LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – More residents of the area threatened by the LNU Lightning Complex were allowed to go home on Thursday as firefighters made containment gains.
The two-and-a-half-week-old complex has been held at 375,209 acres since the start of this week, with containment up to 86 percent on Thursday night, Cal Fire said.
The 317,909-acre Hennessey fire on the east side of the complex in Colusa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Yolo counties rose to 85 percent containment on Thursday night.
In Sonoma County, the Walbridge fire west of Healdsburg rose to 92 percent containment while remaining at 54,940 acres. The 2,360-acre Meyers fire north of Jenner was fully contained earlier this week.
As the incident gets closer to full containment, firefighters and equipment are being released. Cal Fire’s Thursday evening report showed there were nearly 400 fewer firefighters assigned.
Total resources assigned on Thursday night included 2,053 personnel, 166 engines, 55 water tenders, 19 helicopters, 42 hand crews and 52 dozers, Cal Fire said.
Cal Fire said crews will continue to work to build containment lines and fire suppression repair teams remain active throughout the area.
Dry and hot weather is predicted and southwest winds were expected in the area overnight, which officials said could cause flareups in interior islands deep within the fire’s perimeter.
Cal Fire said 1,350 structures remain threatened, while 1,491 have been destroyed and 232 damaged. Lake County’s tally remains at nine destroyed structures, eight of them homes.
Growing containment and reduced threat to structures led to officials on Thursday lifting the evacuation order for all residents and areas south of Butts Canyon Road, east of Highway 29, and north and west of the Lake-Napa County line. At the same time, the evacuation warning was fully lifted for all residents and areas north of Morgan Valley Road, east of Highway 53, south of Highway 20 and west of the Lake-Colusa County line.
Cal Fire said evacuation warnings remain in effect for areas east of Middletown, areas north and south of Lower Lake, and areas around Middletown proper.
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More evacuations lifted as LNU Lightning Complex containment increases
- Elizabeth Larson
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