LUCERNE, Calif. – Firefighters on Wednesday continued their efforts to fully contain a wildland fire in Lucerne.
The Foothill fire has burned a total of 69 acres, with containment rising to 90 percent by Wednesday evening, according to Suzie Blankenship, a fire prevention specialist with Cal Fire.
The fire began shortly after 5 p.m. Tuesday in the area of Foothill and Country Club drives, burning up along the Robinson Road area.
The incident came close to several homes, which had led to a limited number of brief evacuations on Tuesday evening that were lifted later that night, according to the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Blankenship's report said firefighters saved three homes, with a dollar saved estimate of $550,000.
On Wednesday evening, four Cal Fire crews, seven engines, three water tenders and 100 personnel – three of them overhead/command staff – remained committed to the fire, Blankenship reported.
The Cal Fire crews and engines, plus a bulldozer and a helicopter, were busy in the fire's charred footprint on Wednesday afternoon.
Working alongside of the Cal Fire crews were US Forest Service units including the Elk Mountain Hotshots.
Firefighters on the ground cut trees, worked on hot spots and strengthened containment line.
The helicopter made repeated trips between the lake and the hillside with a bucket, dropping water in an area of trees where there still appeared to be a small amount of white smoke.
By day's end, Blankenship said heavy mop up work had begun within the fire perimeter.
Blankenship said fire crews will remain working on the fire line throughout the night, with a day shift of firefighters assigned to the incident on Thursday.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, Blankenship said.
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Firefighters increase Foothill fire containment to 90 percent
- Elizabeth Larson
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