CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – State and local firefighters remained on scene overnight at a fire burning east of Clearlake Oaks.
The Double Fire was sparked shortly before 6 p.m. Friday on the south side of Highway 20 at Mule Skinner Road near the Double Eagle Ranch, Cal Fire reported.
By late Friday night the fire had burned 70 acres and was 20 percent contained, according to Cal Fire Battalion Chief Greg Bertelli.
The fire is burning in steep, rugged country, consuming mainly brush and some grass and oak woodland, Bertelli said.
“We’re getting some spotting right now,” he said shortly after 10 p.m. Friday, explaining that a spot fire was burning on the opposite side of the highway but firefighters were picking it up.
On scene overnight were four hand crews, 10 engines, four bulldozers, four water tenders and numerous overhead officers, with resources coming from Cal Fire, Lake County Fire, Northshore Fire and Kelseyville Fire, Bertelli said. Williams Fire also had resources at the scene.
“Everyone’s going to be working all night,” said Bertelli.
Fire resources will be stepped up in the morning, when Bertelli said they will bring in four additional hand crews, which are necessary due to the terrain’s inaccessibility to equipment like bulldozers.
Cal Fire had sent air attack, tankers and a helicopter to the scene on Friday evening, with those air resources hitting the fire aggressively during its first hours, when there had been concerns that the fire had the potential to burn hundreds of acres.
A concern overnight was the wind. Bertelli said the winds usually kick up at night and can shift, but they were cautiously optimistic. “We’re not letting our guard down.”
The California Highway Patrol remained on scene helping with traffic control through the fire area.
Bertelli said the CHP was slowing traffic down as it passed along Highway 20 near the fire, and he urged people to be cautious in that area.
He expected traffic control to be in effect until the fire is contained.
As to an expected containment time, Bertelli said, “We’ll be out here at least for a couple few days.”
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