COVELO — Evacuation orders were partially lifted and some roads were opened near the North Pass Fire, which reached 37 percent containment, CAL FIRE reported Friday morning.
The blaze, which lightning ignited on Aug. 18, burned 34,308 acres to date about 10 miles northeast of Covelo.
The evacuation orders for homes along Indian Dick Road (Forest Road M1) and the Bauer subdivision were partially lifted.
Indian Dick Road up to Boardman Camp is now open to residents only — all points north along the road remain closed.
Mendocino Pass Road (Forest Highway 7) from the Eel River Work Station (Black Butte Ranch) up to benchmark 2444 (second driveway entrance to Bauer subdivision) is open to residents with a valid identification. All areas east of the intersection to Forest Road M4 remain closed and within the evacuation order.
Residents are not allowed on the roads within the affected areas from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
To date, five homes and seven outbuildings were destroyed. A total of 23 homes, five commercial buildings and 35 outbuildings remain threatened.
More than 2,100 fire personnel were assigned to the incident Friday morning. The fire continues to move in north and northeastern directions, as it backs into the Middle Fork of the Eel River, Hammerhorn Lake and Asa Bean Ridge, according to CAL FIRE.
Officials anticipate the fire will spread north toward Wrights Valley, Hole in the Ground and Hopkins Peak during the next two days.
For information during the weekend, visit http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_current.
