Today about 4,000 firefighters are still battling major wildfires throughout California, according to a Cal Fire fire summary released this morning.
In the North State:
· The 1,550-acre Saddle Fire in Trinity County northwest of Hyampom remains 95 percent contained. Full containment is expected by noon today.
Non-North State fires:
· The Washington Fire, south of Lake Tahoe, is still threatening the town of Markleeville. Overnight it’s grown to 16,500 acres and is currently 5 percent contained. The fire was first detected Friday. It has severed Highways 4 and 89 near Monitor Pass, and closed campgrounds and trails. Markleeville residents are currently standing by for an evacuation order.
· Further south, the week old Lake Fire east of San Bernardino has forced the closure of highway 38, despite the effort of nearly 2,000 firefighters. It has now torched nearly 19,000 acres and is 38 percent contained.
· Good progress has been made on three fires in Madera County. The 900-acre Corrine Fire, as well as the 500-acre Sky Fire are currently 95 percent contained. The county’s 100-acre Red Fire is 100% contained.
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Higher fire danger is expected throughout the North State later this week due to a rise in temperatures, dry conditions and a chance for electrical storms (mostly in the mountains) starting Friday. According to Cal Fire, 95% of wildfires in the agency’s jurisdiction are started by human activity. Learn more about preventing wildfires at www.ReadyforWildfire.org.