County Fire Balloons To 82,700 Acres; 25% Contained

YOLO COUNTY, CA -- A fast-growing wildfire that sparked four days ago continued to burn July 4, prompting officials to issue new evacuations as the blaze grew to 82,700 acres. As of Wednesday morning, the County Fire was just 25 percent contained.

The blaze sparked Saturday afternoon just east of Lake Berryessa before spreading from Yolo County to Napa County. It threatened hundreds of structures, officials said.

Officials said more than 2,600 firefighters worked aggressively throughout Tuesday to build containment but their efforts were hampered on the northern end by steep, inaccessible terrain. Temperatures are expected to cool Wednesday, but winds could still fuel the blaze, officials said.

As of Wednesday, the following areas were under mandatory evacuations:

• North of Highway 128 in Yolo County, not including the City of Wintery
• South of County Road 23. East of Berryessa Knoxville Road
• West of County Road 89, South of the community of Esparto, however agricultural equipment will be permitted
• Residences served by Highway 128, between Monticello Dam and Pleasant Valley Road
• West of State Highway 16 to Berryessa Knoxville Road
• South of Old County Road 40
• North of County Road 53

The following areas were issued advisory evacuations:

• North of Quail Canyon Road.South of Highway 128
• East of the Blue Ridge mountains
• West of Pleasant Valley Road
• East of Capell Valley Road
• North of State Highway 128 from Capell Valley Road, East to the Napa County line

Photo courtesy of Joyce Hughes; taken Sunday from Lake Berryessa in Napa County