Napa County Fire burns 1,700 acres and threatens 180 homes

NAPA COUNTY, California (KGO) –

A fire that broke out Saturday afternoon in Napa County forced the evacuation of 200 homes.

Snell Fire burned 1,700 acres of grassy woodland near the Berryessa Estates neighborhood, which was subject to mandatory evacuation orders.

"Caught a few things, took the dog, and left," said evacuee Sharon Thigpen. She and her husband have been living in the Berryessa area for 24 years and evacuation has become a routine in recent years.

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They take each evacuation order seriously knowing the damage that may occur. "In a few minutes things can go, there are possessions that can be replaced," said Don Thigpen.

Others decided to stay and wait. A resident took a hose and sprayed her home, a last minute effort to protect her property.

"We have seen many times that people wait at the last minute and that is really what we do not want to see," said Paul Lowenthal, an information officer at Santa Rosa Fire. "We have a lot of firefighters moving around the area and we want these people to follow the warning and leave the area."

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Fire crews from several agencies have moved as many resources as possible to save homes. Much of the fire fighting has occurred by air.

"We had several tankers, more than 10 fighter planes, who fought this fire today, as well as a significant amount of resources on the ground," Lowenthal said.

As the winds rose in the evening, the fire intensified, moving eastward.

The Snell Fire is part of a larger model in what has already been a season of active fires.

For the latest information on evacuations, click here. An evacuation center has been set up at Pope Valley Farm Center, located at 5800 Pope Valley Road, in the Pope Valley, California, said the Napa County Sheriff's Office.

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