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Shift in Weather Helps Mount Diablo Fire Crews

Shift in Weather Helps Mount Diablo Fire Crews

By Kurtis Alexander and Henry K. Lee, SF Gate

Photo: Michael Macor, SF Chronicle

Firefighters took advantage of cooler weather overnight to gain an upper hand on the wildfire on Mount Diablo, reporting Tuesday that containment of the blaze had jumped from 20 percent to 45 percent.

Crews are succeeding in confining the Morgan Fire to isolated canyons near the mountain's 3,848-foot summit, authorities said.

About 75 homes near Clayton were still threatened Tuesday, but that was down from the 100 homes potentially in the path of the fire a day earlier. Residents of the 75 homes remain under an evacuation advisory.

"We should see that number go down further later today or first thing tomorrow," said Todd Williams, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. "Things are looking good today."

One outbuilding has been destroyed by fire, but no homes have burned.

Fire officials also have lowered estimates of how much acreage the fire has scorched, saying aerial mapping overnight showed the fire wasn't as big as they thought.

As of Tuesday morning, 3,243 acres had burned, officials said. That's down from Monday's estimate of more than 3,700 acres.

Cooler temperatures and favorable winds remain in the forecast, officials said, and more progress on the fire is anticipated.

"We're seeing the fog roll in, the cooler sea breezes," Williams said. "That will help widen our line around the fire."

The fire was reported Sunday afternoon. The cause is not known. Three firefighters have suffered minor injuries, officials said.

Evacuations are still in place for Oak Hill Lane, Curry Canyon Road, Curry Lane, Curry Point, Trail Ride Road, East Trail Road, Russelmann Park Road, Upper Trail Road and Lower Trail Road. An evacuation center has been set up at the Clayton Community Library.

Firefighters, aided by bulldozers, helicopters and planes - including a DC-10 dropping red fire retardant - have managed to save the historic visitor center and lookout on Mount Diablo as well as numerous homes and ranches.

More than 700 firefighters were working to keep the blaze within Mount Diablo State Park, with the focus of their efforts in ravines near the summit. Crews are also trying to prevent the blaze from reaching Pacific Gas and Electric Co. electrical transmission lines and communications infrastructure on the mountain.

Horses and other livestock have also been evacuated from the area.

Kurtis Alexander and Henry K. Lee are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. E-mail: kalexander@sfchronicle.com and hlee@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kurtisalexander @henryklee

 

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