Solano crews stop fast-moving Hay Fire at 800-plus acres, battle gusting winds
VACAVILLE – A wind-whipped wildland fire burned 869 acres east of Vacaville just after noon on Friday. The Hay Fire sits at 70% containment according to Cal Fire with forward progress stopped around 3 p.m.
The Solano County Office of Emergency Services says the fire started near Hay Road and Burke Lane.
No evacuation warnings or orders were issued, officials say. No injuries or damaged structures have been reported.
With high winds in the area on Friday, a Red Flag Warning for critical fire danger weather was in effect for a large swath of the Sacramento Valley due to high winds. Solano County saw some of the strongest gusts in the region, at times between 45 and 55 miles per hour.
"The larger the fire gets the more complex it gets for us," said Nick Warren, battalion chief with the Dixon Fire Department.
Extremely dry fuels and the wind made the firefight harder and more unpredictable, leaving crews fighting the conditions just as much as the flames.
"We're constantly battling the wind. Out there, it's a race against the fire. We have resources out there but if you have a 49-mile-an-hour wind, you're racing a 49-mile-an-hour fire," Warren said.
The worst of the wind is over Friday night and was welcomed news to fire crews who have been waiting at the ready since this region's red flag warning first went in place.
Dixon Fire was the lead on the Hay Fire, assisted by every fire agency in Solano County, Cal Fire LNU and two strike teams from Napa County and Contra Costa County.
Thanks to the quick response, protected Solano County lands were spared.
"The fire stopped right before a big pool that has endangered species that live there," said Jasmine Westbrook with the Solano Land Trust.
Westbrook says nearby Jepson Prairie Preserve and Wilcox Ranch could have been a total loss.
"We actually did not expect that it would get under control before it reached our property. We were talking about how we would handle if everything burned. It was a pleasant surprise, we are so impressed and so grateful they stopped it when they did," Westbrook said.
Father and son spring into action
CBS13 crews spotted Jeff Moorehead and his son, Tyler, helping put out spot fires at a property that wasn't theirs along Hay Road Friday.
The pair had called the sheriff's office to see if any assistance was needed.
"They said to come on over here and start plowing, so Tyler hopped on the tractor. I brought out some diesel," Jeff said. "We've just been putting out hotspots and helping the firefighters in any way they need help."
"I've never been in this position before. I just graduated high school," Tyler said. "It's pretty cool to experience it. Definitely, now [I'm] thinking I might want to be a firefighter."
They say wind and fire in this area aren't necessarily unusual, but they're always fire-ready and willing to help.
"Been quite a few fires out here over the years," Jeff said. "The dryness and every time that north wind blows, there's a good chance there's going to be a fire nearby."
"You never know when you're going to be the one who needs help," Tyler said. "So today, these are the people who needed help."
Incident updates for the Hay Fire can be found at this link.