Atlas Fire In Napa, Solano Counties 84% Contained

NAPA COUNTY, CA — Evacuation orders continue to be lifted for residents who were forced to flee the Atlas Fire. Since 9:50 p.m. Oct. 8, the deadly wildfire has burned 51,064 acres, but was 84 percent contained Wednesday night. The Southern LNU Complex Fire that started off Atlas Peak Road south of Lake Berryessa has destroyed 431 structures, damaged 73 others and was still threatening 876, according to Cal Fire officials.

The Tubbs Fire, part of the Central LNU Complex fires in Sonoma and Napa counties, has burned 36,432 acres and was 91 percent contained as of Wednesday evening. It started off state Highway 128 and Bennett Lane near Calistoga around 9:45 p.m. on Oct. 8 and spread to Sonoma County. The blaze continues to smolder with minimal fire activity and interior burning on the northeast corner, according to Cal Fire.

At 2 p.m. Wednesday, mandatory Napa County evacuation orders were lifted for:

• Monticello Road between Vichy Avenue and Wooden Valley Road will be lifted for residents only. Check points will remain in place along Monticello Road to allow access to residents only;
• Wild Horse Valley Road will re-open to residents; and
• Dry Creek Road from Orchard Avenue to 4591 Dry Creek Road will re-open to residents (note: the road closure and Mandatory Evacuation Order will remain in place north of 4591 Dry Creek Road).

Also See: California Wildfire Victims Seek Help After Losing Homes

"Be aware that traffic interruptions may exist as due to fire and utility equipment working in the area," county officials said. "Some homes may not have utilities, including electric and gas. PG&E is working diligently to restore services."

Napa County officials have confirmed six deaths in the fire.

Tuesday afternoon, Napa County Sheriff John Robertson said eight people remained on a missing persons list. Initially, more than 200 people were thought to be missing in the Atlas and other Napa County wildfires that simultaneously broke out Oct. 8.

The 54,423-acre Central LNU Complex Nuns Fire in Napa and Sonoma counties was 80-percent contained Wednesday evening.

The Sonoma County portion of the Nuns Fire has burned 34,398 acres and the Napa County portion has burned 20,025 acres. Cal Fire officials said favorable winds helped firefighters on the Sonoma County side of the fire.

The Adobe, Norrbom, Pressley, Oakmont and Partrick fires have merged with the Nuns Fire.

The Central LNU Complex Oakmont Fire on the east side of state Highway 12 near the Oakmont retirement community south of Santa Rosa started around 8:30 p.m. Saturday.

The Central LNU Complex Pocket Fire off of Pocket Ranch and Ridge roads in the Geyserville area has burned 14,425 acres and was 63 percent contained as of Wednesday.

The number of homes, businesses and structures destroyed in the Central Complex LNU fires reached 5,791 Wednesday evening, with another 330 damaged and another 2,435 threatened.

Cal Fire officials said 5,274 firefighters were at the fires.

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.

Photo: A mailbox stands Monday, Oct. 16, 2017, outside the remains of the home where Sara and Charles Rippey died a week ago in a fast-moving wildfire in Napa, Calif. The couple, 98 and 100 years old, had been married over 75 years. With the winds dying down, fire crews gained ground as they battled wildfires that have devastated California wine country and other parts of the state over the past week, and thousands of people got the all-clear to return home. (Eric Risberg/Associated Press)