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KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Firefighters on Tuesday morning were responding to a wildland fire that resulted when a control burn at a vineyard escaped.
Kelseyville Fire, Lake County Fire and Cal Fire were dispatched to the fire, first reported before 11 a.m. at Red Hills Vineyard, 7900 Highway 29. Northshore Fire and Mendocino County units joined the effort by early afternoon.
By about 11 a.m. the fire had burned between five and seven acres, with a nearby residence threatened.
By 12 p.m. the fire had reached a reported 90 acres, and was up to 150 acres about a half hour later, with 250 acres reached – with an estimated potential for 600 – just after 1 p.m., according to reports from the scene.
At 2 p.m., the fire was at 300 acres, with 10 percent containment, according to reports from the scene. Containment had neared 30 to 40 percent by 3 p.m.
It was reported to be moving through very steep terrain toward the peak of Mt. Konocti and away from Kelseyville and structures.
Firefighters arriving at the scene initially reported a slow rate of spread in thick brush, with difficulty accessing the fire, according to radio reports.
In addition to the engines responding, hand crews and dozers were being dispatched to the fire, which was getting some wind on it, raising the spread pace to moderate. Radio traffic indicated firefighters were unable to access the head of the fire.
Just after 12:30 p.m., a request was made for three additional crews, a strike team, a dozer and more overhead command staff, according to radio reports.
At just after 12:45 p.m., a call was put out over the radio for an eight engine strike team to meet at the base of Mt. Konocti. Helicopters and additional dozers also were responding to the fire.
A hand crew had arrived at the Fowler property on top of Mt. Konocti just before 1 p.m. and was going to work on structure protection, according to scanner traffic.
Firefighters requested help keeping vehicles from going into the area. The California Highway Patrol was providing traffic control at Highway 29 and Highway 175 near the fire location. Traffic control also was needed at Konocti Road near Main Street in Kelseyville.
At about 12:45 p.m. Lake County Public Works said Konocti Road, at the base of Mt. Konocti – past Mt. Vista Middle School – was closed to all traffic due to the fire.
The closure will be in effect until further notice, with drivers asked to avoid the area while emergency fire personnel are trying to get equipment up the mountain.
The fire had made it onto county park land by early afternoon. The county owns more than 1,500 acres on top of the mountain, which makes up Mt. Konocti County Park.
Lake County Public Services reported that they had received word that the fire was moving toward Howard and Wright peaks, and that a wall of one of the park’s new restrooms had been scorched by the fire.
Ash from the fire was reported to be falling in the Kelseyville area, as well as in Lakeport and Upper Lake.
Additional details will be posted as they become available.
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