NAPA COUNTY >> North winds breathed life back into the Wragg Fire on the hills next to Lake Berryessa on Tuesday afternoon.
Smoked billowed out of the hills north of Vacaville that reignited mandatory evacuations and road closures. The eruption was considered so dangerous authorities issued a call to Lake County departments for an immediate strike team.
The Lakeport Fire Protection District was the only force able to fulfill the request, but the crew were still on hold at press time.
As of 2:45 p.m. mandatory evacuations are in place for SkyRanch, Mix Canyon, Gates Canyon and Pleasants Valley. Additionally, Solano County Resource Management announced that Pleasants Valley and Mix Canyon roads are closed.
According to the Solano County Sheriff’s Office an evacuation center has been established at the Ulatis Community Center, 1000 Ulatis Drive, Vacaville.
Cal Fire confirmed on Twitter that an additional 150 acres are burning in Wildhorse Canyon.
“This part of the fire is within secondary containment lines and both ground and air resources are actively engaging the flare-up,” Cal Fire reported and added that a DC-10, a very large air tanker, has been requested.
Before the blaze flared, Cal Fire had announced 80 percent containment of the fire, which ignited on Wednesday, July 22, and consumed almost 6,600 acres — an estimate revised downward from 6,900 after more accurate measurements were taken.
Since Thursday of last week more than 1,000 firefighters and other saftey personnel remained on the line.
The Wragg Fire has been difficult to tame, given rough terrain and occasional gusts. Because of the location, however, only two outbuildings were destroyed and another four — along with one home — damaged.
Authorities initially believe the fire started after an auto accident. They have since stepped back from that assumption and are continuing to investigate.
Dave Faries, Lake County Record-Bee, contributed to this report
