Cal Fire says progress made on several wildfires

GUINDA >> Firefighters on Tuesday made some progress in containing the largest of several wildfires burning in Northern California.

In an evening update, Cal Fire said the County Fire was 15 percent contained, up from 3 percent the day before. The fast-moving fire has scorched 72,500 acres — an area nearly the size of Sacramento — since breaking out Saturday southwest of Guinda.

The blaze is threatening nearly 1,000 structures, and Cal Fire spokesman Anthony Brown said at least 2,500 people have been told to evacuate.

Mandatory evacuations are in place in Yolo and Napa counties for all areas north of Highway 128, south of County Road 23, east of Berryessa Knoxville Road, and west of County Road 89.

Evacuation advisories were also issued for areas south of County Road 81 and west of County Road 85.

Firefighters are focusing their efforts on the north and south perimeter of the fire “as this has been the primary spread of the fire,” according to Cal Fire Capt. Jordan Motta.

Dry conditions and rugged terrain have made the fire challenging to fight. The blaze at times has grown by 1,000 acres an hour.

Cal Fire is also still battling the Pawnee Fire in Lake County, which was 85 percent contained as of Tuesday evening. That blaze has burned 15,000 acres and destroyed 22 structures.

No deaths or injuries have been reported in connection with the Pawnee or County fires.

Smoke and ash, meanwhile, are contributing to poor air quality in the San Francisco Bay Area and wine country.