WINTERS, CA – Firefighters are battling a fast-moving wildfire that erupted Monday near the edge of Northern California’s Wine Country, forcing evacuations and shutting down a major highway.
Rapid Spread Near Lake Berryessa
The Putah Fire ignited shortly after 11:30 a.m. Monday along Highway 128 west of Winters, right near the Solano-Yolo county line. Fueled by dry grasslands and steep hillsides, the blaze raced across 362 acres.
As of Tuesday morning, CAL FIRE officials confirmed the blaze is 20% contained. Thanks to an aggressive overnight firefight, all initial evacuation warnings—including those for Golden Bear Estates and Bobcat Ranch—have been lifted.
Prescribed Burn Connection Under Investigation
The wildfire broke out in the exact area where a 45-acre prescribed burn had been scheduled for Monday to clear non-native grasses.
According to radio dispatch traffic, the incident commander overseeing the planned burn reported a small vegetation fire burning uphill shortly after the blaze was discovered. Officials have not yet officially confirmed if the wildfire was directly caused by the prescribed burn operation.
Dangerous Wind Conditions
Weather forecasts had previously warned of gusty west winds reaching up to 35 mph, which created a worst-case scenario for rapid fire spread near Lake Berryessa.
Ground resources, including bulldozers, hand crews, and night-flying helicopters, worked through difficult conditions to slow the flames. Highway 128 was shut down near the Monticello Dam during the peak of the fire but is being monitored closely.
Current Status
Fortunately, no injuries or structural damage have been reported. While evacuation warnings are over, official evacuation advisories remain active for zones:
- YCU-197
- YCU-291
- YCU-293
The CAL FIRE Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit remains on the scene, strengthening containment lines and conducting mop-up operations.
