Several large fires burning north of Napa, CA in Lake Berryessa area

Hennessey, Gamble, and 15-10 Fires

August 18, 2020  |  4:46 p.m. PDT

 LNU Complex Hennessey Gamble 15-10 fire
Map of the LNU Complex of fires at 2:36 a.m. PDT August 18, 2020.

Hennessey Fire

At least three large wildfires are spreading rapidly in northern California north of Napa. The Hennessey Fire is about 12 air miles north of Napa near the intersection of Highway 128 and Chiles Pope Valley Road. The last size provided by CAL FIRE (which could be many hours old) was 2,700 acres but it has grown substantially since then. Approximately 205 structures are threatened and evacuation orders are in place. At around 4 p.m. Tuesday there was a report that it had crossed to the south side of Highway 128 and was burning toward Atlas Peak. Three structures have been destroyed. Tuesday afternoon it was creating a large pyrocumulus cloud, indicating extreme fire behavior. An AlertWildfire camera captured the early hours of the fire including when a passing thunderstorm caused a rapid 180-degree shift in the wind direction and the spread of the fire.

(To see all of the articles on Wildfire Today about the lightning-caused wildfires in California, including the most recent, click HERE.)

Hennessey Fire August 18, 2020
Hennessey Fire August 18, 2020

15-10 Fire

There are two large fires near Lake Berryessa. The 15-10 Fire (the name will probably change) is along Berryessa Knoxville Road near the northwest shore of the lake. Tuesday at 2:36 a.m. it had burned approximately 1,000 acres according to sensors on a satellite, but it is very active Tuesday afternoon.

Gamble Fire

At 2:36 a.m. the south edge of the Gamble Fire was two miles north of the 15-10 Fire. At that time it had also burned approximately 1,000 acres according to sensors on a satellite, and it too was very active.

Evacuations are occurring for the 15-10 and Gamble Fires. With both fires burning along the Berryessa Knoxville Road, evacuation is complicated.

The photo below with four pyrocumulus clouds forming above the rapidly spreading fires is very impressive.

LNU Lightning Complex of fires
LNU Lightning Complex of fires August 18, 2020
LNU Lightning Complex of fires
LNU Lightning Complex of fires near Berryessa Lake, August 18, 2020

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Author: Bill Gabbert

After working full time in wildland fire for 33 years, he continues to learn, and strives to be a Student of Fire.

2 thoughts on “Several large fires burning north of Napa, CA in Lake Berryessa area”

  1. I’m evacuated from hidden valley lake.any updates about the fire conditions power outages or when the evacuation is going to be lifted will be appreciated. Thank you

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