Better mapping shows wildfire in Sierra Nevada foothills has burned 2 square

Thomson ReutersFirefighters look on as smoke from the Wagg Fire rises near Lake BerryessaSACRAMENTO, Calif. (Reuters) – Firefighters made progress Sunday against three wildfires burning in Montana and California, aided by cooler temperatures overnight.

A fast-moving wildfire in Napa and Solano counties grew to more than 9 square miles Thursday, scorching drought-parched countryside near Lake Berryessa and sending hikers, homeowners and wildlife fleeing to safety.

The most active part of the fire was burning along a mountain range in a remote area several miles from the highway that feeds into the lake park.

The cause, initially reported as a vehicle accident, remains under investigation, but the state’s deep drought has helped it thrive.

A fire unit returns to their engines as the night transitions to the day shift at the Kyburz Fire off Highway 50 on Saturday, in El Dorado National Forest in California.

“Hwy 128 from Wragg Canyon to Pleasant Valley will remain closed today”.

“It’s been nonstop, but we’re fortunate that fires have not been large and damaging so far”, he said. “So we grabbed a water tank, went to the fire line and extinguished it. Kept pulling 5 gallon buckets out of the pool and put it out”, he said.

The California Office of Emergency Services announced Thursday morning that a federal fire management assistance grant had been secured to help offset the cost to local and state agencies for fighting the fire.

The Wragg Fire, which has burned almost 7,000 acres in the North Bay, is now 55 percent contained.

A northern California wildfire continued to rage Friday, threatening homes and torching 6,900 acres in Napa and Sonoma Counties, authorities said.

While Andracheck chose not to evacuate her home, Josh Veal who lives on Pleasants Valley Drive did, “We packed some stuff, we have clothes, pictures off the wall, stuff we wanted to save”.

In the meantime, mandatory evacuations in the Golden Bear Estates Area in Yolo County and on County Road 87 were lifted on Thursday evening.

“If you see smoke, call it in”, he said, adding that he would rather have crews arrive on scene to find a barbecue than miss a spark that leads to an event life the Wragg Fire.

Acres: 98 acres with 80 percent containment.