Beginning at approximately 12:40 canner traffic and the California Highway Patrol Traffic Incident Information indicate that a fire burning near the intersection of Dam Road and Highway 53 in Lower Lake has initiated evacuations of nearby residences.
A responding unit described heavy winds stoking the flames to a “large fire” resulting in the evacuation of apartments and “everything east of the fire.”
UPDATE 12:56p.m.: The Incident Commander reports that several buildings being impacted as a result of the fire. The fire was described as already being to Wilkinson Street
Firefighters are running from door-to-door encouraging residents to evacuate immediately.
UPDATE 1:03 p.m.: Multiple mobile homes are reportedly burning and firefighters have been ordered to leave the area.
UPDATE 1:07 p.m.: The Incident Commander is reporting the fire is now 30 acres and an immediate threat to several hundred structures.
A woman reported she was stuck inside the trailer
CHP has been requested to help evacuate two juveniles who are reportedly immobile in the area.
UPDATE 1:11 p.m.: Scanner traffic is incredibly chaotic as first responders are going door-to-door responding to reports of individuals stuck inside their homes as the fire burns around them.
The Incident Commander is reporting that 15-20 homes are currently burning and are expanding the evacuation zones. There have reportedly been multiple propane explosions in and around the structures.
The formal evacuation order was issued by Clear Lake Police Department as seen in the screenshot below.
UPDATE 1:17 p.m. Cache Creek Mobile Home park is “going up pretty good right now” and suggested it better to focus efforts on the Tish Tang area including evacuations.
UPDATE 1:21 p.m.: Lower Lake Elementary School is now being evacuating as the fire continues to spread.
UPDATE 1:26 p.m.: Reports are emerging of multiple people needing help being evacuated. Another report of a resident who refused to evacuate and the firefighter fled out of concern for their safety.
The following pictures were provided by Bobbi Eral:
UPDATE 1:31 p.m.: The following evacuation orders were issued by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office:
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office has issued an EVACUATION ORDER for residents in the following Zone(s): LOW-E159 and LOW-E160.
Residents are advised that there is an IMMEDIATE threat to life and property from a wildfire, and are urged to evacuate. Please leave the area. If a shelter is established you will receive further direction on the location of the shelter.
Take the following protective actions and leave immediately; 1. Gather all family members. 2. Gather all pets. 3. Gather only essential items. 4. Be sure to bring essential medications with you. 5. Turn off all appliances and lights in your home. 6. Lock your home.
Instructions:
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office has issued an EVACUATION ORDER for residents in the following Zone(s): LOW-E159 and LOW-E160.
UPDATE 1:46 p.m.: The Incident commander reports that the fire is about 40 acres approximately two dozen structures on fire. One air ambulance needed for an elderly burn victim and one ground ambulance.
Firefighters are reporting the fire is officially at the elementary school.
UPDATE 1:53 p.m.: A firefighter is reporting that approximately 200 civilians are in the path of the fire currently at Lower Lake Elementary School.
UPDATE 1:55 p.m.: Evacuation Orders have been initiated for Spruce Grove Road. Fire personnel are going to start going door-to-door to encourage residents to leave.
As per a Nixle sent out by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, an evacuation shelter has been established at Kelseyville High School.
UPDATE 2 p.m.: According to the scanner, “All children have been evacuated out of the parking lot.”
UPDATE 2:06 p.m.: Here is the evacuation map that has been activated:
UPDATE 2:10 p.m.: Due to too much traffic going into the fire area, CHP is going to be initiating hard closures in the area including one at the intersection of Highway 53 and Highway 29.
UPDATE 2:19 p.m.: Daniel Swain, weather scientist, tweeted this,
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office has issued an EVACUATION ORDER for residents in the following Zone(s): LOW-E169 Check your Zone Number Residents are advised that there is an IMMEDIATE threat to life and property from a wildfire, and are urged to evacuate. Please leave the area. A shelter has been established at Kelseyville High School.
Take the following protective actions and leave immediately; 1. Gather all family members. 2. Gather all pets. 3. Gather only essential items. 4. Be sure to bring essential medications with you. 5. Turn off all appliances and lights in your home. 6. Lock your home.
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The Lake County Sheriff’s Office has also issued an EVACUATION WARNING for the following Zones:
LOW-E167, LOW-E170, and LOW-E176
We are asking everyone to take preparations in the event that a mandatory evacuation order is issued. Preparations should include gathering all medications, important documents, making plans for pets, and notifying family members where you may be going. Those requiring additional time to evacuate or those with pets or livestock should leave the area as soon as possible. During a mandatory evacuation, it will be extremely hectic and traffic conditions will be very congested. By evacuating early, you do your part in keeping yourself, your neighbors, and our first responders safe.
Update 2:40 p.m.: The Incident Commander requested Animal Control for “numerous burned livestock and pets.”
The following is the latest evacuation map from the area:
UPDATE 3:20 p.m.: According to the Incident Commander, The fire now is moving slowly but is now about 100 acres.
UPDATE 3:50 p.m.: The Incident Commander reports that forward progress has been stopped. Caution that this doesn’t mean the fire is out. Evacuation orders are still in effect. But some air resources are being released back to their home units. Cautiously hopeful is the mood of the moment.
Please remember that this story is unfolding. Information is being reported as we gather it. However, some of the information coming from witnesses and initial official reports could be wrong. We will do our best to get the facts but, in the case that something is inaccurate, we will update with correct information as soon as we can.
