North Sacramento Fire Scorches 100 Acres, Sends Massive Plume Over City
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — A fierce firefight with a 100-acre blaze that sent a smoke plume rising above Sacramento will likely last for a few more days as fire crews watch for flare-ups.
The fire started Thursday afternoon at five acres around the American River Parkway. It burned for hours, growing to five alarms.
The cause of the fire that could be seen for miles is unclear.
It was Mother Nature calling the shots as winds ripped through a North Sacramento industrial area, which only intensified the flames spreading across 100 acres.
More than 100 firefighters from several different departments rushed to the scene.
Fire crews dumped water from the sky.
"The helicopters were flying over, and there was like a big boom, like a transformer blew up," said Teresa Godines.
But it wasn't easy to get a handle on this one.
"We got fire above us, we got fire moving laterally, we got fire jumping over the bike trail heading toward structures," said Sac Fire battalion chief Shawn Perry. "Our main goal today was to try and stay ahead of this thing, which had been nearly impossible."
Flames got close to several mobile homes, and people got their water hoses out to prep for the worst-case scenario.
"It just kept getting worse and worse," said Debra Motley, "and about a half-hour or so ago, I was out here watering down the top of the trailer, because ashes are falling everywhere."
But eventually crews got the upper hand. Now they're focused on watching for flare-ups and putting any hot spots out quickly.
Fire crews will be at the scene over the next couple of days making sure there are no flare-ups and cutting down and trees that could be a danger after Thursday's fire.
