Soberanes Fire Containment Jumps To 92%

MONTEREY COUNTY, CA – Containment on the Soberanes Fire, burning since July in Monterey County, has advanced to 92 percent, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The blaze was 81 percent contained on Tuesday.

Officials today called the progress a "milestone."

"After 70 days of fighting and living with the Soberanes Fire, reaching 92 percent containment represents a remarkable degree of success for firefighters and the community," the agency said.

To date, the fire has destroyed 129,395 acres, and crews at the scene now total 1.462.

Since the fire began on July 22 in Garrapata State Park, eight people have been injured and a bulldozer operator has died.

An illegal campfire started the blaze, which has destroyed 57 homes and cost an estimated $208 million.

Full containment is expected by Sept. 30.

Other fire updates from the Bay Area:

• Discarded Cigarette Possible Cause Of Fire That Demolished 4 Homes, Damaged 10 Others, Injured 2, Killed Cat
• Iron Horse Trail Arson Suspect Sought For Setting Trail Fires
• Tuesday's Closure Of Richmond-San Rafael Bridge Made For Nightmarish Commutes In North Bay
• Loma Fire Grows To 3,849 Acres; Containment At 22%
• Sawmill Fire Is 95% Contained In Sonoma County
• Teen Playing With Matches Catches Marin Co. Home, Trees On Fire
• Crews Contain 12-Acre Blaze Near Greenfield
• Lockhart Gulch Road Fire: Fully Contained in Scotts Valley

--Bay City News contributed to this report/Images via USFS Fire-California ‏@R5_Fire_News