AUBURN – As firefighters continued today to douse smoldering ashes and watch for flare-ups two days after fire swept through Auburn neighborhoods, officials say early decisions in the battle helped fend off further destruction.

Daniel Berlant, Cal Fire spokesman, said that it is becoming clear how important it was that the first responders quickly asked for backup to fight the fire that eventually burned 63 homes and several businesses.

Within the first 20 minutes, the initial attack incident commander requested 40 to 50 additional fire engines. If he had not responded as quickly, Berlant said, the fire would have burned hundreds of more homes.

"That was how fast this wildfire was burning," said Berlant. "It is so sad this fire was able to burn so quickly because of the dry conditions and the wind. The wind was blowing pretty steady at about 20 mph the whole time while the fire was raging."

Cause of the fire is still under investigation. Investigators, Berlant said, are busy ruling out each possibility until they narrow to one cause.

The fire is 80 percent contained today, officials say, as anxious residents filter back into smoldering neighborhoods.

The wind-blown blaze called the 49 fire did its damage, mainly to homes, in just a few hours Sunday night, leaving its own grisly and inexplicable checkerboard pattern of ruin – this home gone, that one untouched.

Fire officials, however, were counting their blessings. No one was seriously hurt despite a chaotic Sunday that caught many by surprise in the woody subdivisions east of Highway 49 and north of Bell Road.

"We are absolutely relieved," fire spokesman Dennis Mathisen said. "This was like an Armageddon for a couple hours here."

The fire started about 2 p.m. near Highway 49 and Rock Creek Road. Investigators were on the scene Monday, but state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection officials had not determined a cause.

Officials began allowing residents back into the area at 7 p.m. Monday to pick up belongings, although firefighters were still conducting mop-up work and Pacific Gas and Electric crews had not yet reconnected gas and electric hook-ups to homes.

Officials acknowledged that many people had disregarded their evacuation requests, staying in their homes Sunday night and returning Monday before the area was deemed safe.

"Sometimes people do stay," Cal Fire spokesman Daniel Berlant said. "Obviously, it is something we strongly discourage.

"Wildfires change direction quickly. If a house does catch on fire, we have to pull firefighters off the front line to save them," he said.

Those who returned Monday saw how capricious a hill country fire can be.

Joseph Moscariello's home on Oak Mist Lane was untouched save for blistered paint.

His neighbor's was gone.

A few blocks away, Tami Higgs cried as family and friends sifted through the burned remains of her home. They found blackened but still intact china and a bottle of tequila.

"It's opened," a family friend quipped.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger toured the site Monday afternoon, thanking fire officials. He stopped to give Higgs a hug and tell her the state would do what it could.

"Thanks for making me smile," Higgs told the governor. "I was freaking out."

In total, the fire covered 340 acres and burned for only one afternoon and night. It cut, however, through a densely packed area of homes and businesses north of Auburn, destroying a motorcycle shop and two other businesses, and damaging six more businesses. In addition to the 63 destroyed homes, three others were damaged.

The hardest-hit area was a hillside enclave centered on Parkway Drive.

Fire officials said the fire represents a classic scenario in California in areas where urban development abuts wildlands.

The fire swept up an open hillside of dry brush – given a running start by the funneling effect of uphill winds – directly into a subdivision of cul-de-sacs and winding streets.

"We've seen this in Northern California and Southern California, where topography and wind make it go fast," said Mathisen, a Roseville fire official on loan to Cal Fire.

Call The Bee's Tony Bizjak, (916) 321-1059.