- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
Rocky fire forces evacuations of hundreds of residents
LOWER LAKE, Calif. – As local and state firefighters worked through the night to contain a growing wildland fire, local officials called for more evacuations that forced hundreds from their homes.
The Rocky fire broke out Wednesday afternoon near Morgan Valley Road and Rocky Creek Road, east of Lower Lake.
Within hours the fire had scorched 3,000 acres in difficult-to-access, rugged terrain covered with heavy brush and timber, sending up a huge plume of smoke that was traveling into neighboring counties and had worked its way up along the Northshore.
Shortly before 5 a.m., Cal Fire reported that the fire had grown to 5,000 acres, with no containment.
More than 300 firefighters were committed to the incident Wednesday night, and resources were called in from other major incidents around the region, such as the 7,500-acre Wragg fire in neighboring Napa County that's nearing full containment.
As of early Thursday, the fire had destroyed several outbuildings, but officials are holding off on further damage assessments while they focus on fighting the fire.
No injuries have been reported.
Cal Fire said the fire has forced the evacuations of 500 Lower Lake area residents.
On Wednesday afternoon, mandatory evacuation orders were issued in the Lower Lake area for Morgan Valley Road, east of Bonham Road, with residents in an area south of Lower Lake – Spruce Grove Road, north of the intersection with Jerusalem Grade Road, along with Noble Ranch, Jerusalem Grade and Cantwell Ranch roads – being ordered to evacuate late Wednesday night.
Lower Lake proper and Hidden Valley Lake were not under evacuation orders, county officials said early Thursday morning.
A Red Cross evacuation center is open at the Highland Senior Center in Clearlake, 3245 Bowers Ave., with county officials reporting early Thursday that Middletown High School, 20932 Big Canyon Road, also had been opened as a shelter location.
An evacuation center for animals has been set up in the parking lot of the Lake County Department of Social Services, located off of Highway 53 at 15975 Anderson Ranch Parkway in Lower Lake.
The Lake County Emergency Operation Center, located in the county offices in Lakeport, was activated as a result of the fire, the first time it's been needed since a severe storm incident in December.
County emergency officials reported early Thursday that the fire was forcing a closure – until further notice – of all summer school programs in Lower Lake, Hidden Valley Lake and Middletown.
Several local and regional agencies are working together on the fire, including Cal Fire, Lake County Fire, Kelseyville Fire, Northshore Fire, South Lake County Fire, the Lake County Sheriff's Office, the California Highway Patrol, Lake Evacuation and Animal Protection, Lake County Office of Emergency Services and North Bay Incident Management Team.
Resources committed to the fire included 315 firefighters, 35 fire engines, eight fire crews, eight air tankers, eight helicopters, nine dozers and four water tenders.
Road closures are in effect for Morgan Valley Road at Bonham, Rocky Creek Road, Dam Road, Mustang Court, Quarterhorse Road and Sleepy Hollow, Cal Fire said.
The fire's cause is under investigation, Cal Fire said.
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