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

A vegetation fire that began Friday night near Monticello Dam at Lake Berryessa in Solano County has spread to 5,000 acres and is 30 percent contained this evening, according to fire officials at 5:45 p.m. Saturday.

Around noon today, firefighters briefly appeared to have the upper hand, with the blaze at 1,500 acres and 25 percent contained, fire officials said.

However, the blaze, located near the southeast shore of Lake Berryessa, spread to an additional 3,500 acres in less than five hours, Cal Fire officials said.

Cal Fire officials said the blaze, referred to as the Monticello Fire, has spread to 5,000 acres as of 5 p.m. and is now covering an area where the Solano, Napa and Yolo county lines converge.

According to Cal Fire, the fire is located in a remote, rugged and steep area that is difficult to access, leading to an increase in fire activity in the Oak woodlands this afternoon.

State Highway 128 is closed in the Lake Berryessa area east of Canyon Creek Resort Campground to Pleasant Valley Road, fire officials said.

The Golden Bear Estates and Canyon Creek Resort Campground have been evacuated, and an evacuation shelter set up at the Winters Community Center, according to Cal Fire.

About 350 fire personnel are at the scene and focusing on building control lines around the Golden Bear Estates where about 40 structures are threatened by the blaze, Cal Fire said.

At least six bulldozers, four airtankers, two water tankers and three helicopters are being used by fire personnel to fight the blaze, according to Cal Fire's website.

Heavy smoke can be seen from Lake Berryessa and the surrounding area this evening.

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

--Bay City News