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COLUSA COUNTY – On Monday evening a wildland fire broke out in an area of the Cache Creek Wilderness Area in Colusa County, not far from the Lake County line.
The Oasis Fire was reported just after 6 p.m. Monday, according to Cal Fire.
The fire was burning both in and outside of the Cache Creek Wilderness, in an area between Highway 20, Morgan Valley Road and six miles west of Highway 16, according to reports from the scene.
Several residents of south Lake County reported seeing the fire and the aircraft headed to it Monday evening.
Cal Fire estimated the blaze to be between 300 and 500 acres, with no containment reported late Monday.
No cause was given, but shortly after 1 a.m. Tuesday firefighters reported finding an abandoned camp with food and a campfire that may have been the source of the blaze. Investigators are expected at the scene on Tuesday.
Cal Fire incident command said Cal Fire personnel and firefighters from Colusa County were responding. Scanner reports indicated Northshore Fire and personnel from Middletown also were going to the scene.
Ground units were having difficulty accessing the fire, which was being fought principally by air, with several helicopters and air tankers, along with and one fire air command on scene, according to fire observers with www.wildlandfire.com .
Firefighters had to access the fire from a Bureau of Land Management road east of Walker Ridge Road, according to reports. They also were staging at Morgan Valley Road and Reiff Road.
Six dozers were reporting to the scene, where they were being used to gain access for ground crews, build fire lines and go through a brush field. The dozers, which also were working in several areas, including along a ridgetop, were said to be making good progress early Tuesday morning.
Firefighters were trying to cut the fire off at the creek, and spent time burning brush patches throughout the early morning hours.
Reports indicated that fire camp was begin set up at the nearby Payne Ranch, and strike teams en route from Mendocino and Sacramento counties. A helicopter base was being set up in the area as well.
Shortly before 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, firefighters reported spot fires across Cache Creek. Engines weren't able to access the spots by ground, so they planned to start hitting the spots with aircraft Tuesday morning.
It was noted that the weather appeared to be working in firefighters' favor.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews .
