How to resolve AdBlock issue? LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – After ripping through tens of thousands of acres in just two days, the Valley fire's growth appeared to slow on Monday as firefighters kept up their efforts to control it.
During the course of the day the fire's size estimate rose by 12,000 acres, with 10-percent containment, according to Cal Fire.
While that was still a significant acreage growth, it was well below the rate the fire was burning in its first 48 hours.
It broke out on Saturday afternoon on High Valley Road in Cobb, quickly spreading down into Middletown and Hidden Valley Lake, as Lake County News has reported.
Cal Fire said the nearly 1,800 firefighters assigned to the incident were assisted by favorable weather conditions on Monday.
Temperatures were lower, humidity was higher and clearer skies allowed firefighting aircraft to take to the skies once more, Cal Fire said.
Radio traffic on Sunday had indicated the smoke was so thick that Cal Fire air attack couldn't see over some areas of the fire.
More crews and equipment continue to join the firefighting effort, with resources late Monday totaling 183 engines, 65 water tenders, 43 hand crews, 28 dozers, seven helicopters and three air tankers.
Cal Fire said damage assessment teams are continuing to collect information as they are able to access additional areas of the fire.
The Lake County Office of Emergency Services said its assessment teams began heading out into the field on Monday, with the process of tallying the damage likely to take as long a five days.
On Monday, the number of destroyed homes counted so far rose to 585, with hundreds of other structures also reported destroyed, Cal Fire said.
With 9,000 structures still threatened, officials kept in place evacuations affecting thousands of residents in areas including Aetna Springs, Clear Lake Riviera, Cobb, Hidden Valley Lake, Loch Lomond, Middletown, Seigler Canyon, Twin Lakes, Bottle Rock Road, High Valley Road, Highway 175/Cobb, Point Lakeview Road to Highway 281, Highway 29/Highway 53 in Lower Lake to Highway 29 at Tubbs Lane in Calistoga in Napa County, Butts Canyon Road to the Napa County line and Butts Canyon Road to Pope Valley, according to Cal Fire.
Evacuees are being offered shelter and services at a variety of facilities around the county. For a full list see www.bit.ly/1USkILV .
While evacuees have been asking to return home as soon as possible, Sheriff Brian Martin said Monday evening that after a meeting with Cal Fire, it was decided to keep the mandatory evacuations in place for the time being.
He said the fire at that point was continuing to spread along Seigler Canyon Road toward Highway 29.
“The concern is that it may cross Highway 29. If this happens, the Clear Lake Rivieras will be seriously threatened,” he said.
Martin added, “We understand that this is horribly inconvenient, and we are working to restore normalcy as soon as safely possible. Please bear with us during this horrible disaster.”
On Tuesday the sheriff's office is offering to escort evacuees on quick trips to their homes for the purpose of caring for pets and livestock. Additional details are here: www.bit.ly/1Mor2LG .
Authorities also are continuing to enforce closures on roadways through the fire area – including Highway 29 and Highway 175, Point Lakeview to Soda Bay on Highway 281, all of Bottle Rock Road, High Valley Road and Butts Canyon Road from Highway 29 to the Napa County line.
Cal Fire said the fire's cause remains under investigation.
The fire conditions and the impact on community members led officials to announce another countywide school closure on Tuesday, with Lakeport, Upper Lake and Lucerne schools to reopen on Wednesday.
Middletown Unified School District, Konocti Unified School District and Kelseyville Unified School District will remained closed for the rest of the week, with officials adding that it's unknown when Middletown schools may reopen.
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