Firefighters make progress fighting Wragg Fire near Lake Berryessa

ByAmy Hollyfield and Wayne Freedman KGO logo
Saturday, July 25, 2015
Firefighters make progress fighting Wragg Fire near Lake Berryessa
Firefighters have made progress today on a massive wildfire that burned 6,900 acres and caused hundreds of residents near Lake Berryessa to be evacuated.

YOLO COUNTY, Calif. (KGO) -- Firefighters are making progress containing a massive wildfire burning near Lake Berryessa in Napa, Yolo and Solano counties.[br /][br /]The Wragg Fire in the North Bay has burned nearly 7,000 acres, or roughly 11-square-miles -- a little smaller than the city of Cupertino. According to Cal Fire, the brush fire is now 30 percent contained.[br /][br /]More than 1,500 firefighters are fighting the fire from the ground and from above. Nothing has been easy about the fire, not the weather, not the terrain and not the wait for evacuees. Some were finally able to return home Friday. Residents were relieved when Route 128 west of Winters finally reopened Friday.[br /][br /]"The day before yesterday it was right in my face as I watched it coming down the hill," said Wendy Sheet, an evacuee.[br /][br /]When the Wragg Fire broke out, flames consumed 500 acres in the first hour. Firefighters area still facing a prolonged fight across tough turf.[br /][br /]Officials say the fire is threatening 150 structures. It has already damaged one structure, destroyed at least one outbuilding and tent trailer.[br /][br /]The communities of Quail Ridge and Canyon Creek are still under mandatory evacuation orders. Officials are focusing on repopulating remaining evacuated areas.[br /][b][url HREF="http://abc7ne.ws/1fnmBCj" TARGET="" REL=""]PHOTOS: Large fire burns south of Lake Berryessa[/url][/b][br /][post ID="873332" /][br /][Ads /][br /]Evacuations have been lifted in the Golden Bear Estates Area and for residents on County Road 87. Officials are still working to lift evacuations in other areas to bring at least 200 people home.[br /][br /]A warning has been issued after officials noticed the retardant used to battle the fire may be contaminating the water in the Quail Canyon area.[br /][br /]The most active part of the fire, which broke out Wednesday, was burning along a mountain range in a remote area several miles from the highway that feeds into the park for Lake Berryessa, one of the largest bodies of fresh water in California. It was partially contained early Friday.[br /][br /]The fire is less than an hour's drive to California's famed Napa Valley wine country, but no vineyards were in immediate danger. "It's pretty far away from the Napa Valley," said Amy Head, state fire spokeswoman. "Fine to go into the Napa Valley and do tastings."[br /][br /]Businesses closer to the wildfires also say commerce is not affected, with customers buying wine and renting cabins and boats by Lake Berryessa.[br /][br /]Terry Sparkman, general manager of [url HREF="http://www.goberryessa.com/" TARGET="" REL=""]Pleasure Cove Resort & Marina[/url], which is a few miles west of the wildfires, said people may have to drive an extra 40 miles to get there, but they do. "You're getting the last few weeks before school starts and getting all the fun you can," he said.[br /][br /]Still, Marcia Ritz, owner of the Spanish Flat Country and Deli in Napa, said she worried about the impact the fire would have on tourism. "We have the resorts up here, and in the summertime, we depend on them," Ritz said.[br /][br /]Meanwhile, a new fire that broke out Thursday afternoon in the Sierra Nevada southwest of Lake Tahoe grew to 100 acres in heavy timber.[br /][br /]It was burning on both sides of the American River and U.S. Highway 50, which was closed about 60 miles east of Sacramento[br /][br /]Officials say the cause of this fire is under investigation.[br /][br /]Meanwhile, a new fire that broke out Thursday afternoon in the Sierra Nevada southwest of Lake Tahoe grew to 100 acres in heavy timber.[br /][br /]It was burning on both sides of the American River and U.S. Highway 50, which was closed about 60 miles east of Sacramento.[br /][twitter ID="624688621140901888" /][br /][twitter ID="624688436696387584" /][br /][twitter ID="624687356734365696" /][br /][twitter ID="624651249468596224" /][br /][br /]The Red Cross has opened an Evacuation Center at the Winters Community Center at 201 Railroad Ave in Winters. A large animal evacuation center is opened at 29775 County Road 31 in Winters. Fore more information about evacuations, [url HREF="http://bit.ly/1U1ojJV" TARGET="" REL=""]click here[/url].[br /][twitter ID="624574722433421312" /][br /][br /]If you see news where you live, tag your photos and videos on [url HREF="https://twitter.com/hashtag/abc7now" TARGET="" REL=""]Twitter[/url], [url HREF="https://instagram.com/explore/tags/abc7now/" TARGET="" REL=""]Instagram[/url], or [url HREF="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/abc7now" TARGET="" REL=""]Facebook[/url] with #abc7now.[/b][br /][br /][br /][i]The Associated Press contributed to this story.[/i]