Firefighters expect to have a line all the way around the 750-acre Sleeping Elephant fire by 6 p.m. today. As of this morning the fire was 80 percent contained.
The fire was started by lightning at about 1:51 p.m. on Friday on top of Wild Oat Mountain south of Topaz Ranch Estates. It burned across the plain and threatened the community, where residents were urged to flee as the fire jumped Highway 208.
The highway was closed for six hours and a shelter set up at Smith Valley High School.
At about 5 p.m. the same shifting winds that sent the fire north toward TRE, sent it back south toward Topaz Lake.
By 9 p.m. the highway was reopened and residents were allowed back in their homes.
Warm temperatures should continue through Monday with highs climbing toward 100 and lows around 60.
There is a 30 percent chance of thunderstorms on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.
