Pawnee fire nears full containment; more evacuations called off for County fire
- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Firefighting resources continue to fan out across the state in response to destructive new incidents, while those in Lake County and neighboring counties approach full containment.
The Pawnee fire northeast of Clearlake Oaks remained at 15,185 acres on Saturday evening, with containment up to 96 percent, Cal Fire said.
Cal Fire said the 417 personnel, 10 engines, eight water tenders, one helicopter, two hand crews and one dozer that remain assigned to the incident are working on patrolling and monitoring the fire area.
Early Saturday evening, a firefighter working on the Pawnee fire was reported to have suffered head trauma and was transported to the hospital, based on scanner traffic.
In neighboring Napa and Yolo counties, the County fire was up to 88,425 acres and 55 percent containment on Saturday night, Cal Fire said.
Cal Fire said 2,858 personnel, 176 engines, 51 water tenders, 23 helicopters, 61 hand crews and 48 dozers are working the fire.
The incident’s updated damage assessment showed that it has destroyed 15 structures and damaged three others.
The Napa County Sheriff’s Office said Saturday evening that, with containment lines continuing to grow and many hazards being mitigated, it was lifting evacuation orders for the areas along the eastern shore of Lake Berryessa, east to the Napa/Yolo County Line, north of State Highway 128, and south of the intersection of East Side Road and Knoxville Berryessa Road, including residences served by East Side Road, South of Knoxville Berryessa Road.
Officials said the road closure on Knoxville Berryessa Road at the Pope Creek Bridge remains in effect, however residents of east side road will be allowed to pass with identification.
In Siskiyou County, the battle against the Klamathon fire continued on Saturday.
The fire, which began on Thursday afternoon, has so far burned 22,00 acres and is 20 percent contained.
It’s reported to have killed one person, resulted in two other injuries, and Cal Fire’s Saturday night report said it has destroyed 72 structures.
More than 2,300 firefighters have joined the effort to contain the incident, Cal Fire said.
Elsewhere in California, the West fire in San Diego County has destroyed 18 structures, burned 504 acres and was 81-percent contained on Saturday night, while the Holiday fire in Santa Barbara County was 100 acres and 80-percent contained and the Irish fire in Amador County reached 790 acres and 80-percent containment, according to Cal FIre.
On Saturday, Gov. Jerry Brown issued an emergency proclamation for Santa Barbara County due to the effects of the Holiday fire.
Earlier this week, Gov. Brown declared a state of emergency for the counties of San Diego and Siskiyou due to fires, and last month issued a declaration for Lake County due to the Pawnee fire.
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