Stubborn hot spots keep Valley fire at 97 percent containment

Firefighters have held the Valley fire at 97 percent containment since Sunday, but have not yet made the progress needed to declare the fire out, Cal Fire Capt. Joe Fletcher said Wednesday.

The remains of the wildfire that destroyed at least 1,280 homes as it raced through more than 76,000 acres in Lake, Napa and Sonoma counties are mostly 'stubborn hot spots,' small areas of active fire, Fletcher said. Those include underground fires burning undetected in tree roots that then erupt above ground.

Ground and air crews were on alert for any 'wispy trail of smoke in a sea of black stuff' that might indicate fire is smoldering below, Fletcher said. Firefighters continue to chase such 'smokes' near the communities of Middletown, Hidden Valley and Cobb, as well as a series of such hot spots extinguished in Butts Canyon.

'The fire is not posing any danger to public safety or property but we're not going to call it 100 percent (contained) until we're sure we put the thing to bed,' Fletcher said.

With about 815 fire personnel still in the area, they are 'working around the clock,' Fletcher said. Lake County residents can expect to see helicopters patrolling the Valley fire region through the weekend, he said.

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You can reach Staff Writer Julie Johnson at 521-5220 or julie.johnson@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @jjpressdem.