LAKE COUNTY — Crews fully contained the Wye Fire Saturday morning after battling nearly a week.
The Wye Fire, which involved two blazes managed as a single incident, scorched 7,934 acres along Highway 20 in northeastern Lake County and parts of Colusa County since the afternoon of Aug. 12.
The estimated cost for all resources and personnel who responded was $7.35 million, according to Suzie Blankenship, fire prevention specialist with CAL FIRE.
Both fires broke out minutes apart shortly before 4 p.m. on Aug. 12.
One occurred near the “Y” intersection of highways 20 and 53 east of Clearlake Oaks while the other started near Highway 20 east of Walker Ridge Road. The causes remain under investigation.
Hundreds of people were evacuated from the areas of Spring Valley, New Long Valley, Old Long Valley and Wilbur Hot Springs early last week, but evacuation orders were lifted within days.
Two homes were destroyed and two more were damaged. An outbuilding was also destroyed.
A total of three injuries were reported, all of which were minor and did not require hospitalization, Blankenship said.
More than a thousand firefighters, law enforcement personnel, emergency relief staff and representatives from other agencies responded.
Highway 20 remains open through the area. CAL FIRE asked drivers to use caution because personnel and equipment may stay onsite for several days.
