SOUTH LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Now in its 11th day, the destructive Valley fire was pushed closer to full containment on Wednesday, while firefighters kept its acreage from growing.
The Valley fire's size remained at approximately 76,067 acres on Wednesday evening, with containment up to 82 percent, Cal Fire reported.
Officials have so far not given an estimate of when they think the fire will be fully contained.
The damage assessment tally remained the same on Wednesday, with a total of 1,910 structures destroyed, of which 1,238 were single-family residences and 23 multi-family residences, officials reported.
Cal Fire said improving containment lines, mopping up hot spots and rehabilitation of impacted areas continues, with approximately 2,937 firefighters remaining assigned to carry out that work on the incident.
Overall resources continued to drop on Wednesday, with 253 engines, 72 hand crews, 45 water tenders, 20 dozers and 10 helicopters remaining assigned, while many others have been released, Cal Fire said.
Cal Fire said that at 5 p.m. Thursday, the mandatory evacuation order for the Anderson Springs community will be lifted.
That leaves just the community of Cobb – where the fire started – still under mandatory evacuation.
Cobb residents have voiced frustration about not being able to go back to their homes after a week and a half.
In response, local and state officials have maintained that the delay in repopulating Cobb is due to ongoing issues with fire suppression and safety concerns – including downed lines and dangerous trees – as well as the work of restoring utility services ahead of residents returning home.
On Thursday, the evacuation center at the Napa County Fairgrounds will close by noon, Cal Fire said.
Shelters remaining open include a Red Cross-run shelter at Grace Church, 6716 Live Oak Drive in Kelseyville, and a shelter overseen by the county of Lake located at Twin Pine Casino, 22223 Highway in Middletown.
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Firefighters prevent Valley fire acreage from growing, containment inches up
- Elizabeth Larson
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