SACRAMENTO COUNTY, Calif. – On Sunday night, evacuees found themselves still unable to return home as Sacramento County firefighters began reducing resources in response to a significant vegetation fire. The fire, located west of Sloughhouse, was discovered on Father’s Day near Excelsior Road and Jackson Road, posing a threat to multiple homes and livestock.
Sacramento Metro Fire crews encountered challenging conditions upon arrival, with limited visibility due to a large column of smoke. Battalion Chief Parker Wilbourn expressed the importance of taking precautions to ensure the safety of crews as they navigated through the smoke to reach threatened homes. An evacuation order was swiftly issued for residents residing within a one-mile radius of Jackson Road and Sunrise Boulevard by the sheriff’s office.
Despite the initial lifting of the evacuation order later in the afternoon, Sac Metro later confirmed that evacuation orders and road closures remained in place. The uncertainty continued as the sheriff’s office reported that repopulation was on hold while the evacuation order was lifted. As of 10 p.m., the evacuation order was still active, with road closures stretching from Sunrise Boulevard to Excelsior Road on Jackson Highway due to the persistent threat of the fire.
Efforts to assist those displaced by the fire were initiated by the Sacramento Office of Emergency Services, providing a temporary evacuation point for the affected individuals. The blaze had already destroyed several outbuildings, and with a reported size of nearly 900 acres and 0% containment, the fire continued to pose a significant risk to the area.
Local resident Gurdeeb Brar recounted the tense moments leading to their evacuation, including leaving a pet behind due to the rapid spread of the fire. The prevailing Red Flag Warning conditions, characterized by dry winds and low humidity, created a conducive environment for the rapid spread of fires, with gusty winds exceeding 30 mph further complicating firefighting efforts.
Wilbourn emphasized the critical need for community vigilance in preventing any potential fire hazards, urging caution and awareness due to the heightened risk posed by the current weather conditions. Despite the challenges posed by the fire, no injuries were reported, emphasizing the importance of swift and effective response strategies in managing such emergencies.