Officials said fireworks may have started a wildfire that burned more than 320 acres and threatened homes in the city of Vacaville.
The fire started near a park Saturday night and embers were quickly spread by winds that gusted to 40 mph, said Mark Mazzaferro, a spokesman for the city between San Francisco and Sacramento.
“It’s bone-dry out there,” Mazzaferro said. “Talk about a recipe for a big fire.”
About 125 people left their homes in voluntary evacuations. Several homes were threatened, but no structures were burned, he said.
A crew of at least 130 firefighters worked throughout the night to battle the blaze. Witnesses reported seeing someone playing with fireworks in the park shortly before the fire began, Mazzaferro said.
A Davis Fire Department crew was among those providing aid in Vacaville, assisting with structure protection and mop-up work for the vegetation blaze known as the Mix Canyon fire.
“Homes were definitely saved,” said Davis fire Capt. Emily Lo, one of three firefighters who spent more than 10 hours on the fire lines Monday.
Davis crews also assisted Monday at structure fires in Dixon and West Sacramento.
“It was an extremely busy day,” Lo said.
Farther north in the Rio Linda area of Sacramento, a grass fire threatened several homes, damaged five outbuildings and 10 cars and burned about 6 acres, the Sacramento Metro Fire District said.
One firefighter was hospitalized after suffering a muscular injury while battling the blaze.
KHTK-TV reports authorities confirmed Sunday that the fire was caused by fireworks.