Oak fire burning near Kelseyville; evacuations reported in area
- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
This story is being updated on a rolling basis.
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Firefighters are trying to stop a vegetation fire in the Kelseyville area that has closed Highway 29 and led to a call for nearby evacuations.
The Oak incident was dispatched shortly before 2 p.m. Saturday in the 6800 block of Live Oak Drive near Cole Creek Road.
The large and expanding smoke column can be seen across Clear Lake.
First units on scene, which arrived within 10 minutes of dispatch, said the fire was five acres with a moderate rate of spread.
A short time later, Cal Fire air attack reported that the fire was 10 acres, with one structure completely involved and the fire moving toward other structures.
The fire’s building smoke is raising concerns for air support, as is the presence of seaplanes for the annual Clear Lake Seaplane Splash In in Lakeport.
By 2:30 p.m. the fire was reported to be 10 acres and moving toward Highway 29, which led to authorities closing the southbound lane of Highway 29 from Live Oak south through the fire area.
At 2:40 p.m., incident command reported there was a spot fire that had jumped Highway 29 and had burned a quarter-acre of vegetation on the east side of the highway. At that point, most of the fire remained on the highway’s west side.
Air attack reported that the fire was moving toward homes on a nearby ridge and that structure protection in the area was a priority, according to radio reports.
Incident command asked for two more air tankers and two more helicopters, adding to four tankers and three copters that previously had been requested, based on reports from the scene.
By 2:46 p.m., the fire was estimated to be between 15 and 20 acres, with a call out issued for three more engines from local fire agencies.
At 2:48 p.m., incident command directed evacuations begin taking place in the area of Live Oak and Cruickshank, with law enforcement called in to assist.
The California Highway Patrol reported that a hard road closure was instituted at Bottle Rock Road and Cole Creek Road just after 3 p.m.
At 3:28 p.m., the Lake County Sheriff’s Office issued notice of an evacuation order for the areas of Live Oak Drive between Gross Cutoff and Cruickshank, Highway between Cole Creek and Cruickshank, and Cruickshank between Live Oak and Highway 29. Residents are ordered to leave the area immediately.
The sheriff’s office followed up at 3:40 p.m. by issuing an evacuation warning for residents of the area east of Highway 29 between Cole Creek Road and Highway 175. Authorities urged those residents with nonambulatory family or animals to consider immediately leaving the area.
At 4:15 p.m., incident command reported that firefighters were making good progress, with a combination of hose lay and dozer line around a majority of the incident and Copter 104 from Boggs Helitack working one spot fire outside of the fire line.
At that time, incident command estimated that the fire remained at 20 acres with containment at 10 percent, and no additional resource orders expected.
On Saturday afternoon requests also were being made of incident command to begin releasing some air resources due to fires in other parts of the state, based on radio reports.
At 4:57 p.m., the sheriff's office said the evacuation order for the areas of Live Oak Drive between Gross Cutoff adn Cruickshank, Highway 29 between Cole Creek and Cruickshank, and Cruickshank between Live Oak and Highway 29 had been downgraded to an evacuation warning.
The California Highway Patrol reported shortly before 6:15 p.m. that the portion of Highway 29 in the fire area – between Live Oak Drive and Bottle Rock Road – is to remain closed for several more hours and possibly into the night.
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