Lake County Fires Now 70 Percent Contained
LAKE COUNTY (CBS SF) - Two fires burning in Lake County were 70 percent contained Wednesday morning, Cal Fire officials said.
The "Walker" and "Wye" fires have burned 7,934 acres since they started around 4 p.m. Sunday. Full containment is expected by Monday.
Cal Fire has been referring to both fires as the Wye fire because they are under one management plan. There were 1,219 firefighters, 157 engines, eight helicopters and two air tankers at the fires Wednesday morning.
The Wye fire started near the intersection of Highways 20 and 53, and the Walker fire started a few miles further east.
The fires have destroyed two residences, an outbuilding and damaged two residences, Cal Fire said. There have been three injuries.
The threat to structures in the Wilbur Springs area has been reduced and remaining evacuations were to be lifted Thursday morning.
The California Highway Patrol is escorting traffic along one lane of Highway 20 from Highway 53 to Highway 116 at Wilbur Springs, and firefighters hope Highway 20 will open to all traffic today, Cal Fire said.
The cause of the fires is under investigation.
(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco and Bay City News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
