No growth on Oak Glen, Pendleton blazes

Both the Oak Glen III and Pendleton fires remained calm overnight, but firefighters planned to stay alert due to anticipated thunderstorms in the area.

The Pendleton Fire held at 860 acres and was 70 percent contained, said Cal-Fire spokesman Bill Peters. The Oak Glen III Fire was 1,012 acres and 60 percent contained.

Hundreds of residents in evacuation areas were allowed to return home at 8 p.m. Tuesday after firefighters downgraded the neighborhoods from mandatory evacuation areas to recommended evacuation areas, Peters said.

"The area is open to residents only," Peters said. "The roadblocks are still in place."

Firefighters plan to continue cutting fire lines the next few days and dousing hot spots. Today, firefighters are concerned that thunderstorms could bring dry lightning down on the area's dry brush and spark a new blaze.

"We'll be watching and will be ready to respond if we get one," he said.

- melissa.pinion-whitt@inlandnewspapers.com