Excelsior Fire: Full containment reached after grass fire burns eastern Sacramento County

Firefighters have fully contained a grass fire that burned hundreds of acres Sunday, prompting evacuations along Jackson Road in southeastern Sacramento County.

On Monday morning, Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District officials announced that the Excelsior Fire was 100% contained “thanks to the dedicated efforts of our fire crews and support from various partner agencies.” It burned approximately 900 acres.

Metro Fire spokesman Battalion Chief Parker Wilbourn said crews worked overnight to “build and bolster containment lines in the threatened areas” that spanned along Jackson Road, also called Highway 16, from Excelsior Road to Sunrise Boulevard.

“Our drone equipped with heat signature capabilities was deployed across the entire burn area, identifying several hot spots that were managed by our fire crews overnight,” Wilbourn said in a statement.

Evacuation orders were lifted at 7:30 a.m., Wilbourn said. He added that crews would be working closely with Sacramento County Office of Emergency Services “to evaluate the damages” over the next 24 to 48 hours.

The grass fire, which sparked about 11:45 a.m. Sunday raced quickly through grass pastures and ranches south of the Mather area as firefighters worked to protect structures and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office evacuated several dozen homes.

Winds, hot temperatures and dry conditions egged on flames through dead grass and caused the flames to quickly shift directions. But by about 4 p.m., firefighters gained the upper hand and soon stopped flames from destroying more land.

Crews from Metro Fire and Cal Fire’s Amador-El Dorado unit were bolstered by strike teams from Placer, Yolo and San Joaquin counties, Wilbourn said, as well as a strike team from Metro Fire headed to the Post Fire in Los Angeles County that was diverted back to help battle the flames.

At least one barn was destroyed and several outbuildings were damaged.

Throughout the afternoon, plumes of black and brown smoke could be seen drifting from Rancho Cordova and along Highway 50.

Firefighters remain on guard for more grass fires in the Sacramento Valley as a red flag warning remains in place through 8 a.m. Tuesday.