Napa County Fire Spreads, Temperatures And Winds Beat Down California Drought Problems

The Napa County fire, which started last Wednesday, July 22, has shown signs of letting up as of Friday. Apparently, the looming California drought was no match for the winds, rising humidity, and lower temperatures as the weekend approached. Many evacuees have been returned home as the Wragg fire near Lake Berryessa has been at least 30 percent contained.

The California drought has brought more than just fires, as local laws have resulted in residents being restricted to minimal water usage. Some of the biggest offenders in each city who have been using too much were recently outed, as previously reported by the Inquisitr.

The latest wildfire showed locals just how bad the drought has become, as it is believed the blaze was allegedly started by a vehicle collision, authorities initially said via the Los Angeles Times. The underbrush had caught flame and spread it quickly, though it is still unknown what the cause of the Napa County fire really was.

#wragg fire Empty road near Golden Bear. Everyone still gone pic.twitter.com/zHhsu6z5ge

— Wayne Freedman (@WayneFreedman) July 23, 2015

Winters resident Chris Rose noticed how the blaze and winds had turned his hometown into what looks like the fictional video game and movie town of Silent Hill.

“It’s scary, there’s ash all over my house, all over the ground, it was a little surprising that much ash fall had happened, but like I said the prevailing winds put the smoke right in town.”

Michael Ahumada was among the Golden Bear Estates residents who have been allowed to return to their homes. He recalled trying to fight the fire himself, having once been a firefighter in San Fransisco.

“All of a sudden we looked over the back of the house and flames were about 50 yards away.

Right at the last minute I tried to make a last ditch effort. So we grabbed a water tank, went to the fire line and extinguished it. Kept pulling [five] gallon buckets out of the pool and put it out.

We’re all very lucky. It seems the fire went up to all of our houses.”

A woman who opted out of giving her name expressed her terror over the Napa County fire that she had suspected would leave her homeless.

“I did not know if I would ever see my house again.

Yeah. I’ve had a bad feeling all summer we’re going to get a bad fire. We had a fire last year around the [fourth] of July. And the drought is in the fourth year.”

The Napa County fire is still burning, but thanks to the cooler weather, it has become more manageable, and many residents have returned home.

[Image via Matthew Henderson / KGO-TV]