LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — A fast-moving vegetation fire in Clearlake is prompting evacuations as state and local firefighters attempt to stop it.
The fire in the area of Wilkinson and Dam Road was first reported shortly after 5 p.m. Monday.
Radio traffic indicated the fire began with a passenger car fire spreading into vegetation.
Dispatch reported receiving calls about multiple explosions in the area as well as downed power lines.
Initial reports from the scene put the fire’s size at about half an acre.
Incident command called for evacuations on Wilkinson from Dam Road to Eighth Avenue, with that area expanding as the incident has progressed.
The Clearlake Police Department reported that Dam Road at Lake Street has been closed because of the fire.
At 5:25 p.m., Cal Fire air attack reported the fire was two to three acres with a rapid rate of spread.
Other air resources, including tankers and a helicopter, are reported to be working at the scene.
Two nearby mobile home parks are being told to shelter in place.
Clearlake Police have requested an ambulance respond to Wilkinson and Dam Road to transport one patient.
Shortly before 6 p.m., incident command reported that the fire was seven to eight acres with a southwest wind on it, and is moving into the Avenues in the city with structures and vehicles actively threatened and the evacuation zone expanding.
There is short-range spotting and the high-tension power lines from the Kugelman to Highland substations are threatened, incident command said.
As of 6:03 p.m., power was reported to be out to 2,584 customers in an area stretching from Clearlake to Hidden Valley Lake. As of that time, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. had not confirmed that the outage was a direct result of the fire.
However, Sheriff Brian Martin later confirmed to Lake County News that PG&E had deenergized the lines due to the fire threat, with the fire just under the lines.
Just before 6:45 p.m., incident command reported the fire to be 15 acres, with multiple spot fires continuing.
At 7:16 p.m., the Lake County Sheriff’s Office sent out a Nixle alert reporting an evacuation advisory for the area north of 18th Avenue, east of Phillips Avenue, south of 32nd Avenue and west of the Clearlake city limits.
The sheriff’s office said an evacuation shelter has been set up at Kelseyville High School.
Incident command reported shortly after 8 p.m. that the fire was at 20 acres and 75-percent contained, with the spot fires mitigated and the winds reducing. Overall, incident command said things were going well and they were looking at beginning to release engines soon.
Sheriff Martin told Lake County News at 8:15 p.m. residents in the area were still evacuated and that his agency was working with the Clearlake Police Department on starting to get everyone home safely.
No one appeared to have been seriously injured during the incident, he said.
Martin said PG&E is anticipating getting power back on to all but about 20 customers by about 10 p.m.
About 15 minutes later, a Nixle alert was issued advising community members that the evacuation advisory for the following areas had been lifted as of 8:17 p.m.: north of 18th Avenue, east of Phillips Avenue, south of 32nd Avenue and west of the Clearlake city limits.
Radio traffic shortly after 10 p.m. indicated fire crews would remain on the scene through the night.
Additional information will be posted as it becomes available.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
