The fire burning about 45 minutes east of Northern California’s Napa Valley wine country has grown in its second day and continues to threaten 200 homes, with more than 10 1/2 square miles now charred in drought-parched countryside near Lake Berryessa. Firefighters were hopeful the highway would reopen later Friday.

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is alerting motorists that Highway 50 continues to be closed from Sly Park Road in Pollock Pines to Meyers due to a vegetation fire in the American River canyon west of Kyburz.

As an alternate route, the CHP suggested taking Interstate 80 to Highway 89, or Highway 28 to Highway 50 and into South Lake Tahoe.

One lane of Highway 50 reopened on Friday night with metered traffic through the burn area. Reported by Cal Fire, the blaze has scorched 6,900 acres and is 15 percent contained. The blaze destroyed one building, a tent trailer, and some 1,500 firefighters were on the fire lines. Highway 50 is closed in both directions. Officials said the fire has also moved across to the south side of the American River.

Evacuations were lifted for a few residents who were forced to flee the fire near Lake Berryessa, known as the Wragg Fire, even as firefighters made aggressive attacks in steep and rugged terrain.

Fire crews were focusing on protecting structures and improving containment lines, officials said.

The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office believes the fire was started by a auto fire Thursday afternoon.

Officials say 350 firefighters are working to extinguish the blaze, which is burning in heavy timber.

Highway 50 from Pollock Pines to Meyers remains closed and evacuations are still in effect.

A helicopter drops water on a fire near Kyburz, Calif., Friday, … A full response of resources was reportedly at the site of the fire, with additional resources being ordered.

Almost 100 acres have burned on both sides of Highway 50.