Weather helping with fire suppression

Updated 2:49pm:

All mandatory evacuations, evacuation advisories, and road closures in Amador County have been lifted.

—-

Mother Nature is lending a hand when it comes to the Butte and Valley fires burning in Northern California. However, tens of thousands of people remain displaced — either permanently or as evacuees — as the fires rage.

Rain fell overnight on the fire in Amador-Calaveras counties, and higher humidity is a factor in Lake-Sonoma-Napa counties. Temperatures are dramatically lower in both locations compared to the weekend.

The Butte Fire is at 71,660 acres, with 37 percent containment. The fire that started Sept. 9 has destroyed 166 residences, 116 outbuildings and damaged 12 others. Another 6,400 structures remain threatened.

“Fire behavior remained minimal throughout the night helping crews continue to progress with perimeter control,” according to CalFire.

More personnel continue to be added to the Valley Fire, which started Saturday in the remote town of Cobb. It is sparsely populated and is wooded like Tahoe.

Lost are 585 homes and hundreds of other structures, including the historic Harbin Hot Springs. That area rebuilt after fires in 1894 and 1943. There are 9,000 structures in immediate danger.

The 67,000-acre Valley Fire is 15 percent contained.

The cause of both fires remains under investigation.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report