Wind-Fanned Fire Destroys 26 Homes in N. California

WOODFORDS, Calif. — A wind-whipped brush and timber fire in and around this Alpine County town blackened about 3,000 acres and destroyed as many as 26 homes on Wednesday, officials said.

Ronan Thornhill of the Nevada Division of Forestry said at least nine homes were destroyed, two were badly damaged and several outbuildings were consumed in the Mesa Vista subdivision outside the community.

He said firefighters moved into Woodfords, just west of the Nevada state line, but had to pull out.

“Before we knew it, it was everywhere,” he said.

Alpine County Sheriff’s Deputy Tom Nagle said another 17 homes were burned in and around the town, most of those in the Alpine Village subdivision.

Officials said another 30 homes were damaged, along with several outbuildings.

Jim Reinhardt, the forestry division commander, said the flames swept through Woodfords and while the lone store and buildings in the center of the town were saved, it was impossible to say how many were lost.

He said the brush and timber were so dry, the fire was jumping a quarter of a mile ahead of itself.

“It’s a very costly, very severe fire,” he said.

Forestry division spokeswoman Nancy Davis said the number of homes and outbuildings destroyed may be much higher.

Davis said about 350 people had been evacuated from Woodfords, which stood empty in the face of the approaching flames.

Ellie O’Toole said she fled her home with two guitars and her husband grabbed his tools. Their house was not damaged.

“It was a miracle. When we left, there was a solid wall of fire going 40 m.p.h. We just thought we would never see our home again,” she said.

Flames Peril Evacuation Center

Evacuees were taken to an elementary school in Woodfords until flames threatened. While the school was saved, the evacuees were sent to Markleeville, Calif., to the west and Gardnerville, Nev., to the east.

The blaze in the rugged area cast a thick pall of smoke as far away as the Lake Tahoe Basin and Reno, 60 miles to the north.

About 700 firefighters from the U.S. Forest Service, the Nevada Division of Forestry and local agencies as far away as Reno responded. Aerial tankers also were being used.