7-Alarm Grass Fire Burns Several Homes In Fairfield
FAIRFIELD (KCBS/KPIX 5) -- Several homes were damaged late Tuesday afternoon in a quick-moving vegetation fire that grew to seven alarms, scorched 40 acres and engulfed part of a neighborhood near Interstate 80 in Fairfield.
PHOTO GALLERY: Destructive Fairfield Blaze
Police and fire officials said six houses on Marigold Drive were burned by the fast-moving fire that began around 3:30 p.m. on a grassy hillside along the highway and then quickly jumped a sound wall into some trees. Strong winds fanned the flames, which apparently jumped from roof to roof.
According to officials, two homes were destroyed and four others suffered damage from the flames.
Evacuations were ordered for residents in between the 2800 and 3000 blocks of Marigold Drive and in the 3000 block of North Texas Street as the fire threatened dozens more homes and some nearby apartments. Fairfield High School was designated as a shelter for an estimated 50 evacuees.
"There are fire trucks left and right. I see that my palm tree's on fire, my backyard's on fire, I see my roof starting to catch on fire, and I just thought I'd hop out of here," said Marigold Drive resident Darrell Prill as he watched his home burn.
Several cars in a parking lot along I-80 also went up in flames as thick black smoke drifted from the burning hillside onto the interstate and briefly forced the closure of eastbound two lanes of the highway.
Officials said 200 firefighters from several agencies were on scene during the height of the blaze. Solano County firefighters received help from fire departments from Napa, Contra Costa County and Yolo County, along with Cal Fire in battling the blaze.
Firefighters were able to contain the fire Tuesday night. A crew will remain at the scene through the night to battle potential hot spots.
The cause of the fire was unknown.
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