The fire was 95 percent contained on Monday with full containment expected by Tuesday evening. The once towering plume of dark smoke was reduced to a few white wisps.
Rehabilitation began on Sunday with creation of artificial terraces to slow runoff this fall. Planting will come later in what's expected to be a yearlong process.
The fire began early Wednesday and quickly spread to cover 7,600 acres along four miles of the Sierra foothill ridge west of the state capital. Brisk winds sent the flames within one-half mile of the governor's mansion.
At one point, more than 1,900 firefighters were on the lines, aided in an aerial attack by air tankers and helicopters. By Monday, most of the aircraft had been released and the number of firefighters was edging down to 1,000.
``The danger has passed,'' said Stacey Giomi, acting Carson City fire chief.
People who were evacuated from the suburban communities were allowed to return to their homes over the weekend.
Some of the homeowners again raised questions on Sunday about the speed of the response to the fire.
Gary Schiff, Carson District ranger for the U.S. Forest Service, said the fire was first reported at about 3 a.m. Wednesday and by 6 a.m., nine crews were on the scene with helicopters and single-engine air tankers responding about an hour later.
He and the other fire bosses agreed that dead vegetation and five years of drought combined to create an extremely combustible environment.
``This fuel is still that volatile,'' Giomi said. ``We could have a fire on the east side of town and it all could happen again.''
He and Schiff said people would continue to see spots of smoke as crews torch remaining brush and timber to remove the fuel.
They also said residents could expect dust devils that might look like smoke.
``If you see anything you don't like, call 911,'' Giomi said.
In response to earlier reports that young people partying in the foothills where the fire started could have sparked it, Sheriff Ken Furlong said he wasn't pointing any fingers.
``I'm not going to stand up here and say it's the kids,'' he said. ``Whether it's young or old, we want the person who started this fire.''
So far, it's estimated the cost of fighting the fire has reached $4.8 million. No price tag has been put on the property destroyed, which includes homes in the $1 million range.
Related :
