King Wildfire In El Dorado County 94% Contained; Forest Areas Reopen
POLLOCK PINES (CBS/AP) — The U.S Forest Service has reopened some wilderness areas that were closed because of a massive wildfire in Sierra Nevada foothills.
Forest Supervisor Laurence Crabtree says the Rubicon Trail, Wrights Lake and Desolation Wilderness are among the recreation areas that opened Tuesday. She plans to open more of the El Dorado National Forest soon.
Those areas were closed for two weeks while firefighters battled the King Fire east of Sacramento in El Dorado County.
MORE: Complete Coverage, Interactive Map Of California Wildfires
Fire officials say the King Fire burned more than 150 square miles, destroyed a dozen homes and forced thousands to evacuate their homes. On Tuesday, it was 94 percent contained, with more than 2,000 firefighters still working to tame the blaze.
A man charged with starting the fire, 37-year-old Wayne Allen Huntsman, pleaded not guilty to arson.
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