Summer Kicks Off With Fires That Destroy 1 Home In Yolo County
DUNNIGAN (CBS13) — Fire crews in Sacramento and Yolo counties spent much of Monday fighting grass fires.
A fire started before 4 p.m. near Cal Expo, while two others starting shortly after near Woodland and Dunnigan in Yolo County.
"It was a big flame. It was traveling pretty fast," said Alex Ramirez.
He lives off County Road 88 in Dunnigan. The road was shut down by trucks, fire and smoke when he pulled up.
"I thought it could spread more," he said.
His neighbor's house was destroyed. Only a chimney and a few palm trees were left standing.
"This is a rural area. It's not like a city where you have hydrants every 300 feet," said Chief Barry Burns with the Esparto Fire Department.
After making quick work of the home, the fire jumped the street. Roughly 10 acres burned before crews could control it.
"It's still under investigation," said Chief Michael Urlaub with the Dunnigan Fire Department, "but it looks like it started in the wild land and spread to the house."
Meanwhile, in Sacramento, a grass fire ate up 45 acres in a nature preserve behind Cal Expo.
"It just got bigger and bigger and by the time you could see flames they were about 30 feet high," said Kevin Seger.
He was camping nearby.
Swirling winds, high temperatures, and lots of dry grass. A perfect recipe for a wildfire.
"It started as a 50-by-50 spot fire and got big that fast," said Chris Harvey with the Sacramento City Fire department.
Power lines were an added obstacle. Helicopters couldn't drop water and initially firefighters had to stay back.
"You could feel the heat and not much breeze, so really thick smoke," said Anne Cunningham, who was also camping nearby.
She took no chances, and was prepared to leave.
"I just gathered a few pictures and some jewelry."
Within three hours, a burn line surrounded the flames. And crews had it controlled.
The cause of the fires has not been determined
