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LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Firefighters from around Lake County and from Cal Fire are battling a fast-moving wildland fire near Lower Lake.
The Clayton fire was first reported just before 5 p.m. Saturday in the area of Clayton Creek Road and Highway 29.
The fire rapidly spread from the 100-foot by 100-foot arriving units found to more than 10 acres 20 minutes later. As of just before 5:45 p.m., the fire was estimated to be between 50 and 60 acres, according to radio reports.
By 7:30 p.m., the fire was estimated to have grown to between 400 and 450 acres, with 15-percent containment and 200 structures threatened.
Lake County Fire and Cal Fire units were among the first to respond, and issued a call for an in-county strike team from fire districts around the county.
Incident command reported concerns about the fire's growth should the evening winds pick up in the area.
Cal Fire's Copter 104 quickly arrived on scene, with radio reports stating that air attack and tankers were on the way and more were being requested.
The California Highway Patrol reported that the sheriff's office had requested Clayton Creek Road be shut down at Highway 29 at 5:10 p.m. due to the fire.
Structures were reported to be threatened in the fire area, with incident command requesting sheriff's deputies begin evacuations in the Ellen Springs Drive area just before 5:15 p.m.
The sheriff's office subsequently reported that residents on Clayton Creek Road and Ellen Springs Drive were being ordered to evacuate, with a shelter being established at Twin Pine Casino in Middletown.
Pacific Gas and Electric also has been requested to shut off power in the fire area. It later reported that more than 1,300 customers were without power.
Cal Fire incident command indicated another 15 engines plus additional air resources were being dispatched.
Incident command also put out the call for another immediate need strike team, this time from Mendocino County, to help with structure protection.
Just before 6:15 p.m., the sheriff's office ordered residents to immediately evacuate Spruce Grove Road North to Old Spruce Grove Road in Middletown and the Lower Lake area.
Minutes later, the sheriff's office said evacuations in Lower Lake were in effect for Cantwell Ranch Road, Morgan Valley Road, Riata Road, Teklas Road Hale, Daly Hill, Teklas, Spruce Grove Road to Noble Ranch Road and Ellen Springs.
The sheriff's office said Middletown High School declined to open its facility for evacuees – likely due to the recent start of school – so evacuated residents were being directed to respond to the Highlands Senior Center on Bowers Avenue in Clearlake.
Additional details will be posted as they become available.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
