Firefighters Save 4 Buildings, Stop Brush Fires In St. Helena

ST. HELENA, CA — A coordinated ground and air attack helped knock down a fire burning close to several homes in St. Helena on Friday afternoon, according to Cal Fire.

The agency shared images of two vegetation fires off Silverado Trail, including one burning near Conn Creek Road and another along Zinfandel Lane. Officials estimated the first fire was roughly a half-acre and said the second had burned close to an acre in the grass-oak woodland as the flames moved uphill.

According to Cal Fire, ground and aerial crews successfully halted the forward progress of both fires a few minutes before 1 p.m. Officials said the Silverado Fire was held at 0.7 acres with no buildings damaged or destroyed. Crews working the Conn Fire saved four structures in the fire's immediate path and kept it to one acre.

Officials said the fires were an important reminder of the ongoing risk as very hot and dry weather lingers well into next week. An excessive heat warning remains in place through Wednesday.

"As we continue through this extreme heat wave, we are seeing extremely dry fuels that are receptive to ignition and rapid spread if a fire were to ignite," Cal Fire said Friday. "Please avoid activities that could cause a wildfire."