Napa Fires Nearly Contained; Power Restored To 52K Customers

NAPA COUNTY, CA — As firefighters continue pushing to fully contain the fires burning in the Napa and Sonoma counties by Tuesday, PG&E crews are restoring electric and gas service to thousands of affected customers while also assessing damages.

Cal Fire officials said Friday that firefighters are still strengthening the perimeter control lines of the fires. Cloud cover and cooler temperatures helped hold and improve containment lines overnight, and there was minimal fire activity through the night that allowed mop up and repair activities, officials said.

The 51,624-acre Atlas Fire that started south of Lake Berryessa around 9:50 p.m. Oct. 8 was 87-percent contained Friday morning, while the 54,382-acre Nuns Fire, comprised of six fires in Sonoma and Napa counties, was 85-percent contained.

The 36,432-acre Tubbs Fire that began near Calistoga and spread to Santa Rosa on Oct. 8 was 93-percent contained; the Pocket Fire that has burned 16,552 acres in the Geyserville and Cloverdale area was 82-percent contained.

Update From PG&E Napa Base Camp

PG&E Spokeswoman Melissa Subbotin said Friday that utility crews have restored power to more than 52,000 customers impacted by the wildfires in the Napa area. As of 11 a.m. Friday, power was restored to more than 97-percent of affected customers, she said.

"Crews are working at a safe and determined pace to restore power to those who can receive it … and will continue to do so until all work is complete," Subbotin said.

More than 1,000 workers are making repairs in Napa County, she said, with as many as 1,500 employees reporting to and working out of three area base camps: Stanly Lane, Calistoga and Atlas Road.

"We have been granted access to most of the areas affected by the fires and have completed 100 percent of the assessments of the damaged areas," Subbotin said. "We have assessed more than 10,000 power poles and identified 744 that need to be replaced."

The spokeswoman also said natural gas service has been restored to all 1,700 customers who are able to receive it, meaning those who either had their gas disconnected for fire safety or disrupted due to fire activity.

"PG&E’s focus has turned to permanent repairs and community support," Subbotin said. "We know that restoring electricity and gas is an essential first step on the journey to rebuild the communities devastated by these fires. Our focus on the life safety and well-being of the customers and communities affected by the devastating Northern California wildfires continues to be a priority."

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.

Photo: Ben Margot/Associated Press