MONTICELLO FIRE CONTINUES TO BURN IN HILLS #MonticelloFire By DEBRA DeANGELO Express editor The sky to the west of Winters is a dull light gray, with veils of smoke over the blue hills obscuring the hills, and the entire town smells of smoke as the blaze dubbed the Monticello Fire continues to burn. As of noon on Sunday, July 6, Cal Fire reported that 7,000 acres have been blackened since approximately 9:30 p.m. on Friday, July 4. The fire was believed to have started in the Canyon Creek area just below Monticello Dam and with an evening breeze blowing, continued west toward the hills above Lake Solano and nearby Golden Bear Estates, but on Saturday with the wind died down, changed directions and burned north through the hills. A huge cloud of smoke arose from the area on Saturday evening, but drifted in a northeast direction with smoke carried as far away as the Yuba City area. As of Sunday afternoon, Highway 128 (Grant Avenue) is open to local traffic only beginning at Main Street, and then closed to all traffic except emergency personnel at Pleasants Valley Road. A Cal Trans worker at the site of the closure reported that at the most recent briefing it was disclosed that Highway 128 is expected to remain closed to traffic until noon on Monday. However, he added that this timeline is still considered fluid at this point. Also closed to traffic is County Road 87, leading into Golden Bear Estates. An evacuation order was enacted on Friday evening, but some residents chose to stay in their homes rather than leave and not be allowed back. Margaret Burns, who lives on a hilltop on Alta Vista Drive said she could see smoke coming from at least three ridges away and did not feel in any immediate danger. She chose to stay but said she would be ready to leave if necessary. On Sunday afternoon, the hills surrounding the Golden Bear Estates are dry and golden, and apparently untouched by the fire. The heart of the fire appears to be coming from the hills about a half-mile north of County Road 31, looking directly west from County Road 89. Smoke filled the gaps between the hills, but there were no visible flames from County Road 89. As of noon on Sunday, Cal Fire reported via their website that 1,372 personnel are battling the fire, representing 36 crews from the Winters Fire Department, Napa County Fire, local fire agencies in Yolo, Solano and Napa Counties, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and Cal Fire. Also offering assistance are sheriffs departments from Yolo and Lake County, the California Office of Emergency Services, the California Highway Patrol, the Bureau of Land Management, the Red Cross, PG&E, Yolo County Animal Services and Cal Trans. Equipment employed to fight the fire includes 98 fire engines, six airtankers, six helicopters and 29 bulldozers. Cal Fire reports that the fire is burning in remote, grassy oak woodland areas with heavy brush, at the higher elevations, with a danger for extreme growth. The steep, remote, rugged terrain with little vehicle access is proving to be a challenge for fire crews. An evacuation center was established at the Winters Community Center by 4 a.m. on Saturday morning, and was used mainly by some campers from Canyon Creek resort and their children. The center is available for anyone who is displaced or stranded by the fire. Red Cross is coordinating the evacuation center, and did not have any particular requests for donations or assistance. However, one Winters resident, Reyna Pedraza, took her children and some games to the Community Center to help entertain the campers children, and Chuy Salazar, owner of Chuys Taqueria, donated burritos to everyone staying and working at the Community Center. Other Winters residents, including Dave and Nanci Mills, were seen carrying flats of bottled water to the kitchen, and several others have also donated water and Gatorade. For the latest reports on the Monticello Fire, visit the Cal Fire website. The Express will post Facebook updates as they come in.
Posted on: Sun, 06 Jul 2014 22:49:54 +0000
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