More Mother Lode Fire Danger

More strong winds pushed the Power fire down the Mokelumne River Drainage yesterday.

Today, the fire, burning in the Eldorado National Forest east of the town of Pioneer, is over 4600 acres in size and remains about 10 percent contained.

Highway 88 has been closed at Omo Ranch Road and Mormon Emigrant Trail.

Summer homes and a boy scout camp have been evacuated along with public campgrounds in the area.

Crews, engines and a bulldozer from the Mother Lode have even been sent to help fight the blaze.

Firefighters are staging at the Iron Mountain Ski Resort.

And a second fire broke out in the Eldorado National Forest yesterday.

This one is called the Fred´s Fire. It´s currently burning in the town of Kyburz, between Eagle Rock and Sugarloaf.

The fire has burned 600 acres, and is burning out of control.

Highway 50 has been closed and mandatory evacuations of Kyburz and Silver Fork are in progress, say officials.

The Red Cross has set up an evacuation center at the Pollock Pine Community Center.

The cause of the fire there is being investigated also.

Meanwhile, diminishing winds are helping California firefighters take a big step toward control of a 37-thousand-acre wildfire northeast of San Francisco.

The Rumsey fire is now considered 45 percent contained, up from just five percent early Wednesday.

Fire officials say full containment is expected by Saturday night.