SOUTH LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – As a complex of lightning-caused fires continues to rapidly grow, residents in a portion of southern Lake County on Wednesday afternoon were ordered to immediately evacuate.
Just after 2 p.m. Wednesday the Lake County Sheriff’s Office issued a mandatory evacuation order for residents living in and around Hidden Valley Lake and Jerusalem Valley areas of Lake County due to the approach of the LNU Lightning Complex, which has burned more than 46,000 acres in five counties.
Those under evacuation order are residents living north of Butts Canyon Road, south of Hofacker Lane to Morgan Valley Road, east of Highway 29 and west of the Lake/Napa County line.
Sheriff Brian Martin said resources are stretched thin, there is significant wind in the area, and the decision was made to issue the order after consulting with Cal Fire and the Incident Management Team.
He said shortly after 2 p.m. that evacuation sirens were to be activated in Hidden Valley Lake.
Martin urged people not to panic or rush, and that they had adequate time to evacuate if they started preparing to leave immediately.
Those in need of shelter are asked to proceed to a temporary evacuation point that has been set up at the former Pearce Field airport off of Highway 53 in Clearlake.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Martin said the ability to shelter people will be very limited, so he urged evacuees to use other sheltering options if available.
Evacuees are asked to stay in their vehicles and wear masks when they arrive at the temporary evacuation point. A shelter is being established and they will be directed to the shelter by temporary evacuation point staff.
Authorities urged residents in the evacuation area to immediately gather all family members, pets and essential times including medications, turn off appliances and lights, and lock homes when leaving.
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Evacuation order issued for Hidden Valley Lake and Jerusalem Valley areas
- Elizabeth Larson
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