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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Firefighters from multiple agencies and counties are in Clearlake this afternoon fighting a wildland fire that has prompted evacuations in some parts of the city.
The Lake fire was first reported at 2:20 p.m. Sunday at Nacimiento Lake Drive and Oak Street, south of Borax Lake in Clearlake.
As of 4:30 p.m., Cal Fire reported over the air that the blaze had burned 340 acres, making it the largest fire of the summer season in Lake County so far. As of 5:15 p.m., it was 5% contained.
Radio traffic indicated at least one structure may have been burned.
Mandatory evacuation zones as of 4:30 p.m. were CLO-E113, CLE-E123, CLE-E126 and CLE-E13. Advisory evacuation zones by that time were CLO-E109 and CLE-E124.
Just after 5 p.m., all but one of the mandatory evacuations were reduced to advisory, according to a radio report from Lake County Fire Chief Willie Sapeta.
The one remaining mandatory zone at that point was CLO-E113, and it was reduced to advisory a short time later.
Zones can be seen here.
Shortly before 2:30 p.m., the Clearlake Police Department issued a Nixle alert asking people to avoid the area of East Lake Drive and Second Street due to the fire.
About 10 minutes later, the agency issued its first evacuation advisory for everything east of zones CL-E126, which includes Borax Lake, and CL-E123, which is to the east of that zone.
As of 3:30 p.m., mandatory evacuations were ordered for the area of Acacia Street to Highway 53 and north of Eastlake Drive, with advisory evacuations for Highway 53 east from Ogulin Canyon and north of Ogulin Canyon Road.
Fifteen minutes later, Clearlake Police reported the mandatory evacuations were expanded from Acacia Street west to 16th Street and Eastlake Drive north, Acacia Street east to Highway 53 and Old Highway 53 north of Burns Valley Road east to Highway 53. At about the same time, cell phones lit up with the warning.
Incident command has pulled in firefighters from Colusa and Mendocino counties, with air resources coming from Ukiah. Lake County Fire Protection District and other Lake County resources are part of the multi-agency firefighting effort.
A report of a fire on Mark West Springs Road near Santa Rosa just after 4:15 p.m. resulted in a brief redirect of two tankers from the fire, but after air resources for that new fire.
Scanner traffic shortly before 4:45 p.m. indicated good progress is being made on the Lake fire, with retardant and dozer lines being strengthened ahead of bringing in ground crews.
Reports from the scene stated that firefighters are working to protect structures, with retardant drops a key part of that work.
Cal Fire said the cause remains under investigation.
At 5:20 p.m., dispatch reported receiving a report about a spot fire near Pomo Elementary, with firefighters responding.
The remaining tankers were released about 5:30 p.m., at which point the retardant work was done, according to radio reports.
Three helicopters continued to work the scene at that time, along with dozers on the ground.
Forward progress was reported to have been stopped at 6:13 p.m., according to radio traffic.
Incident command said the fire was holding at 340 acres, with containment up to 25%.
By that point, incident command was arranging to have the helicopters prepare to begin departing the fire in order to be back at base by dark.
All evacuation warnings and advisories were lifted as of 6:56 p.m., according to radio traffic.
Cal Fire said the cause remains under investigation.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA — On July 10, the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument celebrated its 10th anniversary, a milestone that showcases what becomes possible when communities unite to protect irreplaceable landscapes.
The monument's designation in 2015, followed by its expansion to include Molok Luyuk in 2024, stands as a testament to grassroots conservation success in the heart of Northern California's inner coastal range.
Spanning 344,476 acres, the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument holds exceptional biodiversity and ecological integrity that ranks among the top 5% of all United States Forest and Bureau of Land Management properties in the contiguous United States.
The ancient serpentine soil of the monument is the foundation of the vast landscape, creating one of California’s most unique ecosystems.
These distinctive soils nurture rare plant species found nowhere else on Earth, including the delicate adobe lily (Fritillaria pluriflora) and the scythleaf onion (Allium falcifolium).
Such botanical treasures represent thousands of years of evolutionary adaptation, harboring genetic diversity that, if lost, can never be recovered.
The specialized ecosystems that serpentine soils support have evolved in isolation, creating rare biological communities.
But the monument's significance extends far beyond its botanical rarities and unique soils. It holds a deep history of indigenous culture and heritage. This landscape has witnessed 20,000 years of documented cultural change and development.
The monument served as a key connector and trade route used by indigenous communities. Historic trail networks once connected Patwin, Pomo, Lake Miwok, and Wappo peoples, positioning this area at the center of extensive trade networks that linked the Clear Lake Basin with the Sacramento Valley.
Beyond the ecological and cultural significance, the same serpentine geology that creates the monuments unique biodiversity, also shaped early California history.
From the 1860s through the 1970s, the Sulphur Creek mining district extracted mercury that was used for gold mining throughout the Sierra Nevada and regional mines.
Miners and their families established the Sulphur Creek village during the mid-to-late 1800s, creating communities and infrastructure that led to the broader economic development of California during the Gold Rush era.
The geological foundation weaves together the monument's environmental treasures, Indigenous heritage, and Gold Rush history into a singular narrative of place demonstrating how landscape, ecology, and human story interconnect across millennia.
Today, the monument represents a new chapter in conservation leadership. Co-stewardship agreements between the Bureau of Land Management and indigenous communities create a powerful model for partnerships in land management, directly supporting federal and state mandates to integrate traditional ecological knowledge into land management practices.
The monument's protection also contributes significantly to California's ambitious 30x30 initiative aiming to protect 30% of lands and waters by 2030. These efforts address the biodiversity crisis and climate change by safeguarding critical habitat corridors and carbon storage capacity.
Perhaps most importantly, the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument proves that conservation enhances public access rather than restricts it.
The monument provides improved trail management and diverse recreational opportunities including OHV use, mountain biking, and hiking, welcoming visitors to experience these protected landscapes responsibly.
As we celebrate this 10th anniversary, the monument stands as proof that grassroots organizing and local advocacy can achieve federal conservation action.
Community voices influenced national policy and secured permanent protection for the Berryessa Snow Mountain landscape.
Demonstrating how our public lands are cherished by recreationists, Indigenous communities, scientists, and nature lovers alike.
The Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument showcases that when communities come together around shared values of protection and stewardship, remarkable conservation victories become possible.
Its first decade marks not an ending, but the beginning of a conservation model ready for replication across California and beyond.
Bryan Pride is policy director for Tuleyome, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit conservation organization based in Woodland, California. For more information go to www.tuleyome.org.
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