NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – A flare up on a wildland fire in Napa and Solano counties led to new evacuation orders and hundreds of more acres burned on Tuesday.

The Wragg fire has been burning since Wednesday in steep terrain near Lake Berryessa.

Early on Tuesday the fire was reported to be 80-percent contained at approximately 6,591 acres.

However, by day's end, it had burned 400 more acres after a flare up that began at around 1:15 p.m. in the Wildhorse Canyon area, a part of the fire that Cal Fire said is within the secondary containment lines.

Cal Fire said both ground and air resources responded to the intensified fire action, with a DC-10 very large air tanker requested.

The flare up resulted in mandatory evacuations being ordered for approximately 136 homes and 200 residents in the Mix Canyon, Sky Ranch Road and Blue Ridge Road areas. Cal Fire said an evacuation center was set up in Vacaville.

Officials said an evacuation advisory also was issued for Gates Canyon Road and the area west of Pleasants Valley Road.

Cal Fire said resources on scene Tuesday included 1,158 personnel, 75 fire engines, 24 fire crews, eight helicopters and 10 water tenders.

Officials said Lake Solano campground is currently closed due to fire equipment access.

There also are numerous road closures in the fire area: Mix Canyon Road at Pleasants Valley Road, Sky Ranch Road at Mix Canyon Road to Pleasants Valley Road, Gates Canyon Road at Pleasants Valley Road, Putah Creek Road at Pleasants Valley Road South, Cantelow Road at Pleasants Valley Road and Vaca Valley Road East at Pleasants Valley Road. 

Total estimated containment early Tuesday evening remained at 80 percent. Cal Fire estimates the fire will be fully contained by Thursday.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Thousands of firefighters are continuing their efforts to contain major wildland fires around the state.

Cal Fire spokesman Daniel Berlant said fire activity has remained high over the past week in California, with Cal Fire crews responding to more than 270 new wildfires.

On Monday more than 5,000 firefighters were assigned to nine major wildfires in California, Berlant said.

The state's largest incident, the Wragg fire in Napa and Solano counties near Lake Berryessa, has been held to 6,591 acres, with containment rising to 75 percent by late Monday, Cal Fire said.

In Nevada County, Cal Fire reported that the Lowell fire continued burning, reaching 1,700 acres, with containment at 25 percent.

That fire injured four firefighters on Sunday – two from the Cal Fire Mendocino Unit and two from the US Forest Service.

One of the Forest Service firefighters is in the hospital with serious burn injuries, Cal Fire said.

The two Cal Fire firefighters and the remaining Forest Service firefighter were treated and released from the hospital, and are expected to make a full recovery and ready to return to the firefight, the agency said. All three are in good spirits Monday morning and had an opportunity to speak with their families.

Cal Fire said one of its firefighters injured in the incident already had returned to full duty, while the second will be recovering over the next week.

Fire officials are urging Californians to be cautious this week, as temperatures are expected to increase and relative humidity will decrease, which will heighten the fire danger even further.

For information on wildland fire preparedness, visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org .

The following is are summaries of major incidents around the state follows, with size estimates through late Monday night.

Cal Fire incidents

– Lowell fire: Began July 25 in Nevada County; 1,700 acres, 25-percent contained. Evacuations remain in effect, with 1,800 structures in Nevada and Placer counties threatened. Four injuries. Cause is under investigation. Estimated full containment: Aug. 1.

– Wragg fire: Began July 22 in Napa and Solano counties; 6,591 acres, 75-percent contained. Evacuations lifted. Two outbuilding destroyed, three outbuildings and one residence damaged. No injuries reported. Cause is under investigation. Estimated full containment: July 28.

– Queen fire: Began July 25 in Humboldt County; 200 acres, 42-percent contained. Two injuries. No cause given.

Federal incidents

– Willow fire: Began July 25 in Madera County; 1,521 acres, 5-percent contained. No injuries reported. Cause is under investigation.

– Cutca fire: Began July 24 in San Diego County; 167 acres, 75-percent contained. No injuries reported. Cause is unknown.

– Kyburz fire: Began July 23 in El Dorado County; 75 acres, 98-percent contained. No injuries reported. Cause is under investigation.
 
– Pines fire: Began July 17 in Los Angeles County; 200 acres, 85-percent contained. No injuries reported. Cause is under investigation.

–  Lake fire: Began July 16 in San Bernardino County; 31,359 acres, 98-percent contained. No injuries reported. Human caused; remains under investigation.

– Washington fire: Began June 19 in Alpine County; 17,790 acres, 99% contained. No injuries reported. Caused by lightning. Estimated full containment: July 31.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The 75th quilt block on the Lake County Quilt Trail is “KFD.”

The 8-foot by 8-foot quilt block is located at Kelseyville Fire District Station 55 at 4020 Main St.

“KFD” is sponsored by the James (Jim) Alexander family – Janet, Michele and Eric.

Jim Alexander moved his family to Kelseyville in 1972 to own and operate Jim’s Arco Station. The station was next door to the fire department.

He became very involved with the fire department and served on the board of directors for
many years.

In 2006 the new modern fire house was built on the site of Alexander’s station.

The Kelseyville Fire Protection District has served the community since 1925. “KFD” is intended to honor all volunteers – past, present and future.

This quilt block’s design is inspired by the Maltese cross.

The legend of the Maltese cross grew as it became associated with the admirable qualities of loyalty, bravery and defender of the weak.

Today, firefighters across the country wear the time-honored Maltese cross on their uniform and apparatus.

The Lake County Quilt Trail is an agricultural and tourism project designed to promote community pride.

The quilt block was drawn and painted by the Lake County Quilt Trail team, a group of dedicated quilters, graphic artists, painters, writers, carpenters and a videographer.

For more information about the Lake County Quilt Trail visit www.lakecountyquilttrail.com or check out the group's Facebook page.

CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – A Northshore woman was killed Tuesday morning when her car collided head-on with a semi truck.

The California Highway Patrol's Clear Lake Area office did not release the name of the 40-year-old woman from Nice pending notification of family.

The CHP said the crash occurred at approximately 6:26 a.m. on Highway 20, half a mile west of the intersection with Highway 53 near Clearlake Oaks.

The woman was driving a 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier eastbound, approaching a 2001 Kenworth semi truck pulling two trailers with empty agricultural produce bins that 54-year-old Tomas Araujo of Lodi was driving westbound, the CHP said.

For reasons that the CHP said investigators have yet to determine, the woman's Chevrolet entered the westbound lane directly in Araujo's path.

Araujo took evasive action, turning the truck to the left to try to avoid hitting the Chevrolet. However, the CHP said the woman's car veered back toward the eastbound lane, colliding head-on with the semi.

The CHP said the woman died at the scene from her injuries. Araujo was uninjured. Both were using their safety equipment.

When firefighters arrived they found the Chevrolet off the road, with the jackknifed semi blocking the highway, according to reports from the scene.

Both lanes of Highway 20 were blocked as a result of the crash as well as the presence of emergency vehicles, and one-way traffic control was established, the CHP said. The roadway was reported to be fully reopened at around 10:15 a.m.

The CHP said the crash remains under investigation by Officer Efrain Cortez.

If anyone witnessed the wreck, they are asked to contact the CHP's Clear Lake Area office in Kelseyville at 707-279-0103.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx announced that Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has acknowledged violations of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act’s requirements to repair vehicles with safety defects and will submit to rigorous federal oversight, buy back some defective vehicles from owners, and agreed to a $105 million civil penalty, the largest ever imposed by the Department’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The enforcement action comes after a July 2 public hearing at which NHTSA officials outlined problems with Fiat Chrysler’s execution of 23 vehicle safety recalls covering more than 11 million defective vehicles.

Fiat Chrysler has since admitted to violating the Safety Act in three areas: effective and timely recall remedies, notification to vehicle owners and dealers and notifications to NHTSA.

The action holds Fiat Chrysler accountable for its past failures, pushes them to get unsafe vehicles repaired or off the roads and takes concrete steps to keep Americans safer going forward, Foxx said.

“This civil penalty puts manufacturers on notice that the Department will act when they do not take their obligations to repair safety defects seriously.”

In a consent order issued by NHTSA, Fiat Chrysler commits to take action to get defective vehicles off the roads or repaired.

Owners of more than half a million vehicles with defective suspension parts that could cause the vehicle to lose control will have the opportunity to sell their vehicle back to Fiat Chrysler.

Owners of more than a million Jeeps that are prone to deadly fires either will have the chance to trade their vehicle in for above its market value, or will receive a financial incentive to get their vehicle remedied.

The consent order requires FCA to notify vehicle owners eligible for buybacks and other financial incentives that these new options are available.

The automaker also agrees to unprecedented oversight for the next three years, which includes hiring an independent monitor approved by NHTSA to assess, track and report the company’s recall performance.

“Fiat Chrysler’s pattern of poor performance put millions of its customers, and the driving public, at risk,” NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind said. “This action will provide relief to owners of defective vehicles, will help improve recall performance throughout the auto industry, and gives Fiat Chrysler the opportunity to embrace a proactive safety culture.”

The company must pay a $70 million cash penalty – equal to the record $70 million civil penalty the agency imposed on Honda in January.

In addition, Fiat Chrysler must spend at least $20 million on meeting performance requirements included in the Consent Order.

Another $15 million could come due if the independent monitor discovers additional violations of the Safety Act or the Consent Order.

To look up recalls by VIN, visit https://vinrcl.safercar.gov/vin/ , or to use a multi-selection search tool visit http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchSafetyIssues .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control has another shelter full of summertime kittens this week.

There are tiny tabbies, little black kittens, grays, orange tabbies and white cats with Siamese-type markings, plus some very lovely adult cats.

In addition to spaying or neutering, cats that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are microchipped before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.

If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets there, hoping you'll choose them.

In addition to the animals featured here, all adoptable animals in Lake County can be seen here: http://bit.ly/Z6xHMb .

The following cats at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (other cats pictured on the animal control Web site that are not listed here are still “on hold”).

'Tilly'

“Tilly” is a tiny female tabby kitten looking for her first home.

She's got a short gray and white coat.

She's in cat room kennel No. 4a, ID No. 2158.

'Sasha'

“Sasha” is a little female tabby kitten.

She's got a short gray and white coat.

Sasha is in cat room kennel No. 4b, ID 2163.

'Khloe'

“Khloe” is a little tabby female kitten.

She's got a short gray and white striped coat.

Khloe is in cat room kennel No. 4c, ID No. 2164.

'Zena'

“Zena” is a little female tabby kitten.

She has a short gray and white striped coat with a nifty orange mark on her forehead.

Zena is in cat room kennel No. 4d, ID No. 2165.

Domestic short hair kitten

This male kitten has a short gray coat, and he loves to play.

He's in cat room kennel No. 10b, ID 2592.

Domestic short hair kitten

This male kitten has a short black coat, big yellow eyes and plenty of energy.

He's in cat room kennel No. 10c, ID 2593.

Domestic short hair kitten

This female kitten has a short black coat and yellow eyes, and enjoys time with people.

She's in cat room kennel No. 10d, ID 2594.

Female domestic medium hair mix

This female domestic medium hair mix.

She has a white coat with gray markings and blue eyes, and a Siamese look.

She's in cat room kennel No. 13, ID No. 2512.

Domestic short hair mix kitten

This male kitten has a short white coat with gray and orange markings, and he likes to play in boxes.

He's in cat room kennel No. 34a, ID No. 2553.

Gray tabby kitten

This male kitten has a short gray tabby coat.

He enjoys lounging around or playing – he's comfortable with either activity.

He's in kennel No. 34b, ID No. 2556.

Domestic medium hair mix

This young male domestic medium hair mix cat has a gray tabby and white coat, and a rather charming expression.

He's in cat room kennel No. 34c, ID No. 2634.

Domestic short hair mix

This young female domestic short hair mix cat has an all-gray coat and green eyes.

She's in cat room kennel No. 83, ID No. 2687.

Domestic short hair mix

This handsome male cat has a short, all-gray coat, and big, lovely green eyes.

He's waiting to meet you in cat room kennel No. 100, ID No. 2688.

Domestic long hair mix

This young female domestic long hair mix has an orange coat with very distinctive tabby markings.

She's in kennel No. 105a, ID no. 2614.

Female domestic short hair mix

This young female domestic short hair mix is has an orange tabby coat with white markings.

She also loves to play, with cat toys being one of her favorite distractions.

She's in cat room kennel No. 105b, ID No. 2615.

Adoptable cats also can be seen at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Cats_and_Kittens.htm or at www.petfinder.com .

Please note: Cats listed at the shelter's Web page that are said to be “on hold” are not yet cleared for adoption.

To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .

Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .

For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – The California Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal crash that occurred early Tuesday between a big rig and a car.

The crash was reported just before 6:30 a.m. Tuesday on Highway 20, about four miles west of the “Y” intersection of Highway 20 and Highway 53 near Clearlake Oaks.

Northshore Fire Protection District firefighters arriving at the scene found the highway completely blocked by the jackknifed semi – an empty pear truck – with the small sedan it hit head-on off the roadway.

At that point, firefighters at the scene indicated the operation was a recovery, not a rescue, and began requesting additional firefighters for assistance.

The CHP confirmed to Lake County News that a woman died in the crash, but additional details – including how the crash occurred – were pending mid-morning Tuesday as investigators remained at the scene.

The effort to clear the roadway – including towing away the vehicles – was not reported to be complete until shortly after 10:15 a.m., according to the CHP.

Additional information will be posted as it becomes available.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – Over the past week the Mendocino National Forest has been locating and containing fires following some 350 lightning strikes hitting the forest Monday and Tuesday.

Forest spokeswoman Tamara Schmidt said a total of six fires were located and contained.

All of the fires are small – seven acres or less, Schmidt said.

On the Grindstone Ranger District, located on the east side of the forest, the Green Springs Fire was half an acre. Schmidt said the Kneecap Fire was contained this weekend at just under seven acres.

On the Covelo Ranger District, located on the northwest side of the forest, the Calamese and Blands fires, each single-tree fires, were controlled early in the week, Schmidt said.

On the Upper Lake Ranger District, located on the southwest side of the forest, the half-acre Windy Fire was discovered late in the week and controlled Saturday, Schmidt said.

The Monkey Rock Fire was also contained at a quarter-acre on the Upper Lake Ranger District, according to Schmidt.

She said the forest is continuing to fly daily recon looking for additional fires.

As conditions continue to dry out and warm up, firefighters anticipate discovering more lightning fires in coming days, Schmidt said.

“We were able to catch all of these fires early and keep them relatively small due to the vigilance and hard work of our firefighters,” said Forest Fire Management Officer Curtis Coots. “With the ongoing drought, this rapid response is important not only in preserving water resources, but also reducing impacts on already stressed natural resources out in the forest.”

Forest visitors are asked to be aware of their surroundings and to be prepared for changing conditions.  This includes reporting visible smoke that could be from a wildfire.

To report a fire, please call 911.

The Mendocino National Forest is currently under fire restrictions. Visitors are asked to follow regulations and be careful with anything with a flame or that can throw a spark in the forest. For more information, visit www.preventwildfireca.org/OneLessSpark/ .

For updates follow the forest on Twitter, @MendocinoNF.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A wildland fire that resulted in evacuations of homes in the Clearlake and Lower Lake areas was close to being fully contained shortly before 8 p.m. Sunday.

The Dam fire was first reported at around 4 p.m. Sunday in the area behind the Cache Creek Apartments at 16080 Dam Road in Clearlake, as Lake County News has reported.

On Sunday night, Cal Fire reported that the fire had burned a total of between eight and 10 acres, with 90-percent containment.

Cal Fire said firefighters have stopped the forward rate of spread of the fire and are working on containment and control lines.

Fire crews on the ground and Cal Fire air attack hit the fire hard and fast, battling high winds that caused three spot fires to travel a far as a mile and a half away from the main fire, according to Cal Fire Battalion Chief Greg Bertelli.

Officials said the Cache Creek Apartments in Clearlake were evacuated, as were homes in the area of Mustang Court, Bonham Road, Quarterhorse Lane, Pebble Road, Winchester Street and Stagecoach Lane in Lower Lake.

Evacuees were sent to a temporary evacuation center set up in the Clearlake Walmart parking lot. The Lake Evacuation and Animal Protection group also was activated on a precaution.

The fire destroyed a mobile home on Dam Road and did some minor damage to an exterior wall on a building in the apartment complex, but not enough to make the building uninhabitable, according to Lake County Fire Chief Willie Sapeta, whose agency had unified command with Cal Fire.

Sapeta said they still hadn't had a chance to fully assess other possible property damage.

There were no injuries, according to fire officials.

Evacuees were anticipated to be allowed to start returning to their homes by around 8:30 p.m., officials said.

Lake County Fire and other local fire agencies worked closely with Cal Fire on the incident, with the fire initially starting in the Local Responsibly Area before moving into the State Responsibility Area.

Total resources on scene Sunday evening included 123 personnel plus five overhead/command staff, 14 engine/truck companies, five water tenders, four fire crews, six bulldozers, one helicopter and two air tankers.

With temperatures predicted to be in the triple digits this week, fire officials are asking the community to show special caution due to the increased fire danger.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A combination of quick response and movement of resources from a large wildland fire in the region helped contain a Sunday fire in Clearlake before it could do much more serious damage.

The Dam fire, which broke out at around 4 p.m. Sunday, burned a total of 10 acres, according to
Suzanne Blankenship of Cal Fire's Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit.

Blankenship told Lake County News that the fire was fully contained at about 10:30 p.m. Sunday, but resources remained on the scene overnight and into early Monday morning, mopping up.

Lake County Fire and Cal Fire had led the incident response, with fire agencies from around the county sending resources to the scene, officials said.

Blankenship said the damage estimate has remained at one destroyed mobile home on Dam Road and minor damage to the Cache Creek Apartments, behind which the fire had started.

The incident had the potential to quickly become a conflagration, with dry vegetation and high, erratic winds fanning it, according to reports from fire officials.

“It was pretty intense at the beginning,” she said, noting there was the potential for the fire to blow up.

However, Blankenship explained that a number of factors contributed to the incident not being worse.

For one, the fire engines coming to the scene had four firefighters instead of three, which Blankenship said made for an easier division of labor when evacuations of nearby apartments and homes started.

Those evacuations had begun at around 4:30 p.m., according to radio reports.

Cal Fire also diverted aircraft from the 6,500-acre Wragg fire in Napa and Solano counties, Blankenship said.

“There was a lot more air on it right away,” said Blankenship.

Those diverted air resources included Chinook helicopters that assisted with water drops, according to reports from the scene.

As for what sparked the blaze, Blankenship noted, “The fire still is under investigation.”

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Four firefighters were injured on Sunday evening while working a fire in Nevada County.

The firefighters were injured on the Lowell fire, which began on Saturday west of Alta.

Cal Fire officials previously had reported that the fire had burned 4,000 acres, but on Sunday said that better mapping caused them to reduce the size estimate to 1,500 acres, with 15-percent containment.

The difficult-to-access fire made terrain-driven runs in the afternoon to evening, Cal Fire said.

The two Cal Fire firefighters and two US Forest Service firefighters were burned while fighting the fire and were airlifted to the UC Davis Medical Center's burn center, officials said.

Three of the firefighters – the two from Cal Fire and one from the US Forest Service – were expected to be treated and released on Sunday night, with the remaining US Forest Service firefighter was to be admitted to the hospital with serious burn injuries, Cal Fire said.

Cal Fire said it activated one of its serious accident review teams to review the incident that led the injuries.

Resources assigned on Sunday to the Lowell fire included 1,111 fire personnel, 77 engines, 31 fire crews, five air tankers, 14 helicopters, 26 dozers and three water tenders, Cal Fire said.

The fire continues to threaten 1,800 homes in Nevada and Placer counties, with mandatory evacuations in nearby communities and an evacuation advisory in place for the Cascade Shores community. An evacuation center remains open at Nevada Union High School in Grass Valley.

The cause remains under investigation, with investigators no longer looking for a vehicle of interest seen in the area where the fire started.

The Lowell fire is expected to be fully contained on Aug. 1, Cal Fire said.

Cal Fire also adjusted the acreage on the state's largest wildland fire incident currently, the Wragg fire in Napa and Solano counties, sparked on Wednesday afternoon near Lake Berryessa.

On Sunday Cal Fire rolled the size estimate back to 6,591 acres with 65-percent containment.

The fire is expected to be fully contained on Tuesday, Cal Fire said, with dozers and hand crews continuing to construct fire line in steep and rugged terrain. 

Cal Fire said a damage inspection was completed. Officials found two outbuildings have been destroyed, with three outbuildings and one residence damaged. A water supply wellhead also was damaged, a walnut orchard sustained damage and two vehicles were destroyed.

Late Sunday approximately 1,410 firefighting personnel remained assigned to the incident, along with 100 fire engines, 34 fire crews, 10 helicopters, 11 dozers and 16 water tenders, Cal Fire said.

In other fire news around the state, the Queen fire – which began on Saturday southeast of Pecwan in Humboldt County – remained at 200 acres, with containment rising to 29 percent on Sunday, according to Cal Fire.

Also on Sunday, firefighters fully contained the 3-11 fire northeast of Bieber in Modoc County. Cal Fire said it burned a total of 116 acres since Thursday.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

This story has been updated.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Firefighters are at the scene of a wildland fire that has caused the evacuation of a nearby apartment complex, with reports of additional fires stretching local fire resources.

The main fire is located behind the Cache Creek Apartments on Dam Road in Clearlake.

The latest report from Cal Fire, issued at 5:30 p.m., said the Dam fire has burned 10 acres.

That acreage remained the same about an hour later, with containment reported to be 50 percent from incident command at the scene.

Firefighters were dispatched to the area at around 4:05 p.m. on the report of a small wildland fire with structures threatened.

Initial units on the scene found the fire quickly moving through the vegetation and getting fanned by high, erratic winds, according to radio reports.

Due to the conditions, at around 4:30 p.m. firefighters began to evacuate the complex and set up an evacuation center in the parking lot of the nearby Walmart.

By 5 p.m. the fire had topped three acres and was pushing around both sides of the complex, with the eaves on the south side of the westernmost building in the apartment complex reported to be burning.

At around the same time, another fire was reported in the area of Bryant Road, as well as another spot fire farther down Dam Road, according to reports from the scene. 

Power lines were reported to be down on Bryant Road as well as Dam Road.

Lake County Fire and Cal Fire were the initial agencies to respond, with a request for an in-county strike team put out to all Lake County agencies just after 5 p.m.

Law enforcement units also were requested to assist with evacuations between the fire and the Lower Lake area.

Minutes later, a separate fire was reported to be burning in the Cache Creek Mobil Home Estates on Dam Road, with structures threatened. Lakeport Fire was asked to respond due to all resources in Clearlake already being committed. However, firefighters were unable to locate that fire.

Lake County Office of Emergency Services and Red Cross were notified about the Dam fire and the Lake Evacuation and Animal Protection group – LEAP for short – also was asked to respond to the evacuation area at Walmart on precaution. 

Shortly before 6:30 p.m., Cal Fire Battalion Chief Greg told Lake County News that firefighters were making good progress on the fire, which was remaining at around 10 acres despite the extremely erratic winds that were bouncing around the apartment complex.

“It's looking better. It was a mess,” he said, adding, “We've got all the agencies in Lake County here.”

The fire was pushing south of a homeless encampment in the area, Bertelli said.

He said two to three structures had been damaged, but there were no injuries.

The fire was spotting as far as a mile and a half away from the main body of the fire, Bertelli said.

Resources from the Wragg fire in Napa and Solano counties responded to the Dam fire, including four helicopters and four air tankers, Bertelli said.

One hundred and 50 personnel from the Wragg fire in Napa and Solano counties also were responding at one point, but Bertelli canceled them at around 6:30 p.m.

Bertelli said at 6:30 p.m. that he was anticipating getting evacuees back to their homes in about four to five hours.

Additional information will be posted as it becomes available.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.