
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Firefighters continued to hold and strengthen the lines around a fire that broke out in Clearlake on Sunday, leading to short-term evacuations.
The Lake fire began at around 2:20 p.m. Sunday at Nacimiento Lake Drive and Oak Street, south of Borax Lake in Clearlake.
By Sunday evening, it was 340 acres and 25% contained, figures that held throughout Sunday night and early Monday morning, according to Cal fire.
The Sunday evening report from Cal Fire said the fire had exhibited “moderate to erratic fire behavior with short-range spotting,” but crews made progress.
The fire threatened multiple structures and fire engines were assigned to structure protection, officials said.
Cal Fire said air tankers concentrated at the head of the fire and put down a fire retardant line that tied into the dozer and hand lines established on the left flank and left shoulder near Pond Road. The right — or eastern most — flank of the fire was looking good Sunday evening.
The fast-moving fire prompted authorities to call for mandatory evacuations in four evacuation zones and advisory evacuations in two others.
The four evacuation orders covered areas that included 3,386 residents, Cal Fire said.
Cal Fire said forward progress on the fire was stopped at 6:15 p.m. and all evacuation warnings were lifted by 6:55 p.m.
Crews are to remain on site for the next couple of days, working on fortifying control lines and mopping up the interior of the fire, Cal Fire said.
In the meantime, officials said the assessment into any structures destroyed or damaged during the Lake fire is ongoing.
Resources assigned to the incident include 225 personnel, two helicopters, 25 engines, six dozers, three water tenders and six crews, according to the Sunday evening Cal Fire report.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, Cal Fire said.
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