Ponderosa Fire 64% Contained, 32 Homes Destroyed

Despite scorching temperatures, firefighters made slow, steady progress against the Ponderosa Fire in Butte County, which was reported 64 percent contained early Sunday evening. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection update said the blaze had consumed 4,014 acres so far and destroyed 32 homes and 16 outbuildings. Only two homes and two outbuildings were overtaken since Friday evening. The Ponderosa Fire started early Tuesday afternoon at Ponderosa Way and Lumpkin Road, east of Lake Oroville. By Sunday evening, Cal Fire said the combined efforts of nearly 1,700 firefighting personnel had contained enough of the fire in steep, rugged terrain to lift evacuation orders “for all areas of the Ponderosa Fire and the community of Feather Falls.”