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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LOWER LAKE, Calif. – A fire that burned hundreds of acres along Highway 29 on Thursday forced mandatory evacuations that were remaining in effect overnight, however state fire officials said the forward progress on the blaze had been halted.
Cal Fire said more than 200 personnel were assigned to the 29 Fire, which was first reported at approximately 2:44 p.m. Thursday along Highway 29 south of Perini Road, between Lower Lake and Hidden Valley Lake.
It quickly grew in size, running up a hillside and endangering numerous nearby structures. By nightfall the fire had scorched 300 acres.
On Thursday afternoon, officials had reported that 10 vehicles and a structure had been burned. Lake County Deputy Administrative Officer Debra Sommerfield said later that it was believed that a barn and some outbuildings had in fact burned.
She said the fire’s cause remains under investigation.
Cal Fire’s Thursday night report said firefighters had achieved 20 percent containment on the fire, and forward spread had been stopped.
Sommerfield said mandatory evacuations in the area of Murphy Springs Road to Perini Road were remaining in effect until 8 a.m. Friday.
However, voluntary evacuations that had been taking place on Candy Lane to Joseph Trail in the Twin Lakes Subdivision were being lifted, Sommerfield said.
The Red Cross set up an evacuation shelter at the old gym at Lower Lake High School, located at 9430 Lake St., according to spokesperson Susanne La Faver.
As of shortly before 9 p.m., no one has come in to the shelter, and staff were putting up signage. “We are prepared,” said La Faver.
She said Lake County Animal Care and Control had left food and crates for any animals that arrived at the shelter with their owners.
Cole Creek Equestrian Center at 4965 Steelhead Drive in Kelseyville, 707-775-5880 or 707-349-1868, and Highland Springs Equestrian Center, 707-279-1903, reported that they were accepting horses that needed to be evacuated from the fire area.
Earlier in the day officials had shut down Highway 29 between the north and south ends of Spruce Grove Road as firefighters worked at the scene.
Sommerfield said Thursday night that one-lane traffic was in effect along Highway 29, with traffic control to stay in place until 8 a.m. Friday.
La Faver said she had traveled through the fire area from Hidden Valley Lake on the way to the Red Cross shelter at Lower Lake High School, and that traffic was moving smoothly.
Cal Fire said more than 30 engines, along with four fire crews, five airtankers, three helicopters and five dozers were assigned to the incident, with work to continue on Friday.
Lake County News will continue to post additional details on the fire as they become available.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LOWER LAKE, Calif. – A fire burning between Lower Lake and Hidden Valley Lake has reached 300 acres and is requiring evacuations, according to state and local officials.
The 29 Fire, burning on the west side of Highway 29 and Perini Road, was first reported at about 2:45 p.m., as Lake County News has reported.
At 6:20 p.m. Lake County Deputy Administrative Officer Debra Sommerfield said the fire had burned 300 acres.
Sommerfield said the fire also had destroyed one residence and 10 vehicles.
Mandatory evacuations were in place for the area of Murphy Springs Road to Perini Road, Sommerfield said.
She said voluntary evacuations were in place for Candy Lane to Joseph Trail in the Twin Lakes Subdivision, south of Lower Lake.
Sommerfield said the fire was backing up into some nearby vineyards. Radio traffic indicated firefighters were continuing to hit the fire from the ground and the air in order to stop it.
Cal Fire did not give an estimate of containment early Thursday evening.
Highway 29 remains closed between Spruce Grove Road’s northern and southern entries onto Highway 29, Sommerfield said. Traffic was being diverted off of the highway onto Spruce Grove to keep the area clear.
She said a temporary evacuation center was being set up at Lower Lake High School, 9430 Lake St. Red Cross was set to open the center at 7 p.m.
Efforts also were under way to set up a temporary animal evacuation shelter, but Sommerfield did not have final confirmation on those plans.
Cole Creek Equestrian Center at 4965 Steelhead Drive in Kelseyville said it would take in horses that needed to be evacuated. The center can be reached day or night at 707-775-5880 or 707-349-1868.
Paul Marchand said emergency horse boarders also are welcome at Highland Springs Equestrian Center, 707-279-1903.
Cooperating agencies include Cal Fire, which has incident command in cooperation with the Lake County Office of Emergency Services, the California Highway Patrol, California Department of Fish and Game and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Sommerfield said.
Lake County News will continue to post updates on the fire throughout the evening.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED.
LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Firefighters are responding to a rapidly moving fire along Highway 29 between Lower Lake and Hidden Valley Lake that is threatening multiple structures.
The fire, on the west side of the highway near A Street and Agua Dulce Drive south of the Twin Lakes Subdivision, was first dispatched at 2:45 p.m.
Firefighters arriving at scene initially reported the blaze to be about one to two acres, with a rapid rate of spread and moving uphill, with at least one structure threatened.
Shortly after 3 p.m. the fire was reported to be about 15 acres, burning in oak woodland with a south wind hitting it, resulting in spotting, according to radio reports.
Lake County Fire Chief Willie Sapeta, after arriving at the scene, called for the California Highway Patrol to respond to close the highway’s southbound lane.
Minutes later, Sapeta asked for additional CHP to respond and fully close the highway between Murphy Springs and the origin of the fire, determined to be in the 13000 block of Highway 29 near A Street. He said traffic congestion was becoming a concern.
Central Dispatch reported that Fish and Game also was responding to assist with traffic control.
Cal Fire sent a full wildland dispatch, including air resources, which were hitting the fire. Resources also were responding from different fire agencies around the lake.
Radio reports indicated the fire was moving into a nearby vineyard and was threatening multiple structures.
Shortly before 3:30 p.m. a strike team request was sent out to fire agencies around the county following reports that the fire had grown to an estimated 40 acres.
Radio reports indicated at 3:30 p.m. that power lines were down in the fire area.
Before 4 p.m. there were reports of possible evacuations in the area. The CHP confirmed that evacuations were planned for the Twin Lakes Subdivision.
Just before 4:30 p.m., a strike team of five engines and two dozers were dispatched to the corner of Candy Lane and Lawrence Road off of Highway 29 north of the fire for structure protection.
The CHP said road closures were in effect for Highway 29 at Highway 53 and at Highway 29 and Spruce Grove Road.
At 4:50 p.m Cal Fire reported that the fire had reached 50 acres.
Additional details will be posted as they become available.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Lake County News Reports
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The unseasonably warm fall weather peaks Thursday, as cooler temperatures and the first rains of the season approach Lake County.
Forecasters predict that high daytime temperatures Thursday and Friday – in the mid- to upper-80s throughout the county – will give way to cooler temperatures and chances of rain and showers throughout next week beginning on Saturday evening.
A significant low-pressure system is making its way from the Gulf of Alaska towards Northern California and is expected to arrive Friday evening, bringing with it temperatures closer to average.
Expected daytime highs on Saturday will be in the upper-60s to low-70s with sunny skies, but clouds begin rolling in Saturday night, bringing a slight chance of rain.
Overnight lows will remain moderate, in the upper-40s, according to forecasters.
Chances for rain and showers continue through next Wednesday at this point, with some forecast models indicating a more significant storm event to impact the county on next Thursday.
Email Terre Logsdon at