Temperatures soar as several fires smolder across the Bay Area, state
As temperatures soared in the Bay Area Saturday, crews continued to battle several wildfires across the state.
Closer to home, a brush fire broke out near Highway 101 and Alum Rock Avenue Saturday evening, blocking the two right lanes, California Highway Patrol said.
Crews also responded to a brush fire in Antioch Saturday afternoon at Wilbur Avenue and Apollo Court.
Firefighters had the largest of the fires, the Sites Fire in Colusa County, 38% contained by Saturday night, up from 30% nearly 24 hours earlier, according to Cal Fire. The fire continues to remain at 19,195 acres, where it’s been since Thursday.
A heat advisory was in effect for much of the Bay Area Saturday.
The National Weather Service said temperatures soared to the high 90s in the East Bay Saturday, reaching a high of 99 in Concord and 101 in Livermore. Temperatures were slightly cooler in San Jose with a high of 89 and hovered in the mid-to-low 80s across the San Francisco Peninsula.
The National Weather Service said Bay Area residents can look forward to slightly cooler weather Sunday that will continue into early next week.
Cal Fire said its 2,248 crew continued to battle the Sites Fire blaze, working through 100+ temperatures and increased southerly winds. All evacuation orders had been downgraded to warnings, with the exception of Sites Lodoga Road from Sites to Lodoga.
At the height of the fire, 326 structures were threatened, including Cal Fire Station 36 at Leesville, Cal Fire said Saturday evening. But after completing the damage inspection, the agency found zero impacted structures.
Firefighters continued to work to control several blazes across the state Saturday.
The second largest fire in the state, the Post Fire in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, covered 15,690 acres, a figure that has not changed since Tuesday night. As of Saturday night, the fire was 79% contained. An evacuation order for south of Gorman Post Road, west of Interstate 5, east of the Los Angeles County line and north of Pyramid Lake remained in place.
In the situation summary, Cal Fire said its 1,250 crew worked overnight to contain the fire and protect valuable resources and habitat. The agency said Saturday was one of the hottest days on the fire, with temperatures in the triple digits and winds up to 30 mph. Cal Fire’s Saturday night update said there is still a slight possibility of thunderstorms Sunday.
In Calaveras County, crews increased containment of the 5,351-acre Aero Fire to 78%. The blaze has destroyed three structures and damaged one other. All evacuation warnings were lifted Saturday afternoon.
Crews continued to approach full containment on the Point Fire in Sonoma County and the Hesperia Fire in San Bernardino County. As of Saturday night, the Point Fire remained at 1,207 acres and was 85% contained, while the Hesperia Fire covered 1,078 acres and was 95% contained.
Cal Fire said one firefighter was injured while battling the Point Fire. The fire has also destroyed three structures and damaged two others.
Other blazes broke out across the state Saturday, as crews battled three new blazes in Madera, San Diego and Fresno counties. A new fire – the Needles Fire – also broke out in San Bernardino county shortly before 5 p.m. Saturday.