Hope Valley fire spread slowing

While a forest fire burning in Hope Valley has grown slightly, so has the line firefighters are cutting around it.

The Burnside fire burning near Pickett's Junction on Highway 88 has grown to 150 acres in size, but firefighters have used the fire's slowed acceleration to increase the line around it to 30 percent.

The fire is burning in heavy timber at about 7,500 feet not far from Sorenson's Resort. It started at 4:06 p.m. Sunday and the cause is still under investigation.

A decision on whether to continue evacuation of the resort and several campgrounds and homes in the area will be made today. Hope Valley is a popular destination during the Labor Day weekend. The Alpine County Sheriff's Office reports that no one stayed at an evacuation center set up at Diamond Valley School on Sunday.

Forest Service roads used to access the fire, including Burnside Lake Road and Pickett's Peak Road are closed. Highway 88 is open, but fire information officer Mark Struble said motorists should of smoke and fire traffic along the highway.

A command post was set up at Turtle Rock Park in Woodfords. The fire is located on the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. It's being fought with the help of the East Fork Fire District, Lake Valley Fire Department, Bureau of Land Management and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The Alpine County Sheriff's Department was in charge of evacuations.

More than 180 people are fighting the fire, including six hand crews, two air tankers, two helicopters and 16 fire engines.

Reports from the scene are that fire behavior is less erratic now that the cold front has passed. Temperatures at the scene are in the mid-60s and the wind is at 10 mph.