SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Neighbors in midtown Sacramento are on edge after a fast-moving fire threatened their homes Monday afternoon.
The fire by 27th and E streets in midtown was spotted by an ABC10 photographer from the Business 80 freeway.
"I was ready to cook in the kitchen and I heard 'pop, pop, pop,'" said Bob Saari, who lives nearby.
The popping noise prompted Saari to run out of his house and see what was causing it.
"It was the fire-burning electrical wires. Electrical wires then snapped and whipped across the alley and started burning the other two buildings here," said Saari.
He was afraid his garage and home just a few feet away would also catch fire. Another neighbor says she stopped in her tracks after seeing the black smoke coming up near her daughter's home.
"When I came back, the fire department was in full force. They were putting water on the two fires and everything looked to be fine and then I instantly saw this tall skinny tree go up in flames and I thought, 'Oh no,'" said Kimeron Haas, who lives nearby.
Her biggest fear was other homes catching fires, including her daughter's.
"Between the trees and the roofs and the dryness," said Haas.
"As you can see behind the houses on the north side of the alley, we have some really tall trees that started on fire upwards of 100 feet of flame lengths behind these houses, so of course that presents an issue with ember casts where it could potentially spread to other buildings," said Sacramento Fire Department Battalion Chief Brhett Steppig.
The fire department is asking people to be mindful of keeping gutters clean, even here in the city. Residents who were in their homes were evacuated and all are safe.
Bob Saari says he's grateful for the quick response from Sacramento Fire.
"The firefighters - they were here in three minutes, four minutes, whatever it was. (A) very short time and they obviously do what they had to do and saved my garage. My garage goes, my house goes and then where am I going to live," said Saari.
Fire officials say if you happen to encounter downed power lines for any reason, you should stay far away from them and call 911.
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