Evacuations To Lift For Sand Wildfire In Yolo County As Cal Fire Increases Containment

Updated Monday, 4:40 p.m.

Evacuations will be lifted as of 5 p.m. Monday for a vegetation fire that spread rapidly in Yolo County over the weekend.

The fire, known as the Sand Fire, started at 2:50 p.m. Saturday at County Road 41 and Highway 16 near Guinda. As of Monday afternoon, the fire was 2,220 acres and 30% contained.

#SandFire Evacuation update for County Road 41 Area. https://t.co/8slT5wVRF8 pic.twitter.com/xTfZNWVo6C

— CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) June 10, 2019

The evacuation center previously open at the Esparto Boy Scout Cabin has been closed.

According to Cal Fire, seven non-residential structures have been destroyed. The agency says 627 fire personnel are fighting the fire, including crews from the Sacramento Fire Department and other local agencies.

As of 4:45 p.m. Monday southbound Highway 16 remains closed at Rumsey Canyon due to the fire, while northbound is closed at Guinda, according to CalTrans.

Update: Hwy 16 Yolo county between Guinda & Hwy 20 remains closed in both directions due to vegetation fire. NO ETO. pic.twitter.com/R7ZZCVy0zH

— Caltrans District 3 (@CaltransDist3) June 9, 2019

The fire comes as much of the region is under a red flag warning for increased fired danger. PG&E cut power to 20,500 residents in Butte and Yuba counties Saturday evening to try and prevent a possible fire.

Cal Fire spokesperson Lynette Round said that even the recent wet weather has done little to prevent the possibility of wildfires in the region. 

"It does slow the growth of the fire a little bit," Round said. "But, unfortunately, things dry out so quickly, that while Mother Nature does help with that rain, when it does dry out and the humidity drops it just makes that brush very dry and tinder and easy to ignite."

This story is developing and will be updated.