LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A Monday afternoon vegetation fire in the city of Clearlake has prompted evacuations of nearby homes and the Cache Creek Apartments.
The fire, reported as beginning in a structure before spreading to nearby vegetation, was first dispatched in the area of Seventh and Boyles avenues just before 3:45 p.m., based on radio reports.
Lake County Fire Protection District Chief Willie Sapeta arrived on scene within minutes and began ordering evacuations of the Cache Creek Apartments and nearby structures over the radio.
He also asked for additional air tankers and helicopters.
Engines were able to reach the fire by ground, finding it threatening power lines, radio reports indicated.
Meanwhile, law enforcement was on scene assisting with evacuations.
The Clearlake Police Department issued a Nixle alert just after 4 p.m. ordering evacuations from Boyles and Seventh avenues and continuing northeast of Dam Road and Lake Street due to the fire.
Just after 4 p.m., Radio reports later indicated there were downed power lines in the area.
Air attack reported shortly after 4 p.m. that the fire was about two to three acres, with moderate fuels, threatening high tension power lines.
The wind was reported to be hitting the fire and causing it to spot up to a quarter-mile away, with nearby roads holding the fire from advancing, based the radio reports.
More aircraft were reported to be arriving at the scene at around 4:30 p.m.
At about the same time, two tankers were released, with two others and two helicopters remaining committed, air attack reported.
Just after 4:30 p.m., incident command reported over the radio that the fire was holding at three acres, with dozer line and hose lay around the majority of the blaze. At that point, the west wind had died down.
Incident command reported that power had been deenergized in the area.
Pacific Gas and Electric’s online outage map showed that the outage area includes 2,575 customers, stretching from Anderson Marsh south to Hidden Valley Lakes and east along Morgan Valley Road. Estimated time of power restoration is 7:15 p.m.
Incident command said at about 4:30 p.m. that resources are expected to be assigned for four hours.
Additional information will be published as it becomes available.
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.
Vegetation fire prompts Dam Road evacuations
- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On