June 28 -- Fire crews have started to get a handle on the blaze that has scorched the hills of Lake County, officials said.
The Pawnee Fire grew only slightly to 13,700 acres and was 30 percent contained by Wednesday night, according to Cal Fire.
Firefighters have been aided by “favorable weather conditions” and built direct control lines, which are barriers used to control fires, according to the National Park Service.
Heat and heavy fuels continued to be a challenge for firefighters Wednesday evening, officials said.
The blaze — driven by low humidity, erratic winds and above normal temperatures — started Saturday night and has destroyed 22 structures while continuing to threaten at least 600 more, officials said.
Mandatory evacuation orders remain in effect for Walker Ridge and Double Eagle.
The Red Cross opened an evacuation center at Lower Lake High School.
Formerly evacuated residents of Spring Valley were allowed to return to their homes Wednesday, according to Cal Fire.
Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency Monday to mobilize the state’s Office of Emergency Services and other agencies to provide help and resources to the county.
Roughly 2,700 emergency personnel from 58 fire crews have responded to the fire with 69 bulldozers, two helicopters and 235 engines, Cal Fire said.
The Pawnee Fire is one of several blazes burning through Northern California in Lake, Tehama, Shasta, Calaveras and Tuolumne counties.
The Stoll Fire — a 268-acre blaze just west of Red Bluff (Tehama County) — was 90 percent contained as of Wednesday morning. Four homes, 10 businesses and 10 outbuildings were destroyed.
The Lane Fire, at 3,829 acres, was 65 percent contained after forcing the communities of Ponderosa Sky Ranch and Paynes Creek to evacuate. No structures were destroyed, and no injuries were reported in either community.
The causes of each fire have not been determined.
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