Angora Fire -- June 28, morning

Next email to family and friends:

Fire is 55 percent contained ... officials this morning said that is a conservative number. Still at 3,100 acres. Expected full containment on July 3.

Weather is cooperating, though winds could hit 35 mph today. Weather Service is caling this a "red flad warning" day -- we've had a few of them.

229 homes destroyed or uninhabitable

50 more still to assess so the nos. could go up

Mandatory and voluntary evacuations are still in effect. We are still in voluntary, but are staying in the house.

690 residences still threatened, 275 commercial structures.

The loss to structures is estimated at $141 million. That does not include belongings, vehicles, or the cost to replace the 120 power poles lost in the devastation.

hotel cancellations are between 10-20 percent for this weekend

July 4 fireworks still going forward

no backfires have been lighted in this fire .. they were "burn outs" on Gardner Mountain ... when spot fires occur firefighters link them like a dot-to-dot.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation ... point of origin iso a rock outcroppoing near Seneca Pond