Napa County wildfire forces evacuations of over 100 homes
The blaze just east of St. Helena had burned 300 acres this morning and was 40% contained.
Kent Porter / Associated Press
Residents of more than 100 Napa County homes remained under evacuation orders today as a wildfire just east of St. Helena burned 300 acres of rolling hills scattered with wineries, fire officials said.
More than 1,500 firefighters worked through the night battling the fire, which started at 5:45 p.m. near Deer Park. By 7 a.m. the blaze was 40% contained, said CalFire spokesman Daniel Berlant.
Two structures burned and about 200 homes were threatened.
"The area remains under a red flag warning," Berlant said, adding that wind gusts reached 50 mph last night. "We have low humidity, strong winds, and that coupled with already dry conditions combine to be the perfect conditions for wildfires."
Berlant said CalFire aims to have residents, who were relocated to two nearby evacuation centers, return to their homes tonight. Howell Mountain Road at Upper Sanitarium Road remained closed Saturday morning.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, he said.
