Valley Fire containment at 48 percent as victims set to see homes

Firefighters increased containment on the Valley Fire to 48 percent Saturday as they battled the blaze that has charred more than 74,000 acres in Lake, Napa, and Sonoma counties, killed three people and destroyed hundreds of homes, officials said.

Yesterday's warmer temperatures caused more hot spots on the fire, said Daniel Berlant, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

While our firefighters are focusing on containment and extinguishing hot spots, an army of utility workers have been removing downed power lines and burned power poles.

The residents of Middletown will be allowed back home to survey damage at noon on Saturday, just a day after the communities of Twin Lakes and Rancho Sendero were able to return to their homes, he said.

A 72-year-old retired teacher with multiple sclerosis, Barbara Williams, was killed last Saturday when she became trapped in her burning Cobb home, according to officials.