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LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Firefighters are continuing to work fires in and around the Lower Lake area that began early Tuesday evening.
The main incident, the Kugelman fire, was dispatched as a grass fire in the 15000 block of Kugelman Street just after 5:15 p.m.
A short time later another fire was reported on Seigler Canyon Road, about a mile from Highway 29.
Reports from the scene indicated that multiple structures were threatened by the blazes, with mutual aid requested from fire agencies around the lake and from Mendocino County.
Less than 10 minutes after dispatch, Lake County Fire Protection District Chief Willie Sapeta was calling for evacuations due to the Kugelman incident.
He also asked to have Highway 53 closed at Dam Road and Jesse. Later, the California Highway Patrol reported that Seigler Canyon and Perini roads were closed.
Meanwhile, the first units arriving on scene at the fire on Seigler Canyon reported that there was one structure fully involved and five acres of vegetation on fire, and power lines down. That fire was on both sides of Seigler Canyon Road, with the fire on the west side burning up a slope and threatening multiple structures.
Lake County Social Services on Anderson Marsh Parkway was reported to be evacuating shortly after the Kugelman fire was reported, as the building was in immediate threat.
At about 5:30 p.m., another fire was reported in the area of Highway 29 and Diener Road near a Pacific Gas and Electric facility, according to radio reports. However, units responding to the area said they didn't find any fire there.
A spot fire jumped Lake Street shortly before 6 p.m., with Sapeta calling for immediate evacuations of Bryant Road and Lake Street.
The Lake County Sheriff's Office subsequently ordered evacuations in the Bonham and Big Bear Road areas shortly after 6 p.m.
Officials also activated the Lake Evacuation and Animal Protection group under Lake County Animal Care and Control.
Cal Fire aircraft and engines were coming from inside and outside of Lake County to help battle the fires, according to radio reports.
Just before 7 p.m. the sheriff's office reported that parents of children at Lower Lake High and Lower Lake Elementary School could respond to pick up their children. Parents were instructed to travel to the area of Main Street to Adams Street to pick up children in the school parking lots.
Reports from the scene just before 7:30 p.m. stated that the Kugelman incident was 45 acres and 20-percent contained, based on measurements taken from Cal Fire air attack. A size estimate was not given at that time for the other fire.
At about the same time, the CHP said that Highway 53 was open to one-way traffic.
Also at 7:30 p.m., officials released Lake Evacuation and Animal Protection from the scene.
Incident command also reported at around 7:45 p.m. that officials were repopulating some specific areas in Lower Lake, while the Seigler Canyon fire area was remaining evacuated.
Some Cal Fire units were leaving the Lower Lake incidents to respond to another wildland fire in Napa County, according to radio reports.
Additional information will be posted as it becomes available.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
