SOUTH LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – As officials prepare to let more south county residents go home, Cal Fire said the Valley fire has reached the 50-percent containment.
The fire – which began Sept. 12 – had burned 74,500 acres as of Saturday night, according to Cal Fire.
Cal Fire Battalion Chief Mike Smith said at a Saturday press briefing that the 800 acres of growth on the fire Saturday was the result of firefighters conducting burning operations.
Authorities on Saturday allowed Middletown residents to return home, and announced that Hidden Valley Lake residents along with those living in the Jerusalem Grade, Grange Road and Butts Canyon Road areas would be able to go home beginning at noon on Sunday.
The number of threatened structures as of Saturday night was at 6,563. Cal Fire said that its ongoing damage assessments had resulted in the number of structures destroyed rising to 888. That number was not separated out into resources and other kinds of buildings.
Resources dedicated to bringing the incident under full containment include approximately 4,275 personnel, 472 engines, 94 hand crews, 75 water tenders, 57 dozers, 23 helicopters and two air tankers, Cal Fire said.
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Valley fire reaches 50-percent containment mark
- Elizabeth Larson
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