Here's an afternoon update on active California wildfires:
· The 1,550-acre Saddle Fire in Trinity County northwest of Hyampom remains 95 percent contained. Full containment is expected soon.
· In Siskiyou County near Happy Camp, firefighters were dispatched this morning after small fires in hot spots appeared within the lines of last year’s devastating Happy Camp Complex fire that burned over 134,000 acres.
Further south:
· The Washington Fire, south of Lake Tahoe, still threatens the gold rush town of Markleeville. It has surpassed 16,500 acres in size and is just 5 percent contained despite the efforts of nearly 700 firefighters backed by eight air tankers. The fire was first detected Friday. Highway 89 is closed south of Markleeville, Highway 4 is severed near Monitor Pass. Several campgrounds and trails in the region are closed. Markleeville residents are standing by for an evacuation order.
· In San Luis Obispo County, the 1,800-acre Park Hill fire is 95 percent contained.
· Further south, nearly 2,000 firefighters have been battling the now week-old Lake Fire east of San Bernardino. It has now torched nearly 19,000 acres and is 38 percent contained. Highway 38 remains closed.
· 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 130-acre Red Fire is 100 percent contained.
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Extreme fire danger is expected through the rest of the week due to scorching temperatures, dry conditions and a chance for electrical storms beginning Friday.