CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – Firefighters gained more ground on the Pawnee fire during cooler conditions on Tuesday, with officials estimating the incident will reach full containment this weekend.

The fire on Tuesday evening had reached 15,000 acres, with 85 percent containment, Cal Fire said.

Earlier in the day, officials lifted the mandatory evacuation order for the Double Eagle Ranch subdivision east of Clearlake Oaks, as Lake County News has reported.

The agency moved back the expected date for full containment from Thursday to Saturday.

Cal Fire said crews are focused on mop up and patrol, with their priority being to extinguish large
diameter fuels.

With firefighters and equipment much in need on other incidents – including the 72,500-acre County fire to the southeast – the assigned resources rolled back on Tuesday, with the number of firefighters down several hundred to 1,800, along with 92 engines, 27 water tenders, nine helicopters, 36 hand crews and 27 dozers, Cal Fire said.

Pacific Gas and Electric spokeswoman Deanna Contreras said crews on Tuesday worked to restore power to the final 16 customers who have been without power due to the Pawnee fire.

She said they were flying a helicopter to replace the 30 or so poles, with the landing zone located at Cache Creek Vineyards off Highway 20.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.