LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The men and women of the Lake County Deputy Sheriff's Association will host an event later this month to raise funds for their Shop with a Cop Program for local children.
LOWER LAKE, Calif. – State and local firefighters are on the scene of a wildland fire near Lower Lake that has resulted in a temporary closure on Highway 29.
The Murphy fire in the area of Highway 29 near Agua Dulce Drive, three miles south of Lower Lake, was first reported shortly after 2:30 p.m. Monday, according to radio reports.
Initial dispatch had put it closer to the area of Murphy Springs Road, leading to its designation as the Murphy fire.
The first command unit arriving on scene at about 2:50 p.m. reported that the fire was between five and eight acres, with a moderate rate of spread.
Incident command requested critical air support due to the strong winds in the area, scanner reports indicated.
By 3:20 p.m., the fire was reported to be about 20 acres, with an in-county strike team also responding and air resources en route, based on reports from Cal Fire and Lake County Central Dispatch.
Just after 3:30 p.m. incident command reported that the fire was between 30 and 40 acres, with the fire making a run to the southeast.
As a result of its spread, incident command reported that the fire is threatening multiple structures.
Cal Fire Division Chief Greg Bertelli told Lake County News shortly after 4 p.m. that firefighters are making good progress on the effort to control the fire.
Bertelli gave the fire size at that time as remaining between 30 and 40 acres.
He said air resources including large air tankers are working the fire, and more ground resources also are arriving.
Shortly before 4 p.m. there was a report of a very large air tanker – known as a VLAT – making a drop on the fire.
Bertelli said the wind is still an issue and there are still structures threatened, so the hard work is continuing.
“We’re not out of the woods yet,” Bertelli said.
Shortly after 5 p.m., air tankers began to be diverted off the incident, according to radio reports.
Just after 5:15 p.m., Bertelli reported over the air that the fire was holding at 40 acres, with containment at 50 percent.
A short time later, forward progress on the fire was reported to have been stopped, Cal Fire said.
Due to the fire, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and California Highway Patrol reported that Highway 29 is closed in the area and the agencies directed drivers to take an alternate route.
The California Highway Patrol said there are two closure points: one is located on northbound Highway 29 at Hofacker near mile marker 15.90, while the other is at A Street near mile marker 16.70.
Additional details will be posted as they become available.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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