County Fire Latest: 70,000 Acres; 980 Homes, Buildings Threatened

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA — The County Fire burning in Yolo and Napa counties near Lake Berryessa has spread to 70,000 acres and was only 5-percent contained Tuesday morning, according to Cal Fire. The wildfire, which started at 2:12 p.m. Saturday in Guinda in Yolo County, sent smoke that has spread over much of the Bay Area in the ensuing days.

The blaze grew by 10,000 acres overnight, burning actively through the night, officials with Cal Fire's Sonoma-Lake-Napa unit said in a Tuesday morning fire status update.

"The fire growth was driven primarily by steep terrain and dry vegetation," the fire officials said. "Firefighters continued to work through the night to construct new containment lines and defend structures threatened by the fire."

More than 2,000 fire personnel have responded to the wildfire, which prompted evacuation advisories Monday night for three Napa County neighborhoods. Cal Fire advised residents of Berryessa Highlands, Markley Cove Resort and Pleasure Cove Resort, as well as parts of Yolo County north of state Highway 128, to be ready to leave their homes.

Residents with special needs or pets requiring specialized transportation were urged to give themselves extra time to evacuate. Residents who decided to evacuate Monday night were asked to travel west on state Highway 128 or south on Monticello Road.

Travel is restricted on eastbound Highway 128 to Solano and Yolo counties, with mandatory evacuation orders still in effect for residents north of state Highway 128 in Yolo County, not including the city of Winters; south of County Road 23; east of Berryessa Knoxville Road; west of County Road 89, south of the community of Esparto (agricultural equipment is permitted); and those served by Highway 128, between Monticello Dam and Pleasants Valley Road.

Those under evacuation advisories include residents north of Quail Canyon Road; south of state Highway 128; east of the Blue Ridge mountains; west of Pleasants Valley Road; east of Capell Valley Road; and north of state Highway 128 from Capell Valley Road, east to the Napa County line.

Road closures in effect as of Tuesday morning included: northbound County Road 87 from state Highway 128; Berryessa Knoxville Road, from the Pope Creek Bridge to the Napa/Lake County line; eastbound Highway 128 at Markley Resort; and westbound Highway 128 at Pleasants Valley Road.

Pleasants Valley Road south from state Highway 128 remains open to serve traffic into Solano County, according to Cal Fire.

No structure loss or injuries have been reported in the blaze.

Cal Fire officials anticipate full containment of the County Fire by Tuesday, July 10.

ALSO SEE:

County Fire In Yolo, Napa, Lake Counties Grows To 60,000 Acres

County Fire Balloons, Sending Smoke, Ash Across Bay Area

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.