NORTH COAST, Calif. – Firefighters made further progress on the Kincade fire, strengthening lines around it, holding down its growth and removing tens of thousands of homes from harm’s way.

The Kincade fire grew by about 900 acres, for a total size by Thursday night of 77,758 acres, with containment up to 65 percent, Cal Fire said.

Cal Fire is estimating that the fire will be fully contained Nov. 7.

Updated Cal Fire damage assessments have raised the number of structured confirmed destroyed to 349, with 55 damaged.

Cal Fire said 1,630 structures are still threatened by the fire. Previously, more than 90,000 had been in danger of the fire.

While evacuation orders and warnings remain in effect in areas of Sonoma County, on Thursday afternoon the Lake County Sheriff’s Office lifted the evacuation warning for Cobb Mountain and Middletown.

A massive firefighter force remains committed to the incident, including 5,000 firefighters, 543 engines, 64 water tenders, 27 helicopters, 105 hand crews and 66 dozers.

Cal Fire said fire personnel made good headway in their firefighting efforts on Thursday due to lighter winds. Because of that progress, repopulation planning efforts are still under way.

Access to the northern part of the fire remains challenging because of steep terrain and narrow roads, but Cal Fire said firefighters will continue to build on the progress they made Thursday with even more control lines being established.

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