LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake Transit Authority buses are expected to begin rolling back out onto their routes on Wednesday following a temporary suspension of services due to the Clayton fire.
General Manager Mark Wall said Lake Transit suspended all of its regular transit services as a result of the local emergency declared on Sunday during the Clayton fire, which began burning in the Lower Lake area on Saturday evening.
The approach of the Clayton fire led to Lake Transit evacuating its Lower Lake headquarters facility, located on Highway 53, Wall said.
Wall said that as Lake Transit buses were evacuated from headquarters yard, some buses were sent to help evacuate patients from St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake and transport them to Sutter Lakeside Hospital in Lakeport.
Buses and drivers also assisted with evacuating residents of the Avenues, the area of Clearlake east of Highway 53, moving them from the Highlands Senior Center – which closed due to a power outage – to the emergency center in Kelseyville and elsewhere, according to Wall.
At one point a spot fire began burning behind the transit facility, according to fire reports.
While the fire burned up to the clear area around the Lake Transit bus yard, Wall said the facility appears to be safe thanks to the efforts of firefighters who defended the perimeter.
However, the transit authority's headquarters have lacked land line and power service, which Wall said they have been working to restore.
Local officials reported at Monday evening community meetings in Clearlake, Kelseyville and Middletown that Highway 53 was fully reopened.
In addition to that development, Wall said the solving of logistical problems and getting electrical and phone service up and running will help Lake Transit restore most of its services on Wednesday morning.
Until then, he said the main Lake Transit phone line, 707-900-1114, has been forwarded to a cell phone, and the agency is fielding calls for information and critical paratransit needs.
“We are thankful for all of the hard work of firefighters, utility repair crews, and of our own Lake Transit staff, some of whom continue to work despite losing their homes,” said Wall. “We are sorry that some of our neighbors in Lower Lake have been lost their homes, cherished pieces of history and other belongings.”
Lake Transit is updating service information on its Web site at www.laketransit.org . Visit the site for service updates or call 707-900-1114 and leave a message. Wall said Lake Transit will respond to messages when possible.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
Lake Transit service to resume Aug. 17
- Elizabeth Larson
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