- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
Pawnee fire growth slows; more structures reported destroyed
CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – The Pawnee fire’s rapid growth has slowed as hundreds of firefighters continue to battle the blaze in rugged territory east of Clearlake Oaks.
Cal Fire said early Monday that the fire has burned 8,200 acres, with no containment yet achieved.
The fire has so far destroyed 22 structures, with another 600 still threatened, Cal Fire said.
Cal Fire said no injuries have so far occurred.
The fire was first reported shortly before 5:30 p.m. Saturday in the Spring Valley Lakes subdivision. Cal Fire said the fire’s cause remains under investigation.
Driven by winds and dry conditions, on Sunday the fire burned actively and its size more than quadrupled, with numerous spot fires reported around Spring Valley and to the east at the Indian Valley Reservoir.
But overnight Sunday and into early Monday the fire’s activity seemed to slow, based on reports from the scene.
Radio reports indicated fire crews worked through the night, using dozers to build fire lines around the fire.
The fire’s rapid growth on Saturday triggered a communitywide evacuation in Spring Valley Lakes that spread to the Double Eagle Ranch subdivision to the east on Sunday, as Lake County News has reported.
Authorities said those mandatory evacuations remain in effect. An evacuation is open at Lower Lake High School, 9430 Lake St., and a staging location for animal evacuations is at Lake County Social Services, 15975 Anderson Ranch Parkway, Lower Lake.
Highway 20 has so far not been affected by the fire, but there are road closure on New Long Valley Road and Old Long Valley Road where they intersect with the highway.
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