Atlas Fire Threatens Solano County; Evacuations Underway

SOLANO COUNTY, CA — The massive Atlas Fire burning since Sunday in Napa County crested the ridge at Twin Sisters in Solano County, jumped to Wooden Valley Road and was moving southeast, sheriff's officials said Tuesday evening. Solano County authorities have been keeping a close eye on the fire conditions, which has included mandatory evacuations in parts of rural, unincorporated Solano County west of Fairfield.

Wednesday morning, the Atlas Fire was 42,349 acres and 3 percent contained, Cal Fire said.

At 5:41 p.m. Tuesday, California Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency for Solano County, local officials said.

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Mandatory evacuation orders issued by Cal Fire and Solano County Office of Emergency Services for the Green Valley area west of Green Valley Road from Mason, north to Valley End Lane, remained in effect, Solano County officials said Wednesday morning.

In a 9:45 a.m. update from the city of Fairfield, residents in the Eastridge and Rancho Solano neighborhoods were advised that the fire was 3 miles from the city of Fairfield limits.

Just after 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, the Fairfield Fire Department issued an advisory evacuation order for the Eastridge development.

"Due to the progress of the fire and increase in winds, all residents of the Eastridge Development in southwest Fairfield are encouraged to evacuate their homes," city officials said.

According to Cal Fire, an evacuation advisory was put into Wednesday for ares north of Jameson Canyon Road from the Solano/Napa County Line to Interstate 80, north of Interstate 80 between Jameson Canyon Road and Suisun Valley Road, and west of Suisun Valley Road between Interstate 80 and the Solano/Napa County line. Residents within the advisory area are encouraged to be prepared should a mandatory evacuation order be issued.

An evacuation shelter is open at Fairfield High School, 205 E Atlantic Ave. in Fairfield.

"Fairfield Suisun Unified School District has buses at B. Gale Wilson School on Cherry Hills Court to transport people to Fairfield High, if needed," Fairfield police Sgt. Matt Bloesch said.

>> ALSO SEE: Atlas Fire: Most Solano County Schools Now Closed; District Offices Evacuated

An evacuation center at the Allan Witt Park Sports Complex is no longer open, Fairfield police Tweeted Wednesday.

The city of Fairfield has established an information line, 707-428-7320, and is asking residents to direct their questions to that line rather than the police and fire dispatch center.

Residents in the Rancho Solano neighborhood of Fairfield were not under an advisory evacuation but are encouraged to pack a “Ready-to-Go” bag with all essential papers and medicines and be prepared to leave on short notice.

Residents of Twin Sisters Road have been under mandatory evacuation since late Monday night, and on Tuesday afternoon, Solano County sheriff’s deputies were going door to door on Twin Sisters Road "verifying any remaining inhabitants and urging them to leave immediately," sheriff's officials said.

Additional evacuation orders since went into effect for Gordon Valley Road, Williams, Lambert and Clayton Road in Solano County. Deputies were working to evacuate the area.

Late Tuesday night, road closures went into effect for Mankas Corner Road at Abernathy Road; Mankas Corner at Clayton Road; Rockville Road at Suisun Valley Road; and Green Valley Roads at Eastridge.

At 8 p.m. Tuesday, Gordon Valley Road was closed due to a fire flare-up, officials said.

"Cal Fire is constructing fire lines, mobilizing resources, including air-support and is actively fighting the fire," officials said. "There is a report that multiple structures are threatened. Structures involved could mean outhouse, shed or residential house. At this point, Cal Fire is unable to verify what type of structures are threatened."

The Fairfield Fire Department is among allied fire departments with resources strategically staged in the Green Valley vicinity preparing to respond to the threat of fire, Fairfield police said Tuesday, stressing that as of late Tuesday afternoon, no Fairfield homes were at risk of fire.

Solano County residents may see increased smoke production and first responders fighting the fire. They may also hear equipment as well as aircraft in the area, officials said.

Additionally, the following areas remained under mandatory evacuation, according to the latest information Tuesday morning from the Solano County Sheriff's Office:

• All streets off of Green Valley Road north of Rockville Road (the four-way stop)
• All streets in Green Valley Estates west of Green Valley Road (Paseo Arboles / Via Vaquero)
• All streets on the west side of Green Valley Road from Mason Rd to Valley End
• All of Twin Sisters Road and roads off of Twin Sisters
• All of Joyce Lane
• The west side of Suisun Valley Road from the Napa County line south to Rockville Road
• North of Rockville Road from Suisun Valley to Green Valley Road

An evacuation center is open at the Solano Community College, 4000 Suisun Valley Road, Fairfield, Building 1400. Animals are not allowed inside the buildings.

"Solano Community College is still open to evacuees, including service animals that are leashed and in a carrier," officials said Tuesday evening. "There is still room available for horses and other livestock at Solano County Fairgrounds in Vallejo. Owners are responsible for transporting large animals to the Fairgrounds."

Roads in the evacuated area are closed to through traffic except residents evacuating.

Suisun Valley and Nelda Mundy elementary schools were closed Tuesday.

Air quality problems coupled with the unpredictability of fires in the area prompted officials with a school district in Solano County to cancel classes for Wednesday, district officials said Tuesday. Classes at all schools in the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District are canceled for Wednesday, Superintendent Kris Corey said in a message posted to social media and the district's website. "The safety and security of our students and staff is our top priority," Corey said in the letter.

All schools will be closed to the public and employees will not report to work, Corey said. School district officials will continue to monitor the fire situation and update students, parents and staff through the automated calls, radio station KUIC, Facebook, Twitter and the district's website.

Officials with the cities of Fairfield, Suisun City and Benicia have said no evacuations are in place within their city limits.

Regarding donations, officials ask that goods not be donated to the shelter at this time. However, cash donations are encouraged and can be in person at the Suisun City KROC Center, 586 E. Wigeon Way, Suisun City or the Red Cross. Officials said cash donations for animal supplies are being accepted in person or over the phone through Western Ranch Supply: 707-439-7880 103 Aegean Way, Vacaville.

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Photo via Solano County Sheriff's Office Facebook page