LAKEPORT, Calif. – Crews backed by important firefighting resources are gaining ground against a massive Northern California wildfire, but it may be several days before thousands of evacuees can return home, officials said Thursday.
Four more homes were destroyed overnight, bringing the total number of properties lost to 43. More than 13,000 people have been ordered or urged to leave their homes, vacation cabins and campsites since the blaze ignited July 29 about 100 miles north of San Francisco.
Dominic Polito, a fire spokesman, said he does not know when residents will be allowed back home.
“I would imagine they’re going to make sure the line is completely contained before they do that,” Polito said Thursday. “Plan on the next couple of days, and hopefully it’s sooner than that.”
Firefighters and equipment from outside the drought-stricken state have poured in to battle the blaze, which has chewed through more than 107 square miles of parched terrain and was 40 percent contained, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said.