Posted on 10/11/2008 1:35:12 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Hundreds of firefighters Saturday battled a fast-growing wildfire that threatened homes and wineries in Napa Valley.
Fire officials said the blaze had burned at least 300 acres in the rugged hills just outside Deer Park, a community about four miles east of the wine country town of St. Helena.
The fire was about 40 percent contained Saturday morning, with full containment expected by day's end.
CalFire spokeswoman Nancy Carniglia said the fire had destroyed at least two structures and threatened 200 homes and several wineries.
About 100 Deer Park residents along Crestmont Drive and the surrounding area left their homes under voluntary evacuation orders Friday night, and an evacuation center was set up at St. Helena High School at 1401 Grayson Ave.
Cal Fire Capt. Jeff Gahagan said the fire broke out around 4:50 p.m. Friday in the area of Deer Park and Sanitarium roads, east of Calistoga and north of St. Helena city limits.
On Saturday morning, the fire was burning in a steep terrain covered in heavy chaparral and timber below the Crestmont Drive area and was heading in a lateral direction toward Howell Mountain Road.
Roads leading from St. Helena up the hill to the Angwin area of the county were closed.
About 400 firefighters were battling the blaze, with additional resources called in on Saturday.
A strike team of five engines, 22 firefighters and a battalion chief from the San Francisco Fire Department left the city Saturday to battle the blaze. A strike team from Santa Clara County also made its way to Napa County on Saturday, fire officials said.
The cause of the fire was still being investigated.
Near Pine Ridge and Staggs leap region. GREAT reds from volcanic soil and arid climate.
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