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photo credit: CalFireThe prescribed burn got out of control around noon Monday.
A vegetation fire that has burned 300 acres in the North Bay Monday has been dubbed the Putah Fire.
The blaze started Monday at about 11 a.m. at state Highway 128 and Monticello Dam Road following prescribed burns conducted by Cal Fire crews.Multiple airtankers, 10 Cal Fire engines, eight Cal Fire ground crews and around 200 fire fighters from nearby fire departments are on the scene, including crews from Dixon, Vacaville, Yolo County, West Plainfield and the University of California, Davis, according to Winters Fire Captain Cheyne Baumgart.
"They were conducting a prescribed burn off Highway 128 and the winds picked up and escaped the established control line," said Jason Clay, public information officer for Cal Fire.
As of 2:15 p.m., the fire was still growing, but there were no threats to structures, said Clay.
However, "there is a threat to power transmission lines in the area," he said.
The Napa Sheriff's Office said in a statement that Highway 128 from Monticello Dam Road has been closed in both directions as of 2 p.m.
Indeed, fire weather appears to be coming for the Bay Area this week.
There is an elevated chance of fire weather in the middle of the week -- Wednesday evening through Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.
Gusty offshore winds and extremely dry conditions mean fires may catch and spread more easily.
"Even though we've gotten some rain over the last month or so, vegetation is continuing to dry out in portions of the area, so they'll be susceptible to burning," said Lamont Bain, a National Weather Service meteorologist.
Concerns are highest for the North Bay interior mountains, especially in Napa County, where winds are strongest, with hot and dry conditions extending into the rest of the Bay Area.
Wednesday, daytime high temperatures will be mostly in the mid 70s on the coast, in the mid 70s to mid 80s around the bay, and in the mid 90s inland. Thursday, daytime highs will be mostly in the low 80s on the coast, in the mid 80s to low 90s around the bay, and in the high 90s inland. There is a moderate heat risk warning for Thursday. Low temperatures for both nights will mostly be in the low 60s.
The National Weather Service recommends people in the area be mindful of local burn bans. For safety, dispose of cigarettes and matches carefully and ensure campfires are completely extinguished when putting them out.
The Weather Service also encourages people in the area to avoid using anything that could create sparks, like lawn care or towing equipment, while conditions last.
"Anything that promotes the idea of one less spark, one less wildfire," Bain said.
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