By Bay City News Service
The McCabe Fire, which has burned 3,505 acres of vegetation near The Geysers geothermal plant in Sonoma County, is 75 percent contained this morning and full containment is expected Wednesday, a Cal Fire spokeswoman said.
Some of the 1,684 personnel who responded to the fire will be
released today, Cal Fire spokeswoman Suzanne Blankenship said Monday morning.
Cloverdale-Geysers Road will remain closed to the public at Squaw Creek Road, and Healdsburg-Geyser Road is still shut down at Mercuryville, but the dozen or so residents who live in the area have been allowed back to their homes, Blankenship said.
The fire, reported 2 a.m. Friday, has burned tall grass, oak woodland and other vegetation about 10 miles northeast of Geyserville. It initially caused the evacuation of 278 employees at the power plant. All evacuation orders have since been lifted.
The fire destroyed a cooling tower at the geothermal plant, and three firefighters have suffered minor injuries, Blankenship said.
Efforts to fight the fire were hindered by gusty winds, low humidity and the steep terrain, fire officials said.
A base camp and media information center near South Cloverdale Boulevard off of U.S. Highway 101 will be demobilized Tuesday, Blankenship said.
Cal Fire will issue another update on the blaze at 7 p.m. Monday,
Blankenship said.
Copyright © 2013 by Bay City News, Inc. -- Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
