Valley Fire Now the 3rd Worst in California History

Evacuees and volunteers at the Red Cross Evacuation Shelter at the Napa County Fairgrounds in Calistoga Sunday. The center will close later this week. Photos by Al Francis, NapaSonomaPhotos.com (See more photos below the article)

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Cal Fire officials said this afternoon the 75,781-acre Valley Fire in Lake, Napa and Sonoma counties is the third-worst wildfire in state history in terms of the number of damaged structures.

The 118-square-mile Valley Fire that started Sept. 12 in southern Lake County has damaged 1,780 structures as of this afternoon, Cal Fire spokesman Daniel Berlant said.

It ranked fourth-worst in state history as of this morning when it had damaged an estimated 1,050 structures. It was 70 percent contained today.

The 1,600-acre Tunnel Fire in the Oakland Hills in October 1991 ranks as the state’s worst wildfire with 2,900 damaged structures.

Napa County officials announced today that the temporary evacuation center at the county fairgrounds in Calistoga will close Thursday morning so Lake County residents can receive long-term support services in their communities.

Shelters at the Grace Church in Kelseyville, the Clearlake Senior Center in Clearlake, Twin Pine Casino in Middletown and the Hidden Valley Lake Golf Course in Hidden Valley Lake are still open.

The Calistoga shelter is no longer accepting drop-off items for donations.

Earlier fire coverage:

• Valley Fire Survivors Embark on Trek Down Long Road to Recovery
• Wildfire Ash May be Toxic
• Livermore Business Accepting Donations for Fire Victims
• Napa Valley Vintners Make Generous Donation to Valley Fire Victims
• Berryessa Estates Evacuation Order Lifted
• 2 More Bodies Discovered in Valley Fire
• Cadaver Dogs Search for Missing Residents in Valley Fire
• Valley Fire Already the 9th Most Destructive in California History
• Valley Fire Increases to 70,000 Acres, Still 30 Percent Contained
• Valley Fire at 67,200 Acres, 30 Percent Contained
• Pets and Livestock Being Rescued From Valley Fire Evacuation Area
• Wildfire Victim Was Disabled; Containment Doubles in One Day
• Highway Through Hell: Video Shows Driver’s Escape from Valley Fire Inferno
• One Dead as Valley Fire Explodes to 61,000 Acres, 5 Percent Containment
• Elderly, Disabled Woman Trapped in Home, Died in Valley Fire
• FEMA Grant to Cover Valley Firefighting Costs
• Evacuated Fire Victims Settling into Tent City

A new Valley Fire hotline at (888) 565-2787 was established this afternoon for updated information and support, including completing damage assessments. More information can be found at www.lakecounty.com.

--Bay City News