Kincade Fire 65-Percent Contained; More Evacuations Lifted

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — With strong winds in the area of the Kincade Fire finally dying down, fire crews have been able to make strong gains in the containment of the blaze, which was 30-percent contained as of Wednesday morning but is at 65-percent containment a day later.

In a briefing issued by Cal Fire at 7 p.m. Thursday, the statewide agency said the fire stood at 77,758 acres — a slight uptick from the 76,825 that had burned as of Thursday morning.

At least 349 structures, including 165 homes and 10 structures used for business purposes, have been destroyed in the fire, which started the night of Oct. 23 near Geyserville.

Cal Fire officials say 55 more structures, including 33 homes, have been damaged and more than 1,600 others remain at risk in the blaze that has threatened the three North Bay-area counties of Sonoma, Lake and Napa.

In the evening briefing, Cal Fire officials said favorable weather conditions helped crews in their firefighting efforts.

A Red Flag Warning indicating high fire danger had been issued through Wednesday afternoon but expired as high winds subsided — allowing tens of thousands of evacuees to return to their homes in Healdsburg, Windsor, Santa Rosa and other cities and communities.

Then, a 2 p.m. Thursday, Cal Fire lifted evacuation warnings for:

• Zone 21: City of Calistoga and Napa County north of Diamond Mountain Road to Dunaweal Lane. East of the Sonoma County/Napa County Line. South of the Lake County/Napa County Line. West of Pickett Road.
• Zone 31: Issued for the area of Highway 29 from Butts Canyon Road South to the County Line. All of Butts Canyon Road in Lake County between Highway 29 & Napa County Line. Highway 175 between Highway 29 Middletown Rancheria, Dry Creek area, all roads off of Highway 175 between Middletown and McKinley Drive, & Butts Canyon including all side streets.
• Zone 32: West of Big Canyon Road. South of Sulpher Creek Road and Harrington Flat Road. East of the Sonoma County/Lake County Line. North of Zone 31.
• Zone 33: West of Big Canyon Road to Seigler Canyon Road across to Seigler Springs North Road. South of Red Hills Road. East of Bottle Rock Road to Harrington Flat Road. North of Zone 32.
• Zone 34: West of Bottle Rock Road to Harrington Flat Road. North of Sulphur Creek Road to the Zone 32 border. West of the Sonoma County/Lake County Line North to the intersection of McKinley Road & Bottle Rock Road. Including Cold Water Creek Road Lakeview Road, Golden Pines.

"The public is reminded to stay vigilant on current fire conditions," Cal Fire officials said. "Please drive slowly & yield to emergency personnel in the area. There may be smoke in the area as firefighters continue operations."

Meanwhile, mandatory evacuations remain in effect for Zone 1B (west of Lake County line, north and east of Highway 128; south of Cloverdale, east of Asti Road/Geyserville Avenue at Canyon Road, including Asti Road); Zone 3C (area south of Highway 128 and the fire line, east of Windsor town limits, north of Faught Road at Shiloh Road and the Zone 5B boundary); Zone 5B (area south of Highway 128 and Yellow Jacket Ranch Road, west of Highway 128 and the Zone 6 boundary to the Zone 3C boundary, including areas accessed east of Shiloh Ridge Road at Mayacama Club Drive); and Zone 2 (Highway 128 North Knights Valley area to the Napa County line).

• See Cal Fire map for latest evacuation information

Some 5,245 firefighting personnel were still assigned to the blaze Thursday morning.

There have been four injuries involving firefighters battling the Kincade Fire, according to Cal Fire.

Full containment of the Kincade Fire is still expected by Thursday, Nov. 7.

Cal Fire has not yet determined the cause of the wildland blaze.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• Kincade Fire: Containment Up; Thousands Return Home
• Kincade Fire Live Updates: 90K Homes Threatened; 76K Acres Burned
• Kincade Fire Live Updates: 74K Acres Burned; 80K Homes Threatened
• Kincade Fire Evac Advisory Still Stands For Calistoga In Napa Co.
• Kincade Fire Latest: Over 25,000 Acres Burned
• Kincade Fire Latest: Concerns Mount Fire Could Jump West Over 101

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.