Some Evacuations Lifted In Napa County Lightning Complex Fires

NAPA COUNTY, CA — Cal Fire began to lift some evacuations Friday in Napa County, where the LNU Lightning Complex Fires have been burning since Monday.

"Fire personnel are still active in the area. Please reduce speeds and drive with caution," officials with Cal Fire's Sonoma Lake Napa Unit said in lifting evacuation orders at 9:30 a.m. Friday for residents and businesses on Silverado Trail between Rosedale Road and state Highway 29.

"Access is limited to residents only; no other public access will be granted at this time," officials said.

Evacuation orders remain in effect along state Highway 29 from Silverado Trail to the Lake County Line, excluding the portion with Calistoga City Limits, according to Cal Fire.

"The cancellation of additional evacuation orders was being evaluated based on a variety of factors, including potential fire behavior and the re-establishment of crucial infrastructure," Cal Fire said.

The group of North Bay fires known as the LNU Lightning Complex had burned 302,388 acres by Friday night and was 15-percent contained, according to Cal Fire.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Friday the North Bay group of fires make up the 10th-largest wildfire in state history. The fires were among 568 sparked as California experienced 12,000 lightning strikes within 72 hours, the governor said.

But as of Friday night when North Bay wildfires of the LNU Lightning Complex surpassed 300,000 acres, it became the second-largest fire in California history.

Four people have died in the blazes — three in Napa County and one in Solano, Cal Fire said Thursday night. Another four were injured when they suffered burns in Napa County earlier this week.

The complex of wildfires has destroyed at least 480 structures, damaged 125, and was still threatening 30,500 more by Friday morning.

The fires were expected to spread and many blazes had merged on the north side of Lake Berryessa into the Hennessey Fire. The blazes were spreading into large wooded areas Friday as the Hennessey Fire reached 256,102 acres.

The Walbridge Fire raging in Sonoma County and threatening the Russian River communities of Guerneville and Rio Nido and, to the northeast, Healdsburg, are the second-largest in the complex of fires, burning more than 43,000 acres.

The county of Napa is updating its website with information about fire-related evacuations and road closures.

WATCH: California Gov. Gavin Newsom gives update Friday on California wildfires:

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• LNU Lightning Complex Fires: Sonoma County Latest
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• Napa County Hennessey Fire Burns 100,000 Acres: Lightning Complex
• Thousands Flee Sonoma County Wildfires
• 2 Wildfires Burn In Sonoma County; Mandatory Evacuations Ordered
• Napa County Lightning Complex Fires Latest: More Evacuations

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.