Mandatory Evacuation Order Lifted After Fire Crews Contain Brushfire Near Schellville
SCHELLVILLE (CBS SF/CBS) -- Mandatory and advisory evacuations previously in effect in rural Sonoma County near Schellville have now been lifted, as firefighters have contained a grassfire that apparently started in a ditch and then spread to winery complex outbuildings, firefighters said.
The fire was first reported just before 4 p.m. alongside state Highway 121, less than a mile south of the state Highway 116 intersection, said Ray Mulas, chief of the Schell-Vista Fire Protection District.
The fast moving grassfire sent dozens at a birthday party and two weddings running from the flames early Saturday evening.
"Everything was engulfed all along the roadway," said Rick Eichler who watched the flames take over several structures and cars off Highway 121 and Wagner Road.
Eichler lives across the now damaged Events Center where the birthday party was taking place.
"All this was lit up," he said.
Mulas said the fire began in the ditch next to the building as 45 mile per hour winds pushed the flames onto dry grass and burned the "Victorian Building" as well as two to three others behind it.
The fire also sent an estimated 200 people running from two weddings that were taking place across the street at Cornerstone Winery.
"Which was creating somewhat of a havoc as people were trying to escape; fire was running underneath the cars," Mulas said. "Everybody got out fine, we were very fortunate that we didn't lose anybody in those fields trying to get to their cars."
The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office ordered evacuations in a two mile radius of the fire as winds continued to pose a challenge to firefighters.
When asked if there was any fear Saturday's fire could've been a repeat of the massive and destructive Napa and Sonoma County fires from 2017, Mulas said "Yes."
"From the time we left the station, from the time we finally got it stopped," he said. "If you know the land on the other side of the vineyards and running down the rows, there were places where it could've spotted and spread on us."
The two-year anniversary of the wildfires is in less than two weeks.
This weekend's fire spread to nine acres. More than 100 firefighters were called to the scene, Mulas said, and they had the blaze contained by about 5:15 p.m. Saturday. The evacuation order was lifted at 6:16 p.m.
The cause is under investigation.
