Sutter Buttes grass fire scorches 112 acres

A wildfire Wednesday afternoon in the Sutter Buttes scorched more than 100 acres, but didn't damage any structures.

Sutter County Fire Battalion Chief Rick Martin said reports of a fire on the hills north of the closed Southridge Golf Club came in at about 3:20 p.m.

Crews from Sutter County, Yuba City, Linda, East Nicolaus, Pleasant Grove, Meridian and Sacramento River fire departments responded to the blaze, which was burning on about 10 acres north and northwest of the course, over two ridges.

"This is predominantly range land, and there's no sheep or cattle up there this time of year," Martin said. "It's a very hot day. The guys did a good job."

On the ridges, temperatures in the 90s along with steep terrain made for some difficult conditions as the fire blackened 112 acres. Along the fire's western flank, crews from Yuba City and Meridian used shovels to smother the flames, then sprayed water to keep it from spreading.

"Our assignment is the left flank," said Drew Crawford, an apparatus operator with the Yuba City Fire Department, as he turned dirt on small flare-ups along the advancing line of fire. "We're just holding the left flank."

Two firefighters, one from Sutter County and the other from Yuba City, suffered heat exhaustion while on the ridges.

One was taken to an unidentified medical center for treatment, while the other was treated on site. Their names weren't released.

"They're going to be fine," Martin said. "Conditions do get squirrely up there."

Firefighters got help from the air, with a tanker and a Cal Fire helicopter dropping water on the leading edges on both sides.

Martin said the goal was to keep the fire from reaching Pass Road in the buttes, where several ranches are on the northern side of the road.

When the fire was contained at about 5:30 p.m., its northernmost edge was about 100 yards from Pass Road.

Though there was a slight breeze from the southwest, Martin said, the fire could've been worse.

"If we had more wind, and it crossed Pass Road into the main part of the buttes, it would've been several days before we got it under control," he said.

Martin said the fire's cause was under investigation, though there were reports a work crew was in the area putting in a road to a gas well before the fire was reported.

CONTACT reporter Ben van der Meer at 749-4786.