300-acre vegetation fire shuts down Highway 12 in Suisun City

SUISUN CITY, Calif. - Red Flag conditions drove a big response to a 300-acre grass fire in Solano County Monday.

Located between Travis Air Force Base and Suisun city, it broke out at about 2 p.m. and closed State Route 12 for a time.

"This is not unfamiliar territory, especially in 2020," said Suisun City Fire Chief Justin Vincent, who credited an aggressive mutual aid response, including a strike team made up of multiple engines, organized due to the Red Flag warning.

"That team was already in Solano County, sitting in Vacaville, waiting for something exactly like this," said Vincent.  

When the first engine arrived, the fire was about five acres, but gusting winds were pushing it rapidly.

"This fire did jump Highway 12," said Vincent.

"We had 30 mph winds and a rapid spread rate so we immediately upgraded up to a third alarm."

The fire mushroomed to 300 acres as crews converged from all over Solano County.

The gusts that flew embers across Hwy 12 fanned heavy smoke that made driving impossible and closed the route both directions for a time.

There were no evacuations, but the primary worry was the Lawler Ranch housing development about a quarter-mile from the fire, and in jeopardy if winds were to shift.

"They took care of it pretty quickly, so I was glad about that," said resident Pete Jimenez, "and I didn't see anybody outside panicking, everybody was just looking from the fence."

Another homeowner was returning to the neighborhood when he spotted the heavy smoke.

"We saw this big plume and thought oh no, we just bought this house four months ago," said David Peterson.

"I was ready to get the hose out and start watering the grass down."

Everyone was relieved to see Con-Air 1 dumping water on the fire, and slowing its spread.

The helicopter belongs to the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District and is based at Buchanan Field in Concord.

Because of the Red Flag risk, it was part of a regional strike team, made up of engines, bulldozers, water tenders and personnel, ready to respond regionally where needed.

Organizing and pre-positioning strike teams is an outgrowth of the 2017 North Bay firestorms.

Suisun's Chief Vincent expressed relief that the fire, dubbed the Peterson Fire, ended so well.

In June, on a windy 100-degree day, a brush fire consumed more than 300 acres and burned 11 homes, some to the ground.

And in August, lightning-lit fires took homes and lives in Solano County, straining local departments for weeks.

"I can tell you we're feeling tired, but our resolve hasn't changed," said Vincent.

"We're up-staffing, we're training year-round, we're watching the weather and responding as soon as possible, but even with all those things, sometimes Mother Nature is going to win."

   Debora Villalon is a reporter for KTVU.  Email Debora at debora.villalon@foxtv.com and follow her on Twitter@DeboraKTVU