Nearly 550-acre Gunnison Fire contained as wildfires popped up around Northern California
Several wildfires burned Saturday around the Sacramento region and Northern California, forcing evacuations amid red flag conditions that could lead to serious fire danger.
The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning Friday to last through Monday evening, affecting most of the Sacramento Valley. Forecasters warned that low humidity and wind gusts up to 40 mph have the potential to cause fast-moving wildfires.
California is also experiencing extremely dry weather, with nearly all of the state considered to be in a moderate or worse drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. More than 73% of the state is experiencing extreme drought conditions.
As of late Saturday afternoon, small grassland fires were springing up across Northern California, in addition to one large fire in Butte County.
Gunnison Fire
Cal Fire’s Butte Unit responded to what initially was about a 30-acre vegetation fire near Meridian Road and Gunnison Way in the Chico area just before 1:45 p.m.
The fire quickly grew to 549 acres, burning through dry grass fields and whipped up by fast-gusting winds. The Butte County Sheriff’s Office ordered some residents to evacuate for several hours in response to the fast-moving fire, which threatened to damage homes in the area. By Saturday evening, that order was lifted and residents started to return home at 5:30 p.m.
Two Cal Fire air tankers were sent in to fly over the Gunnison Fire and drop fire retardant in an attempt to stifle its spread.
Cal Fire crews slowly improved containment around the fire throughout the afternoon.
“Air and ground resources coordinated to contain the fire to the grassland and keep it moving into heavily populated areas,” Cal Fire Butte Unit officials said in an evening update just past 9:30 p.m. By that time, the fire was fully contained.
No homes were damaged by the fire, but three outbuildings were destroyed and two more were damaged. Crews will return to the fire area Sunday to check for hot spots and mop up as needed.
Fires along Highway 99 in Sacramento
Several small fires cropped up along Highway 99 in Sacramento around 3:15 p.m., causing major traffic delays.
Highway traffic near Fruitridge Road was backed up to Mack Road due to vegetation fires burning on an embankment near northbound lanes. Sacramento Fire Department officials say both directions of traffic were slowed.
Farther north, fire officials said spot fires were burning in backyards on Sumac Lane directly adjacent to the highway. Sumac Lane was closed to southbound traffic at 14th Avenue, according to the fire department.
Yuba City fire
In a social media update just after 1:30 p.m., the Yuba City Fire Department said firefighters were responding to a “significant” vegetation fire near Olivehurst.
The department said the fire started near the intersection of Plumas Arboga Road and Feather River Road, an area which includes many grassy lots and expansive agriculture fields.
South of the intersection are several small residential neighborhoods that were being evacuated, according to law enforcement radio traffic.
Yuba City firefighters urged residents to stay out of the area of the fire.
