Napa County, California Fire Burns Lookout, Prompts Voluntary Evacuations

LAKE BERRYESSA, Calif. (AP) -- A wildland blaze fueled by dry brush and erratic winds has grown to more than 34,000 acres and prompted the voluntary evacuation of a remote community about 60 miles northeast of San Francisco.

Nearly 1,800 firefighters were battling the wildfire, which has spread to 34,213 acres in Napa and Yolo counties near Lake Berryessa and was only 5 percent contained Wednesday morning, according to Dianne Sanders, spokeswoman with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention.

Strong winds and extremely dry weather have created ``very bad fire conditions,'' Sanders said. Full containment is not expected until Saturday night.

``It's a moving fire. It could grow. It all depends on the weather,'' Sanders said. ``This is a day when it really takes a toll on the firefighters. They're under a lot of stress. The terrain is so steep and difficult.''

Swirling winds wreaked havoc on fire lines all day Tuesday, sending ash drifting onto the Napa Valley wine country town of St. Helena to the west and producing a smoke plume that could be seen as far south as San Francisco.

Air quality warnings were issued throughout the Bay Area, where authorities advised residents to limit their time outdoors and urged drivers to use caution because of reduced visibility from smoke. A red-flag warning for dangerous fire conditions remained in effect Wednesday morning for the northern and eastern parts of the Bay Area.

Winds at the heart of the fire have been blowing at 7 mph, gusting to 15 mph, according to Wendy Stanton, National Weather Service meteorologist. Winds and temperatures are predicted to drop by the end of the week, she said.

The Rumsey fire burned through trees, brush and dry grass in a steep and remote region of Napa and Yolo counties before reaching Lake Berryessa's northeast shoreline Tuesday. On its way, it destroyed a fire lookout east of the lake on the 3,057-foot Berryessa Peak.

Fire officials issued a voluntary evacuation for Lake Berryessa Estates, a community of 75 near the lake's northwest shore. Evacuees were being sent to a nearby school.

Nearly $1 million has been spent to fight the fire. Altogether, 95 fire engines, 24 bulldozers, 14 water tenders, 19 helicopters, one plane and 62 18-member hand crews, including prison inmates, were working to contain the blaze, Sanders said.

``The access is still very difficult,'' said Kaaren Stasko, a fire information officer with the California forestry department. ``We're dealing with extreme fuel. There's lots of growth.''

The blaze began Sunday evening near the Yolo County farming community of Rumsey before spreading to nearby hills. Investigators believe the fire was intentionally set and are investigating the circumstances.

Firefighters were getting the upper hand Wednesday on three smaller fires in or near Northern California's wine country:

• The Geyser fire that began Monday night atop Geyser Peak in Sonoma County was 95 percent contained after burning 150 acres. Full containment was expected Wednesday morning. The area is just east of Highway 101 between Geyserville and Cloverdale.
• The Pine fire was fully contained after burning about 75 acres northwest of Geyserville. No structures were threatened.
• The Valley fire near Bloomfield northwest of Petaluma also was fully contained after burning 75 acres.