#MonticelloFire: Evacuations Lifted; Blaze at 6,488 Acres & 35% Contained Monday Afternoon

Fire officials are continuing to battle the 6,488-acre Monticello vegetation fire burning near Lake Berryessa in Solano and Yolo counties and are beginning to allow displaced residents to return to their homes, Cal Fire officials said.

Due to erratic wind shifts, the blaze remains only 35 percent contained. Since the fire began burning Friday night near the Monticello Dam, fire officials said.

[Related: How To Help & Thank Your Hard-Working Firefighters!]

At 8 p.m. Sunday, evacuations were lifted for all residences on State Highway 128 between County Road 87 to Positas Road.

"We are doing everything we can to accommodate civilians and get people back into their homes," Cal Fire officials said in a statement around 9:30 p.m. Sunday.

The fire is estimated to be about 6,488 acres, down from an original estimate of 7,000 acres, according to Cal Fire. Officials came up with the new estimate after utilizing more accurate mapping tools.

[Latest on #ButtsFire: 4 Injured, 2 Homes Destroyed in 4,300-Acre Fire 85% Contained Sunday P.M.]

Firefighters are continuing to fight the flames in steep rugged terrain, with difficult access in grassy Oak woodland and heavy brush in higher elevations. An evacuation shelter set up at the Winters Community Center has closed, according to fire officials.

One person was injured at about 1:20 p.m. Sunday, when a Cal Fire bulldozer rolled over while constructing fire control lines on the northern side on the fire in very rugged and steep terrain in Yolo County, Cal Fire officials said.

The operator of the bulldozer was rescued by a Cal Fire helicopter and, as a precaution, was flown to Kaiser Permanente's Vacaville Hospital Trauma Center for evaluation.

As of Sunday, about 1,275 fire personnel were at the scene, according to Cal Fire officials. Heavy smoke will continue to affect the surrounding communities, Cal Fire said.

Among the equipment being used to fight the blaze are 48 bulldozers, 124 fire engines, six air tankers and 16 helicopters, according to Cal Fire.

Cal Fire reported that three people have been injured since the blaze began. The extent and cause of their injuries has not been released.

Previous:

#MonticelloFire: 1 Injured in Bulldozer Rollover; 7,000 Acres & 30% Contained Sunday Evening.

#MonticelloFire Balloons To 7,000 Acres with 30% Containment Sunday A.M.

#MonticelloFire Growing Still: 5,000 Acres & 30% Contained Saturday Evening.

UPDATE #MonticelloFire Growing: At 3,000 Acres & 15% Contained Near Dam & Hwy 128 on Saturday Afternoon.

--Bay City News