HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – Firefighters took quick action to knock down four small wildland fires – some of which threatened structures – near Hidden Valley Lake Thursday afternoon.

“All the fires are now contained,” South Lake County Fire Battalion Chief Greg Bertelli told Lake County News just before 5 p.m.

Bertelli said firefighters were dispatched just before 3 p.m. on the report of a wildland fire with additional fires in the Hidden Valley Lake area.

The fires were located north of Hidden Valley Lake along Highway 29, Bertelli said.

Two of the fires were small spots, with the third reaching one acre in size and the fourth burning about five acres, according to Bertelli.

Engines from South Lake County Fire, Cal Fire and Northshore Fire responded, along with Cal Fire handcrews, a dozer and helicopter, he said. Two additional handcrews were called from local fire agencies.

On two of the fires structures were endangered but Bertelli said a quick response from firefighters protected the buildings.

The five-acre fire presented the greatest challenge, with Bertelli noting that it took the better part of an hour and a half to two hours for firefighters to contain it.

He said firefighters were hampered by erratic winds and deceptively dry vegetation.

“It might be green but it was still pretty dry,” he said.

The winds helped drive the largest fire up a hillside, with the Cal Fire copter hitting it with water at the ridgetop, Bertelli said.

The windy conditions “just really makes it unpredictable and safety is obviously a concern,” Bertelli added.

He said firefighting resources remained on scene early Thursday evening, with the possibility that they would be on scene overnight for mop up.

The cause of the fires is under investigation, Bertelli said.

The California Highway Patrol sent one unit to assist with traffic control at Highway 29 and Hofacker, according to CHP Officer Brian Engle.

Traffic control will be extended into Thursday evening, Bertelli said.

“We will keep traffic control at least for another few more hours,” he said.

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