Marsh Fire: Firefighters gain ground; 100 homes still at risk

CLAYTON, Calif. -- Kathy Neubecker couldn't sleep. Not because the air was thick with smoke, or because the orange hue from nearby flames lit up the night sky in her hometown of Clayton.

She was restless because her beloved 6-year-old Maltese-poodle mix, Molly Barker, was trapped inside her home -- a home that was quarantined after Neubecker's neighbor's house was destroyed in the Marsh Fire near Mount Diablo.

On Thursday, firefighters started to gain control of the vegetation fire that grew to 247 acres overnight and forced evacuations while continuing to threaten 100 homes in the rural enclave of Clayton. Officials for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection estimated that the blaze was 60 percent contained.

As residents packed up their cars the previous day with important documents and valuables to flee the area, Neubecker, who learned of the fire while working in San Francisco, rushed home, only to be stopped at a roadblock at Marsh Creek and Morgan Territory roads.

She waited there all night.

``I was up and down,'' Neubecker said. ``I couldn't sleep much. Nothing matters but life in these situations. I just want everyone to be OK.''

So far, one home and three outbuildings have been destroyed. No injuries were reported.

``Firefighters made really good progress overnight with low temperatures and high humidity,'' fire spokeswoman Amy Head said.

The forward progress of the inferno had stopped, officials said, and the bulk of the blaze scorched dry grass and brush on steep terrain along Marsh Creek Road.

Andy Keene, 70, has lived in a neighborhood in the hills near Marsh Creek Road for six years. When the fire first broke out, he and his neighbors -- about five homes -- cautiously walked outside to see if they could spot the flames.

As they stood in their street, the glow of the fire surrounded them as crews fought the blaze. Meanwhile, helicopters flew overhead dropping flame retardant on the neighborhood.

``I heard this incredible noise in the mountain. You couldn't see anything through the smoke, and then a 747 swept right over, flying really low, and unloaded,'' Keene said. ``We were all red for a while.''

Despite harsh weather conditions involving gusty winds, firefighters were able to gain control by Thursday morning thanks to lower temperatures, Cal Fire said.

The cause of the fire is unknown.

Friday's weather is expected to be favorable again, allowing firefighters to increase and reinforce containment lines.

A mandatory evacuation was ordered for Marsh Creek Road from Morgan Territory Road to Gill Drive. The roadway between Deer Valley and Gill Drive was open to residents that had identification with them.

An evacuation center was open at the Clayton Library Meeting Room and the Brentwood Community Center.

Officials said they hoped to lift the evacuations by the end of Thursday. Helicopters and air tankers remained on standby despite the fire's ferocity dying down, Head said.

On Thursday morning, Neubecker knew her home hadn't been destroyed, but she couldn't be sure about Molly Barker's fate.

When the sun came out, Neubecker flagged down an animal control worker to explain her plight. Two animal control officers took her keys and drove out to the home.

Nearly 30 minutes later, tears were streaming down Neubecker's face as Molly Barker, furry and white, jumped into her arms and licked her.