- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
Wragg fire containment continues to increase; Lowell fire breaks out in Nevada County
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – As firefighters have continued to increase the containment on a large blaze in Napa and Solano counties, another large fire erupted in Nevada County on Saturday.
Cal Fire said containment on the 6,900-acre Wragg fire near Lake Berryessa increased to 55 percent by Saturday night.
The fire began Wednesday in steep, rugged terrain off Highway 128. So far, it has destroyed an outbuilding and a tent trailer, and damaged another structure.
On Saturday all evacuation orders and road closures were lifted in relation to the fire, with residents returning to their homes, Cal Fire said.
Cal Fire said Lake Solano campground remains closed due to fire equipment access.
Resources committed to the incident late Saturday included 1,729 personnel, 133 fire engines, 43 fire crews, 13 helicopters, 24 dozers, 13 water tenders and an incident management team, according to Cal Fire.
Several counties away, shortly after 2:30 p.m. Saturday, a large wildland fire broke out in Nevada County.
Within hours the Lowell fire had ballooned to 4,000 acres, with no containment, Cal Fire reported.
The cause is under investigation, with authorities asking for the public’s help in looking for a vehicle of interest that was in the area when the fire started.
The vehicle is a lifted four-wheel-drive white Jeep Wrangler without a top, a black roll bar and no front doors that was in the Gold Run/Dutch Flat. Anyone with information should contact the Placer or Nevada County Sheriff’s Department.
Mandatory evacuations are in place in the You Bet, Red Dog, and Chaulk Bluff areas, with an evacuation advisory in place for the northeastern portion of Cascade Shores is also under evacuation order. An evacuation center has been opened at the Nevada Union High School in Grass Valley.
Approximately 600 fire personnel, 55 fire engines, 13 fire crews, nine air tankers, nine helicopters and six dozers were assigned to the fire Saturday, Cal Fire said.
Elsewhere around Northern California, firefighters have been working on the Queen fire, which began early Saturday morning five miles southeast of Pecwan, in Humboldt County, that has so far burned 200 acres and is 20-percent contained, according to Cal Fire.
Firefighters also are nearing full containment on the 3-11 fire in Modoc County, which began northeast of Bieber on Thursday. It has burned 116 acres and is 90-percent contained, Cal Fire said.
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