Up and down drought-ravaged California, half a dozen wildfires continued to burn Sunday as firefighting crews gained an upper hand on some blazes and struggled to contain others.
In Southern California, the destructive Blue Cut fire that has raged through more than 37,000 acres was 83% contained as of Sunday morning. The fire has destroyed more than 300 structures, including 105 homes.
At one point, the blaze that started Aug. 16 had displaced 82,649 people and threatened 34,500 structures — as of Sunday, 2,419 residents remained evacuated and the number of threatened structures was down to just over 600.
Firefighters were also near full containment of the Clayton fire in idyllic Lake County near Napa, with the blaze about 95% contained by Sunday. The suspected arson fire, which started Aug. 13, charred 3,929 acres and destroyed 189 homes.
Continuing to wreak havoc after more than a month was the Soberanes fire in Monterey County, which began in Garrapata State Park July 22 from an illegal campfire and has grown to 85,212 acres.
That blaze, which killed one, injured three and destroyed 57 homes, was 60% contained as of Sunday and continued to prove a challenge for firefighters due to rugged and inaccessible terrain along the fire’s eastern edge. It isn’t expected to be fully contained until late September.
Farther south along the coast, firefighters believed they had stopped the Chimney fire’s encroachment toward Hearst Castle just two miles shy of the landmark. By Sunday, the fast-moving blaze had topped 24,000 acres and destroyed 48 structures. It was 35% contained.
In Santa Barbara, the Rey fire, the newest blaze to plague California, had burned through 18,839 acres since its spark three days ago and remained just 10% contained. Firefighters there were also struggling with steep, rough terrain and hot, dry weather, which was expected to keep the blaze “extreme,” sending dramatic plumes of smoke into the air.
Even less contained is the Cedar fire burning in Kern County, which was 5% contained as of Sunday at 17,986 acres. Fire officials called the blaze “moderately active” and said it wasn’t significantly growing. Several communities in Tulare and Kern counties were under mandatory evacuation orders.
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