CA-LNU- London IC - Structure --> Vegetation

NEIL SHEPARD'S BARN in the hills above Glen Ellen after the fire Saturday afternoon
Credit: Robbi Pengelly/Index-Tribune Photo from Sonoma News

Sizeup: Sonoma 15:45 First in E1469 Large column, fully involved barn surrounded on 3 sides by
vineyard, extension into the grass, continue the assignment.

Full wildland response
Air Attack 140
Tanker 85
Tanker 86
Copter 104
DT1441
DT1440
2 Delta crews enroute

Comms:
151.34 - LNU East
151.46 - LNU West

Update:
from Sonoma News

Saturday blaze levels Neil Shepard's barn

Cause of fire yet to be determined

A mysterious fire Saturday afternoon at Jack London Ranch Vineyards in Glen Ellen destroyed Neil Shepard's barn and everything in it including a new $45,000 Ford tractor, three wagons, harnesses, the wheel shop, vineyard equipment and mnay tool
According to Kevin Colburn of CalFire, the blaze was reported at 3:40 p.m. and was not contained until an hour later, at 4:37 p.m. The cause of the fire remains unknown at this time.

Shepard was in his house, located about a 100 yards away from the barn when he said he heard what sounded like a big explosion. "I went running down there and when I got in there it looked like the fire was up in the rafters above the shop," Shepard said. "I don't know what the source of the fire was, my welding outfit with acetylene bottles and my forge with two propane tanks weren't on fire. It's a mystery what happened." He added that, luckily, a nearby gas tank and diesel tank did not ignite.

Shepard said he received second-degree burns on 10 percent of his body including his arms, shoulders and neck.

He said he didn't realize until later that he had been hit on the head with some burning material that singed his hair. He was taken by ambulance to an area hospital where he was treated and released; however, he has to have further treatment for what doctors said was not smoke inhalation but a condition known as "super-heated air," which causes internal blistering.

Shepard's famous Clydesdale horses, that he has used to pull the now-destroyed antique wagons at events all over the North Bay, were not in danger since they were not near the equipment barn. He said he did manage to keep his vehicle from burning. "The only thing that I saved was my truck and horse trailer."

Damages have not yet been tallied, but Shepard said just what was in the barn was worth between $150,000 and $200,000.

He added that the fire also spread to some Redwood trees next to the barn and a part of the vineyard located only about 15 feet away from the structure.

Besides CalFire, engines responding to the fire included Glen Ellen, Kenwood, Bennett Valley and Santa Rosa. The Glen Ellen Fire Protection District is handling the investigation and had inspectors on the scene Monday afternoon trying to determine the cause.

Shepard is the son of Milo Shepard, the grandnephew of Jack London.