Brush fire burned at highways 29/121

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Friday, May 23, 2008

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By DAN ROSS
Register Online Staff

12:45 p.m.A 20-acre brush fire alongside Highway 29 near Highway 121 earlier today closed both highways for more than two hours, creating quite a traffic mess.

The fire that started just after 10 a.m. began burning alongside the right shoulder of southbound Highway 29, just below the area where Napa's Oreo Cows wander and graze on the hillside above.

A person reporting to be a witness to how the fire started told CHP a tree branch fell into a power line, sparking the blaze. Winds were blowing strong in a north-to-south direction in the area of the brush fire when the fire began.

The fire was contained around noon, according to Napa Fire Capt. Scott Sedgley.

“The fire will not be getting any larger, but there could be hot spots that firefighters will have to mop up before they leave,” Sedgley said.

The larger portion of the fire burned the hillside south of the Oreo Cows area, closer to Highway 121 that takes people from Napa towards the Carneros region and Sonoma.

Sedgley said no one was hurt, including the Oreo cows. No buildings or homes were threatened.

“The wind is what really caused the fire to spread. If it hadn’t been for the wind, the fire would have been no more than a spot of grass fire,” said Sedgley.

CHP initially closed both directions of Highway 29 from Highway 221 to Imola Avenue. Highway 121 was also closed in the area, with eastbound traffic being diverted on to Old Sonoma Road, and westbound traffic unable to access the highway as it was closed at the Highway 29 intersection.

Golden Gate Drive is now closed at Imola Avenue and also at Foster Road due to the fire. Stanley Lane at Golden Gate Drive is also closed at this time.

“It looks as all of the roads closed due to the fire should be open shortly,” said Sedgley.

All roads reopened later in the afternoon.

29 comment(s)

psychochik wrote on May 22, 2008 10:49 AM:

" Please let the cows not get hurt !! I loves the oreo cows !!! "

napan007 wrote on May 22, 2008 11:15 AM:

" OMG they really are called Oreo Cows.... I always thought they looked like that too! Save the cows! "

UncleStuy wrote on May 22, 2008 11:27 AM:

" Got Milk?? "

New-to-Napa wrote on May 22, 2008 11:29 AM:

" I still hear the sirens... i sure hope that they'll control the fire soon.. please save the cows... The winds are strong... everyone should look out for tall trees and power lines just to make sure that all is well.
"

antipc wrote on May 22, 2008 11:37 AM:

" The breed is a Belted Galloway, but I'm sure they won't mind being called oreo cows. They do taste different though. "

JMB wrote on May 22, 2008 11:55 AM:

" My husband got stuck in the traffic just after they started closing roads and diverting traffic. He said he drove by a 3 car pile-up, probably from all the extra traffic. "

SouthNapa wrote on May 22, 2008 12:06 PM:

" Imola, South Jefferson St. and Old Sonoma Road are all jammed. Stay safe everyone! "

cab e-girl wrote on May 22, 2008 12:13 PM:

" Belted Galloway isn't nearly as fun as oreo cows. I think it's time for lunch, I'll have an oreo cow with my chocolate chip cookie and milk please. "

grape wrote on May 22, 2008 1:23 PM:

" Is the term Oreo Cows something the writer made up not knowing what they were really called or is this a term used by Napans? I've never heard it before.

Have you seen the baby Oreo yet?...he/she is so cute! "

vocal-de-local wrote on May 22, 2008 1:36 PM:

" Wow! All these fires so early in the season. Worrisome. "

NapaNana wrote on May 22, 2008 2:01 PM:

" Yes....Fire season is upon us already. And Our fire crews are going to fight the Summit fires down south. I pray we don't need them here! Be safe Guys. "

chunk wrote on May 22, 2008 2:12 PM:

" They're Belted Galloway cows but even breeders call them Oreo Cows. Cows aren't cute. I don't care if they look like a cookie or not. "

mafi wrote on May 22, 2008 2:29 PM:

" I drove thru right when it was happening, it was totally clear, then whamo my car was engulfed w/ smoke, I couldn't see a thing and for a second I thought about grabbing my little one and ditching the car. We could feel the heat off the Eucalyptus trees. I'm not surprised there was an accident.
Thank You NFD!! "

JuneBug wrote on May 22, 2008 2:33 PM:

" My grandson calls them Police Cows, which I thought was equally as cute as oreo cows. I'm glad the fire didn't hurt them or anyone else. "

SouthNapa wrote on May 22, 2008 2:57 PM:

" All this fire and cow talk is making me crave a freshly grilled steak! :-) "

diehard4ever wrote on May 22, 2008 3:05 PM:

" Chunk,
C'mon...these have a cute nickname that makes them look even cuter.
Or do you prefer portray them as hamburgers, meatballs and t-bones?...It's yummy too!

Stay safe you all, and don't throw out the window your cig butt, please!...I know, I know, this one was not cause by a cig butt, but you never know what else might happen out there. "

707jng wrote on May 22, 2008 3:05 PM:

" I'm so glad the Oreo cows didn't get hurt. They are so cute!!
"

Kris wrote on May 22, 2008 3:06 PM:

" All the comments on the cows and no one has yet asked about if any one was injured in the accident...something wrong here?! "

deedleinnapa wrote on May 22, 2008 3:13 PM:

" They are oreo cows to alot of us and they are very cute. Thank you Napa fire fighters for protecting the cows, the homes and all that you do on a daily basis. "

napaao wrote on May 22, 2008 3:39 PM:

" stop making rude comments to people who call them oreo cows, yes that is what us "napans" call them!!! for those of us who have grown up here our whole lives know thats what we call them!! were not all farmers who are highly educated in cow slang alright? why do you think we call them oreo cows??? its funny how just a lil fire and a lil word makes people think that they are more smart by knowing what the real name is!!! im glad the OREO COWS are safe :)

thank you napa fire!!! great guys! thank you! "

psychochik wrote on May 22, 2008 4:04 PM:

" Kris, I'm pretty sure if anyone was hurt that would have been mentioned in the first sentence.

No structures were damaged, no people or other living creatures were hurt so I think its ok to have a lil fun with the posts.

Having a sense of humor isn't a bad thing !!! "

NapaNana wrote on May 22, 2008 4:30 PM:

" Accident? Wasn't it a falling tree branch taking out a transformer that started the fire? OMG people READ the ARTCLE Kris!
And the oreo cows ARE important to us old Napans...........back in the day, the whole hill side was covered with grazing cows. Now we are lucky enough to have these few ADORABLE cows to remind us of the way life was....back in the day! "

napavalleyman wrote on May 22, 2008 6:35 PM:

" To Kris:

This text in the 7th paragraph made it clear that no one was hurt: 'Sedgley said no one was hurt, including the Oreo cows. No buildings or homes were threatened.'

I'd like to point out to everyone that the article doesn't mention it, but The Salvation Army, Napa Corps, sent its mobile Canteen to the area just after the firefighters had put out the fire and began mopping up, around noon. The Canteen remained there the rest of the afternoon, serving food and drink to about 60 firefighters.
"

Miss Halley wrote on May 22, 2008 7:24 PM:

" Big Kudos to the Firemen who kept control in the high winds.

We thank you....... "

maya wrote on May 22, 2008 7:25 PM:

" I was glad to see such timely reporting on the incident. Good job NVR and NFD, and all others who helped. "

wrkngmm wrote on May 22, 2008 8:06 PM:

" Reading this article and comments I must say that we are all very blessed to live in such a place where the biggest news is the safety of our beloved oreo cows. Thank you NFD, CDF and for the canteen I was wondering about the fire fighters when I drove past at 3pm and they were still mopping up. Its a great place to live, oreos and all. "

oreocow owner wrote on May 22, 2008 8:18 PM:

" thank you to all for your concern for my cows--- oreo cows is an easy name for people to use, but I have mainly Belted Galloways and a few Dutch Belts. It was a very frightening day. If the winds had been in any other direction, we would have lost the barns. My great grandfather built one in 1916 and the other was bulit in 1910. My sincere thanks to the CDF and all responding fire departments. "

hudds5 wrote on May 22, 2008 8:24 PM:

" Fire season is starting early and I believe our firefighters are going to busy this Summer. I wish them all well. Great job & God Bless. "

wowquebonita wrote on May 23, 2008 12:17 PM:

" Uhhhmmm wtf are "Oreo Cows"? Uhmmm I'm assuming they're the black and white ones.....am I right? Do they make oreo cookies out of them or something? "

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