Cold Fire Burns 4,600 Acres, Prompting Evacuations Of 100 In Yolo County

WINTERS (CBS13) - About 100 people in 35 homes have been asked to leave as the Cold Fire continues to grow near Lake Berryessa. It's spread to more than 4,600 acres and it's only 10 percent contained.

"We want to make sure it's safe for them to go back home, so they don't have to be uprooted again and they don't have to leave again," said Cal Fire Battalion Chief Scott McLean.

More than 700 fire personnel are battling flames and hot spots in the area. Golden Bear Estates and Canyon Creek Campgrounds are under evacuation orders but homeowner Nick Rusin doesn't plan to leave.

"I'm not really worried about it," he said. "I think they'll get it under control. I gotta stay here and protect my property."

But Wednesday morning, Rusin sent his wife and child to stay with family 30 miles away.

"I have a newborn and the smoke was pretty thick last night and the smoke was causing some coughing," Rusin said.

In just 24 hours, the fire has quickly burned across brush and grass, prompting firefighters from all over to lend a helping hand.

"The limited access has been a problem, trying to get our ground resources in," said Chief McLean. "It is so steep, it's hard for the hand crews to walk in. It takes several hours to get to where they need to be, because we can't get the buses in."

On Tuesday, firefighters created fire lines on foot to keep the fire north of Highway 128. But on day 2, the best approach has been to reach the flames by helicopter and drop water from the air.

"I think we're safe here, um I've got a couple neighbors here that have stayed and I'm here to help them out if they need the help and I'm sure it's vice versa as well," Rusin said.

It's still unclear what started the fire on Tuesday, but Cal Fire's biggest concern right now is the northwest corner of the fire, where flames have crossed over the fire lines. Four structures are threatened and more than 20 additional acres are burning. Highway 128 is still blocked off from Pleasants Valley Road to Markley Cove Resort.