Fire crews cinched control of the American River Complex blaze Wednesday.

The fire has been burning for more than four weeks in the American River canyons roughly 13 miles east of Foresthill and has charred 20,541 acres.

The blaze was 95 percent contained as of Wednesday afternoon and is estimated to have cost $22.5 million to date.

U.S. Forest Service officials estimate the fire will be completely contained by 12 a.m. Aug. 1.

Crews will still remain on scene for months to come monitoring smoldering piles and interior spot burns, said Jane LaBoa, spokeswoman for the U.S. Forest Service.

“There are still engines, crews, water tenders and helicopters on the fire,” LaBoa said Wednesday. “Their main job is rehabilitation of the fire lines at this point. They will be putting in drainage and water bars so that when it rains this fall, the water will run across the fire line rather than down it onto the unburned vegetation. They are all in the repair and rehabilitation mode right now.”

As the weather gets warmer and dryer throughout the week and summer, smoke will continue to blow off large stumps and logs that are now down, LaBoa said.

“It’s a normal thing for a fire like this,” she said. “There will be a gradual increase in containment and (officials) will likely wait until fall to declare it completely controlled.”

Little fire activity combined with good weather allowed crews to make progress on the fire for the past 10 days.

All roads previously closed as a result of the fire are expected to open Thursday morning, LaBoa said.

“We are cautioning people that there is still fire equipment and people out there so drive slowly and be alert,” LaBoa said. “We are also advising against people walking around in the fire area because there are a lot of hazards out there.”

The Euchre Bar, American Eagle, Italian Bar and Bearcroft Trail (from the trailhead to the North Fork of the American River), the American River Trail (east of the Mumford Bar Trail toward the Sailor Flat Trail), Mumford Bar Trailhead Campground and Mumford Bar Trail will remain closed until deemed safe by the district forest ranger, LaBoa said.

The blaze started out as two separate fires June 21 when lightning strikes sparked hundreds of fires in Northern California.

The Government Springs Fire and the Westville Fire grew to burn more than 18,000 acres before jumping the American River two weeks ago to combine and gain roughly 2,000 acres on the east end.

No structures have been threatened by the blaze.

LaBoa said a “type three” fire management organization assumed command of the blaze Wednes-day morning. Cam Suarez of the Tahoe National Forest’s Foresthill district will serve as incident commander.

“Because of the low fire activity and high level of containment, the management is transferred to a much smaller organization,” LaBoa said. “In this case, the local Foresthill service district will take command.”

The Journal’s Jenna Nielsen can be reached at jennan@goldcountrymedia.com or post a comment.

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By the numbers: American River Complex

Estimated cost: $22.5 million

Acres: 20, 541

Containment: 95 percent

Personnel: 508

Crews: 8

Helicopters: 4

Engines: 15 engines

Dozers: 5

Water tenders: 13