
CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – The Pawnee fire continued its push into the backcountry on Monday, scorching a few thousand more acres as more air and ground resources joined the fight.
Cal Fire officials said Monday evening that the fire had grown to 10,500 acres, up by 2,200 acres from the morning estimate, with 5 percent containment.
Reports from the scene estimated that the fire could have grown still further by nightfall.
As of Monday morning, the incident was in unified command between Cal Fire, Northshore Fire Protection District and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, as well as the Mendocino National Forest, where the fire was reported to have burned 420 acres by nightfall.
Resources assigned to the incident ballooned on Monday, with 110 engines, 10 water tenders, 15 helicopters, 58 dozers, several air tankers and 1,422 personnel working the incident, with more resources en route, Cal Fire said in its evening report.
All of the Spring Valley Lakes and Double Eagle Ranch subdivisions remain under mandatory evacuation due to the fire danger, officials said.
Incident radio traffic indicated that the fire’s activity had once again turned aggressive on Monday, pushed by the gusting winds into the mid 20s moving through the area.
The fire was making runs at ridges and moving to the east, burning through retardant lines, throwing spots and continuing to threaten homes, based on radio reports.
It was reported to be heading toward Walker Ridge at around 4:30 p.m., and firefighters were trying to tie fire line for the Pawnee fire into the far northwest corner of the scar left behind by the July 2015 Rocky fire, which also had impacted the area.
Just before 6 p.m., incident command reported that four helicopters were working around the creek in Spring Valley, in addition to the multiple tankers that were being used in the firefight.
A report from the incident’s helibase shortly after 7 p.m. said 18 water drops had been made for a total of 26,000 gallons of water during the day.
Bulldozers also have been a key resources in the effort, working to cut fire line in remote and rugged terrain, based on radio reports. One of the dozers was reported to be overheating on the fire line.
Just after 7:20 p.m., the fire was predicted to jump Walker Ridge within minutes, which it did, throwing off spots on the eastern side of the ridge, based on reports from the scene. Firefighters in the area were attempting to protect a communications repeater and a nearby cabin.

Within about 10 minutes of that jump, incident command said the sheriff’s office needed to begin evacuations in the Bear Valley area, where the fire is moving.
Structure defense in Double Eagle Ranch also was continuing on Monday evening, with retardant lines being put in for the night at around 8 p.m., based on radio reports.
A short time later, it was reported over the air that retardant was being placed around the entire Double Eagle Ranch subdivision. Incident command said the fire had been backing down into a draw to the west of the subdivision, and they didn’t think the fire would reach the community overnight but it could on Tuesday.
The fire also has continued to move toward the remote Bartlett Springs area. Radio reports indicated that it isn’t expected to reach Bartlett Springs Road overnight but may get there on Tuesday as well.
Incident command also is looking at placing dozer line on Hough Ridge to the north of the fire overnight.
Shortly before 9 p.m., reports from the scene estimated the fire could already have grown to 15,000 acres.
The dry conditions have made the incident more challenging to fight, but Cal Fire said humidity is expected to rise above 60 percent overnight, which will aid firefighters.
Incident command also reported that it expects the fire conditions to slow overnight.
Additional information will be posted as it becomes available.
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