Damage: Dozens of buildings lost in Wine Country, including 31 homes

Amid the rolling hills of Alexander Valley, it was difficult to tell what used to be.

By Sunday morning, vineyards and homes in the Sonoma County wine region had become the latest casualties of the Kincade Fire, which had destroyed 94 structures — up from 49 the day before. At least 31 homes were lost.

Despite fire crews’ desperate efforts to gain an upper hand on the conflagration before the weekend, heavy winds fueled the blaze into the valley overnight, while crews failed to increase containment levels.

Like many of the state’s devastating wildfires, the Kincade blaze seemed indiscriminate in its targets. While it leveled one home near Highway 128 and Chalk Hill Road, another across the street remained nearly unscathed. A shed and outdoor fixtures in the same yard, however, burned to the ground.

Hit hardest in Alexander Valley were the properties on the west side of Highway 128. The road is dotted by turnouts to homes, tasting rooms and ranches, enveloped by acres of lush vineyards.

Though unseen from the highway, a short drive up each of the turnouts revealed the extent of the devastation. What was probably a large shed on

Terra Rossa Lane near Redwood Ranch & Vineyards was reduced to metal ribbons. Other structures were now just mounds of black — only identifiable as structures because the ash was contained inside right angles.

Heavy machinery at several properties was charred white, and flames darted out of propane tanks.

Meanwhile, structures, equipment and a few farm animals just steps away remained untouched. Somewhere between the properties of Toyon Vineyards and Thunderbird Ranch, two fencedin sheep stood motionless as spot fires continued to simmer yards away.

More than 80,000 structures remained threatened. A full count of homes and other structures lost was not immediately known.

“We know it’s important,” said Cal Fire public information officer Toni Davis, “but first the firefight has to slow down — they have to get some decent containment on it.”

A handful of structures and vehicles were lost in Windsor, but it did not appear there was widespread damage as of Sunday afternoon.

Chronicle staff writer Jill Tucker contributed to this

report. Megan Cassidy and Kurtis Alexander are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: megan. cassidy@sfchronicle.com, kalexander@sfchronicle. com Twitter: @meganrcassidy, @kurtisalexander

Photos by Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle Above: Firefighter Justin Pease hoses down a spot fire to protect a house in Windsor. At least 31 homes have been lost to the Kincade Fire despite the best efforts of fire crews.

Left: A property on Chalk Hill Road smolders after the Kincade Fire tore through parts of Sonoma County. Winds turned the blaze into a blast furnace that jumped fire lines as it spread.