CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – As containment rose on the Pawnee fire on Wednesday, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said Spring Valley Lakes residents will be allowed to return home later in the afternoon.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office had implemented the mandatory evacuation order for the Spring Valley Lakes subdivision, located east of Clearlake Oaks, on Saturday evening, within hours of the fire beginning.
Officials said all areas of Spring Valley, New Long Valley and Old Long Valley will be open at 4 p.m. Wednesday.
However, the mandatory evacuation order for the Double Eagle Ranch subdivision, located to the east of Spring Valley, remains in effect, as do road closures on Walker Ridge Road at Highway 20 and Mule Skinner Road at Highway 20, the sheriff’s office said.
The combined evacuation orders have impacted an estimated 1,500 residents and 600 homes, officials said.
The Spring Valley evacuation order was lifted hours after the fire’s size was reported to have reached 13,500 acres – a 500-acre increase since the night before – with containment jumping to 25 percent.
Cal Fire said the number of burned structures remains at 22, with damaged structures still at four.
Resources assigned to the fire on Wednesday included 2,700 firefighters, 235 engines, 25 water tenders, 15 helicopters, 58 hand crews and 69 dozers, Cal Fire said.
Flight tracking also shows tankers at work in the fire area.
Also on Wednesday, the Colusa County Sheriff’s Office lifted the advisory evacuations for areas east of Walker Ridge, north of Highway 20 accessed by Bear Valley Road, Bear Valley and Brim Road, and Leesville and Bear Valley Road.
The Colusa County Sheriff’s Office authorized the removal of the roadblocks in those areas, but said access will only be granted to residents, who will be required to show identification.
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