BOISE, Idaho — Crews battling the Pumpkin Fire made more good progress on over the last week.
The 336 personnel worked Friday to finish gridding for hidden heat, begin removing hose lays, complete construction of direct hand line around the fire and continue mopping up and securing the control line.
Despite high winds and a cold front passing through the hazardous area, minimal fire activity was reported yesterday.
As of today, the fire containment is at 70%. It was estimated to be burning 438 acres on Sunday.
A firefighter working on the frontlines of the Pumpkin fire tested positive for COVID-19 this week. Officials say the individual began exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 and was removed from working.
The firefighter received a positive test result days later.
Those working with the infected person were isolated and left the area of the fire. Two other workers displayed symptoms but tested negative.
As many as 360 people have been assigned to the Pumpkin Fire, with about 270 of them on the fire line.
Officials say they are now conducting contact tracing among other personnel that worked with the COVID-19 positive individual.
The fire is currently located south of the Hawley Mountain Lookout, four miles northwest of Placerville, seven and a half miles northeast of Horseshoe Bend, and eight miles southeast of Garden Valley.
As of Friday afternoon, no buildings or homes were immediately threatened.
Firefighters are continuing to secure the line near Hawley Mountain Road, as well as installing hoses and hand lines on the west side of the fire. Crews expect hand lines to be laid around the whole fire by Thursday.
Aircraft is still being utilized to extinguish the fire from the interior and the perimeter of the area.
Crews expect it will take about five more days until the fire is fully contained.
Hazardous trees continue to be moved from the area by timber fellers. A grader is being used along Hawley Mountain Road to give mop-up operators more access to water.
The weather forecast for Thursday shows a cold front heading toward the area of the fire, but no significant rain is expected.
Hawley Mountain Road 374 is temporarily closed to all non-fire traffic.
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