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Residents in the community of Rescue are praising firefighter efforts as they work to contain the Valley Fire.
EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. — Firefighters have the upper hand on a wildfire that sparked earlier Monday in the community of Rescue. The Valley Fire burned 16 acres, forcing families to evacuate as flames raced uphill. Evacuation orders have now been reduced to warnings, and the fire is 28% contained.
“I was literally in the middle of a meeting and all of a sudden I saw the entire hillside just light up,” said John Figueiredo, an El Dorado County resident.
For Figueiredo, the danger was very real. His wife and two young children evacuated, witnessing helicopters and airplanes overhead as firefighters worked to contain the blaze.
“Two airplanes coming down, I saw four to six helicopters and 40 guys cutting lines. It was incredible,” he said. “Thing I wanted to say is thank you to the firefighters because you guys are the absolute heroes.”
Other El Dorado County residents, like Tom Wilson, also felt the urgency, first checking on a friend and evaluating his own preparedness.
“When I get back home later, I am going to make a little bit better go bag and I’m going to start taking a lot of photographs for insurance purposes,” he said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. As hot weather continues and fuels remain dry, Figueiredo reminds neighbors to take wildfire safety seriously.
“They are putting their lives on the line, so just be safe. Do smart things. Don’t mow your lawn. Don’t drive a tractor. Just do the right stuff because these guys, they’re doing everything and putting their life on the line,” he said.
Fire crews remain on scene, working to extinguish any remaining hot spots that could reignite.
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