Containment Grows, Evacuations Lifted For River And Carmel Fires

MONTEREY COUNTY, CA — Firefighters continued to make progress in containing two large Monterey County blazes that have been burning for two weeks, aided by favorable weather conditions, Cal Fire said Sunday morning.

The River Fire south of Salinas is at 48,000 acres burned, with containment now at 87 percent. The fire, started by lightning on Aug. 16, has destroyed 30 structures and damaged 13. Four firefighters have suffered minor injuries.

The Carmel fire in Carmel Valley is at 89 percent containment with 6,900 acres burned, 73 structures destroyed and seven damaged. The fire started in the afternoon on Aug. 18 and the cause is unknown.

Full containment of both fires is expected by next Sunday, Cal Fire said.

All evacuation orders and warnings for the two fires have been lifted and officials said air quality in Monterey County has improved to a level of "good."

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