Morgan Fire Evacuations Lifted, Containment at 60 Percent

Update: 11:50 p.m. - Morgan Fire Evacuations Lifted, Containment at 60 Percent

All evacuations have been lifted in the areas affected by the Morgan Fire burning in and around Mt. Diablo State Park. The fire has remained at 3,243 acres and was 60 percent contained as of late Tuesday.

Update: 9:40  a.m. - Containment reaches 45 percent

The Morgan Fire burning in Mt. Diablo State Park is now 45 percent contained, up from 20 percent Monday night.

CalFire says about 3,200 acres have been charred by the flames. That's down from yesterday's estimate of 3,700 acres. CalFire says the change is due to better mapping.

CalFire's David Shew says crews are facing tough terrain and areas that have been untouched for decades.

"This is burning in some very steep country that some of it hasn't burned for perhaps as long as 70 or 80 years. The last major fire in this area was in 1977. So, there are a lot of heavy fuel loads that are built up and burning very heavily right now." - David Shew, CalFire

Seventy-five homes are now threatened, and evacuation orders are still in place for a number of neighborhoods near Mt. Diablo. An evacuation center is open in the town of Clayton.

The fire is burning in State Responsibility Area in and adjacent to Mt. Diablo State Park. The fire burned actively all night and is currently threatening PG&E electrical transmission lines, communications infrastructure on Mt. Diablo, and historical buildings located at the summit of Mt. Diablo.

There were 705 personnel working the incident as of early Tuesday.

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District has issued a smoke advisory for the area. Residents are advised to stay indoors and to keep windows and doors closed.

Mandatory evacuations for Oak Hill Lane, Curry Canyon, Curry Lane, Curry Point, Trail Ride Road, East Trail Road, Russelman Park Road, Upper Trail Road and Lower Trail Road.
An evacuation center has been set up at the Clayton Community Library at 6125 Clayton Road, Clayton, California. (925) 673-0659.

Road Closures: The following road closures are in effect (open to residents only, with photo identification).
Marsh Creek Road closed from Camino Diablo to Regency Road in Clayton. Morgan Territory Road is closed from Marsh Creek Road to Highland Road (Alameda County). Deer Valley Road is closed at Balfour Road.

Persons needing to evacuate large animals may take them to the Heather Farms Equestrian Center in Walnut Creek. For more information, please visit: www.ecwc.org or call 925-939-2929.