Napa Valley wildfire close to containment

ST. HELENA, Calif., Oct. 12 (UPI) -- California firefighters say they're gaining control of a wildfire threatening homes and wineries in the Napa Valley.

The blaze, which broke out Friday near St. Helena, Calif., about 65 miles north of San Francisco, had burned 300 acres of scrubland, a home and a barn, and triggered the brief evacuations of 100 residents, The San Francisco Chronicle reported Sunday.

But officials said the fire was close to being contained. Because it was located in the hills a good distance above the Napa Valley floor, no major wineries were affected by the blaze, the newspaper said. The smoke was so light that it was barely visible to the thousands of weekend wine tasters below.

Officials said nearly 1,600 firefighters battled the Napa fire, which was being pushed by winds of 8 to 10 mph and occasional gusts. Helicopters dropped chemicals Saturday while crews used bulldozers to create a firebreak.