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Hurricane-force winds fan growing Kincade Fire in California

By
Amanda Woods
Published Oct. 28, 2019
Updated Oct. 28, 2019, 1:31 p.m. ET
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California wildfires
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Hurricane-force winds gusting at more than 80 mph have created blowtorch-like conditions as the still-raging Kincade Fire burns through California’s Sonoma County, according to new reports.

Strong winds fanned the out-of-control blaze into a wall of flames as it approached the outskirts of Windsor, as well as a small, neighboring Napa County city, CBS San Francisco reported.

“The wind speeds are extreme … The strongest winds I have felt in my career,” Cal Fire Capt. Robert Foxworthy told the station Sunday. “[The winds] are throwing embers a considerable distance in front of the main fire, causing spot fires, creating a real challenge for the crews fighting the fire.”

“If we were to let one of these homes burn, it could very easily spread to the next to the next to the next,” he added.

By Sunday evening local time, the fire had grown to more than 54,000 acres (84 square miles) and containment had dropped from 10 percent to 5 percent, according to the report.

Authorities urged residents of Windsor — some of whom had ignored a mandatory evacuation a day earlier — to get out as soon as possible Sunday.

“If you are in Windsor in the area of Hembree Lane at Vinecrest Road, leave NOW!!” the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office said in a tweet. “It is smoky and windy and there’s an immediate threat of fire.”

At least one home burned down — even though authorities were able to stop the blaze at the edge of the city, Sonoma County Fire District Battalion Chief Kevin James said, according to the report.

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“There was nothing we could do to save it,” James said. “Spot fire got out ahead of us, didn’t have an engine that we could get up here really available, because we’re stretched to these other houses down below.”

Another evacuation warning was issued Sunday in the city of Calistoga, known for its hot springs, mud baths and wineries.

Two firefighters suffered burns, one significant and one minor, Cal Fire Division Chief Jonathan Cox said at a Sunday press conference, according to the report.

At least 94 structures were destroyed and another 17 damaged since the wind-driven fire flared up Wednesday night, according to the report.

More than 80,000 structures are still threatened, according to Cox.

And upwards of 2 million people were in the dark after the Pacific Gas & Electric Co. shut off power to more than 940,000 homes and businesses in advance of the windstorms that began late Saturday, according to the Sacramento Bee.

National Weather Service forecaster Ryan Walburn told the outlet that the extreme conditions could die down as the work week begins.

“Things will improve as we head into Monday and Tuesday,” Walburn told the paper, but added that another bout of strong winds could be on the way Tuesday.

Meanwhile, in Southern California, the Tick Fire — which prompted a swath of a major highway to shut down late last week — was reported 70 percent contained by Sunday evening, according to KTLA.

That fire, in the Sand Canyon area of Santa Clarita, scorched 4,615 acres (7 square miles) by Sunday.