Favorable weather helped fire crews keep the Old Fire burning north of Napa from spreading and the blaze is now 30% contained, Cal Fire said Wednesday evening.
"Thanks to hard work by all firefighters working the lines, fire containment is now 30%, with no increase in acres; still 570 acres," Cal Fire posted on Twitter.
One firefighter was taken to a hospital for a minor injury, authorities said. Crews will work through the night to reinforce containment lines on the brush fire, Cal Fire said on social media.
The blaze was first reported Tuesday afternoon near Soda Canyon Road and Old Springs Road in Napa County. No structures have been damaged or destroyed.
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By Tuesday night, it had scorched 570 acres. Evacuations were ordered Tuesday afternoon for residents near the fire and the American Red Cross set up an evacuation center. Residents were allowed to return home by midnight.
Only residents are currently permitted access to the area.
John Hlivka lives on Soda Canyon Road and remembers the 2017 Atlas Fire that leveled his house.
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“So it was a little shocking to come home and have the roads blocked off,” he said. “That’s why you see us walking on the road tonight because our cars are down the hill.”
The big difference between this fire and the Atlas one is the wind.
That 2017 fire was pushed by 60 mph winds and in the Old Fire, it’s calm and people who live there are better prepared.
“Sign up for Nixle alerts, know their evacuation zone, but also doing fuel reduction projects,” said Erick Hernandez of Cal Fire Napa County.
Mari Torres’ property still has blackened trees from the Atlas Fire, and she said Tuesday’s flames are bringing it all back.
“My husband lost a lot over there, his garage, cars, animals chickens we are worried we’re super worried about that,” she said.
Chris Miller was going home from San Francisco when he got a call from his wife on Soda Canyon Road.
“She was rattled but she did a great job,” said Miller. “Dogs are safe, all the priority items are in the car. I’m up here trying to make out through all the smoke how our little area of the canyon is doing.”
Bay City News contributed to this report.
