Valley Fire: The Final Tally

Photo by Al Francis, NapaSonomaPhotos.com
--

Nearly a month after it started in southern Lake County, the Valley Fire was 100 percent contained on Tuesday, Cal Fire officials said.

The fire burned 76,067 acres in Lake, Napa and Sonoma counties since it sparked on Sept. 12.

The blaze killed four people and injured four firefighters in Lake County, destroyed 1,958 structures, including 1,280 homes, 27 multi-family structures and 66 commercial properties, according to Cal Fire.

An estimated 3,000 people were left homeless.

Helicopters may be operating over the fire area as part of mop-up operations, and the 248 firefighters still at the scene will continue improving existing fire lines and mopping up hot spots, Cal Fire officials said.

All residents are allowed back home, according to Cal Fire.

In Sonoma County, the fire damaged five of the 14 structures, including cooling towers, at The Geysers geothermal power generation facility that encompasses 45 square miles on the Sonoma-Lake county border, according to the Calpine Corporation.

The power plants normally generate 725 megawatts of renewable geothermal energy to the electricity grid and were generating approximately 540 megawatts as of late September, according to Calpine. Repairs should be completed within six to 12 months, Calpine officials said.

--Bay City News