Boaters forced off water by wildfire near Bullards Bar Dam

Even houseboat occupants and other boaters on Bullards Bar Reservoir were required to evacuate because of the Bullards Fire, which had consumed 875 acres in eastern Yuba County by Saturday evening, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

The fire, which started Friday afternoon south of the Bullards Bar Dam, was spreading north on the west side of the reservoir, said Forest Service spokeswoman Kathy Van Zuuk. According to Cal Fire web update, the fire was 10 percent contained.

"There was quite an exodus" of boats and recreational vehicles headed east late Friday on Marysville Road from the reservoir and nearby camping spots, Van Zuuk said. The road west of Bullards Bar was closed.

The Yuba County Sheriff's Department ordered the boaters out because of the danger of flying embers and extremely poor visibility on the water, she said.

Only one injury — to a Cal Fire firefighter — was reported, and no structures had been destroyed. The extent of the injury was unknown.

The fire cut power to Dobbins, Brownsville and Challenge. Dobbins' power was restored late Saturday afternoon, Van Zuuk said.

An undetermined number of residents were evacuated from the area, which was described as not heavily populated. None went to an American Red Cross shelter at Camptonville School or to a community center in Dobbins. Most apparently went to Nevada City or Grass Valley motels or were staying with friends or relatives, officials said.

Van Zuuk said it was hoped the fire's progress would be slowed by a weather front that moved in Saturday with lower temperatures and higher humidity of 30-35 percent. But winds up to 12 mph were erratic, and a predicted shower turned out to be only a drizzle, Van Zuuk said.

A number of "spot fires" caused by wind-driven embers were complicating matters for firefighters, she said.

The cause of the fire, which started along the North Yuba River south of the dam, remained undetermined. Speculation that the fire started on private property and spread to the Plumas National Forest was not confirmed, Van Zuuk said.

Responding to Yuba County's request, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency. The proclamation will help with fire-related expenses, said county spokesman Russ Brown.

Included in the evacuation area were Moonshine Road, Oregon Hill Road, Kelly Road, Road 169 and Sioux Trail. A voluntary evacuation was in effect for Moran Road late Saturday as the fire spread north on the reservoir's west side.

About 800 firefighters were involved in fighting the fire. Equipment included 20 engines, 10 bulldozers, four helicopters and five air tankers.

Rock slides on roads where the fire has stripped embankments of vegetation could be a problem, according to the California Highway Patrol.