Strong Wind Pushes Grass Fire at Rancho Murieta Airport, Sacramento Metro Fire Says

Oct. 11—A wind-driven grass fire created concerns for firefighters Monday as flames pushed against the runway at the Rancho Murieta Airport, according to the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District.

The grass fire was reported about 1:15 p.m. Monday at the airport. Shortly before 1:30 p.m., Sacramento Metro Fire Capt. Parker Wilbourn said the flames already had burned about 2 acres near Murieta Parkway.

Wilbourn said the flames bumped up against the runway, but the fire did not threaten any buildings or vehicles.

Firefighters created dozer lines up to nearby levees to encircle the flames. Wilbourn said strong wind drove the flames, and firefighters from Cal Fire were called to the airport. Cal Fire eventually took over the incident.

The Cal Fire Amador-El Dorado Unit said its firefighters were at the scene near Murieta Drive and Cantova Way in Sacramento County. Full air and ground resources from Cal Fire responded to the fast-moving fire, which had grown to almost 5 acres, Cal Fire said about 2 p.m. Monday.

About 3:15 p.m., Cal Fire said the blaze, now known as the Murieta Fire, was mostly burning in manure. There was still a potential for spot fires to spread in the grass, but it was holding between 4.5 and 5 acres burned, according to Cal Fire. Smoke was expected to remain in the area for several hours.

More grass fires break out

Also on Monday afternoon, the Sacramento Fire Department extinguished a grass fire near the 3600 block of West River Drive. The flames were on both sides of a sound wall separating Interstate 80 and a residential neighborhood, fire officials said. Firefighters were at the scene putting out any smoldering spots.

Sacramento Fire also contained and put out an afternoon grass fire along the southbound lanes of Interstate 5, south of Metro Air Parkway. The Fire Department said there were no threats to homes, and no injuries were reported.

Most of Northern California was under a red flag warning Monday as powerful wind gusts swirled through the region and created dangerous wildfire conditions amid a still very dry landscape and relatively low humidity levels.

Fire and weather officials warned residents to be cautious while outdoors as wind gusts can cause a wildfire to quickly spread or down power lines or tree limbs. The red flag warning issued by the National Weather Service remains in effect through 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. started blacking out customers in portions of Glenn, Colusa, Tehama and Butte counties as strong wind and wildfire dangers ramped up. PG&E said its latest public safety power shutoff would take in 25,000 homes and businesses across portions of 20 counties, including parts of the Bay Area, the Central Coast and the southern San Joaquin Valley.

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