fletcher said.
Resources on scene included nine engine/truck companies, two water tenders, three volunteer companies, two fire crews, two helicopters, five overhead personnel, two bulldozers, four air tankers and 103 personnel, according to Fletcher's report.
For information on how to be ready for wildfire visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org .
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REGIONAL: Firefighters battle blazes in Mendocino, Napa counties
- Elizabeth Larson
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