Evacuation warnings lifted after grass fire burns 900 acres near Beale AFB in Yuba County

A fast-moving fire scorched 900 acres of grass and shrubs and destroyed one home Tuesday in and around a subdivision northeast of Wheatland, near Beale Air Force Base.

The wind-driven Intanko Fire started about 2 p.m. and burned near populated areas of Intanko Lane, Kapaka Lane/Hokan Lane and Wichita Way in Wheatland. Winds pushed the fire northeast onto Beale Air Force Base, prompting on-base residents east of East Garryanna Drive to evacuate to the base gym.

Authorities upgraded all warnings to advisories around 7 p.m. and said in a 7 a.m. update that fire had charred 900 acres and was 50% contained. Intanko and Kapaka Lane remain closed, the Sheriff’s Office said.

By about 3:15 p.m., the fire had burned more than 300 acres and destroyed at least one structure, Cal Fire Nevada-Yuba-Placer spokeswoman Mary Eldridge said. The residents were able to escape with their dogs, she said.

With highs in the low-to-mid 70s Tuesday, temperatures in the area were much cooler than in recent days when highs hovered around 100 degrees. Still, gusty south winds fanned the fire through a mixture of dried grass and chaparral as it raced toward densely populated areas and the nearby foothills.

Officials for weeks have described current conditions as being akin to late summer and early fall — hot, dry and ready to burn.

“It’s just early in the season. That’s the big thing,” Eldridge said.

An evacuation center was set up at the Wheatland Community Center, 101 C St. Large animals and livestock could be taken to the Yuba County Posse arena, 5396 Marysville Road in Browns Valley. Sheriff’s department officials said staff would be available to assist residents.

The Beale Air Force Base Fire Department previously said it had been planning a series of prescribed burns that would last through this week. Eldridge said it did not appear to have been involved in starting Tuesday’s fire.

Eldridge said the fire started in the “middle of a field.” Its cause was not immediately known.

This story was originally published June 8, 2021 at 2:55 PM.