Fairfield grass fire forces evacuations in Vista Grande area
FAIRFIELD — All evacuations were lifted for a grass fire that burned dozens of acres in the Vista Grande area of Fairfield late Monday afternoon.
The fire burned more than 60 acres along Vista Grande near Capitola Way, north of Waterman Boulevard, but forward progress was stopped by the early evening.
Fairfield police, which assisted with the evacuation order, said the fire posed a "significant threat to life and property." There have been no reports of injuries or damage
The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental due to "vegetation abatement activities," Fairfield Fire said.
Cal Fire also deployed crews to assist with the firefight.
What areas were under evacuation orders?
The City of Fairfield had issued a mandatory evacuation order for Palmer Circle, Bear Creek Drive, Cherry Valley Circle, Longview Drive, Skyview Circle, and Shelter Hill Drive. All have been lifted.
The evacuation zones were directly north of Vista Grand and Putah South Creek and southeast of the Rancho Solano Golf Course.
Evacuees were advised to head to the Lowe's on North Texas Street and Manuel Campos Parkway.
"Everything is red"
Throughout the firefight, there were no complaints from neighbors, who saw a massive retardant drop as a sign that fire crews took the threat to their homes seriously.
Retardant rained down on homes and cars along Skyview Circle as smoke and flames barreled towards the neighborhood, leaving behind pink rooftops, and pink on the ground and windows.
"We were packing up the car and the trunk. As soon as I heard the aircraft, I just see this pink, reddish liquid just douse the whole house and the whole neighborhood," said resident Allan Perez.
A Cal Fire spokesperson told CBS Sacramento that the drop was likely on purpose, as the winds pushed fire towards homes. But those same winds could've blown the retardant off course.
"Would I rather have a pink house than a burned-down house? Absolutely," resident Aaron Barrett said. "That is not a problem for me."
Barrett has spent more than 20 years on the block and has been through a few evacuation orders, but nothing quite like this.
"We were a little surprised. We were standing there trying to look at the smoke," he said. "Next thing you know, it sounds like a sprinkler hits the house, then everything is red."
More flames in Fairfield
Southeast of that scene, Fairfield firefighters were also working a smaller grass fire in the area of East Travis Boulevard and Sunset Avenue. The size of this fire was not yet clear.
It is not known how this fire started.