All evacuations lifted for Kearney Fire forces in rural Nevada County near Penn Valley
All evacuation orders were lifted for a grass fire in rural Nevada County, west of Penn Valley, on Tuesday.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection's (Cal Fire) Nevada-Yuba-Placer unit said the fire, dubbed the Kearney Fire, had burned roughly 42 acres with 5% containment in the Penn Valley area, off Kearney Court near Highway 20.
Cal Fire NEU said the forward progress of the Kearney Fire had been stopped shortly after 6:30 p.m. Fire officials initially described the fire as spreading at a dangerous rate and threatening structures, powerlines and Highway 20.
The cause of the fire is not yet known. No injuries or damages have been reported.
Evacuation orders and road closures lifted
The Nevada County Sheriff's Office had issued mandatory evacuation orders for zones NCO-E010-A and NCO-E011-B. These two zones are on the southern side of Highway 20 between Penn Valley and Smartsville.
Additionally, zones NCO-E017 and NCO-E012, on the northern side of Highway 20, are under an evacuation warning, along with zones NCO-E010-B and NCO-A011-A along the southern and eastern ends of the mandatory evacuation zones.
All orders were lifted Tuesday night, and all residents affected were allowed to return home.
The Penn Valley Library at 11240 had been serving as an evacuation center. Over in Grass Valley, the Nevada County Fairgrounds had been serving as an animal evacuation center.
The California Highway Patrol had also enforced road closures along Highway 20 at Wild Turkey Lane, Melody Lane and Sloping Oaks Road. Those have since ended.
