State Closes Grizzly Island As Fire Smolders

SOLANO COUNTY, CA — A smoldering fire in the Grizzly Island Wildlife Area of Solano County will likely continue burning until rains arrive in the Bay Area Wednesday and through the weekend, according the county's office of emergency services.

Emergency services director Don Ryan said Tuesday afternoon that the fire is burning in peat soil and tule grass that contains oil is keeping the blaze going.

"No one is actually fighting the fire. We're just checking it every day. It won't burn out until there is flooding or heavy rain," Ryan said.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife on Monday closed the 13,000-acre Grizzly Island Wildlife Area to all public access and activities including hunting and fishing until further notice.

Department of Fish and Wildlife spokesperson Peter Tira said the fire is burning in the southeast portion of Grizzly Island Wildlife Area.

Firefighters are establishing fire breaks, but are not fighting the blaze with water, Tira said.

"It's a persistent fire that changes as the winds change," Tira said. "The goal is to get it out by the weekend."

• Nurse Fire: 1.5K Acres Burned; 90% Contained In Solano County

By Bay City News Service

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