As a large wildfire in Northern California’s Lake County continued to burn Sunday, authorities required roughly 3,000 people to evacuate and East Bay fire crews were called in to help fight the blaze.
What’s being called the Pawnee Fire had burned about 7,700 acres, destroyed at least 12 structures and was threatening 600 more by Sunday night, according to Jonathan Cox, a battalion chief with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, known as Cal Fire.
Firefighters from the Alameda County, Fremont, Oakland, Hayward and Berkeley Fire Departments were deployed early Sunday morning as part of designated strike teams to help battle the blaze, according to Aisha Knowles, a spokesperson for the Alameda County Fire Department.
Cox said the fire was centered near Pawnee Road and New Long Valley Road, northeast of Clearlake Oaks, and was still zero percent contained as of Sunday afternoon. The fire was primarily burning eastward and spreading fast, but had been burning in multiple directions earlier Sunday.
(Photo courtesy of Kelseyville Fire Protection District/Cal Fire Twitter)
“We have over 200 firefighters now on scene, and more resources have been ordered, both air and ground,” Cox said. The fire is mostly burning through what he called “steep, dry terrain” that had been red-flagged for fire danger prior to the fire.
Both New Long Valley Road and Old Long Valley Road were closed at Highway 20, according to Cal Fire.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office ordered mandatory evacuations for all residents of the Spring Valley area, according to the agency’s Nixle page.
A shelter was established at Lower Lake High School, at 9430 Lake Street, according to the sheriff’s office.
The fire started around 5:20 p.m. Saturday, Cox said, but the cause of the blaze is still under investigation.
Cox said the Pawnee Fire was one of four large wildfires actively burning Sunday in Northern California.
The Lane Fire in Tehama County had burned more than 3,000 acres, and was only 10 percent contained as of Sunday night.
The Stoll Fire, also in Tehama County, had burned about 500 acres, and was 50 percent contained.
The Bascom Fire in Shasta County had burned about 328 acres and was 85 percent contained as of Sunday night.
Check back here for updates.
Cal Fire helicopter helps battle a wildfire in Spring Valley, Calif., Sunday, June 24, 2018. Wind-driven wildfires destroyed buildings and threatened hundreds of others Sunday as they raced across dry brush in rural Northern California. (Paul Kitagaki Jr./The Sacramento Bee via AP)
An inmate crew battles a wildfire in Spring Valley, Calif., Sunday, June 24, 2018. Wind-driven wildfires destroyed buildings and threatened hundreds of others Sunday as they raced across dry brush in rural Northern California. (Paul Kitagaki Jr./The Sacramento Bee via AP)
In this photo provided by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Pawnee Fire wildfire burns northeast of Clearlake Oaks, Calif., early Sunday, June 24, 2018. The fire burned actively throughout the night in the Spring Valley area, northeast of Clearlake Oaks in Lake County. The Pawnee Fire, which broke out Saturday, was one of four wildfires burning in largely rural areas as wind and heat gripped a swath of California from San Jose to the Oregon border. (Jonathan Cox/California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection via AP)
In this photo provided by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Pawnee Fire wildfire burns northeast of Clearlake Oaks, Calif., early Sunday, June 24, 2018. The Pawnee Fire, which broke out Saturday, was one of four wildfires burning in largely rural areas as wind and heat gripped a swath of California from San Jose to the Oregon border. (Jonathan Cox/California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection via AP)
A Cal Fire incident management team discusses the plan to battle a wildfire in Spring Valley, Calif., Sunday, June 24, 2018. Wind-driven wildfires destroyed buildings and threatened hundreds of others Sunday as they raced across dry brush in rural Northern California. (Paul Kitagaki Jr./The Sacramento Bee via AP)
Firefighters work to contain a wildfire in Spring Valley, Calif., Sunday, June 24, 2018. Wind-driven wildfires destroyed buildings and threatened hundreds of others Sunday as they raced across dry brush in rural Northern California. (Paul Kitagaki Jr./The Sacramento Bee via AP)
Kevin Clark helps to protect his brother’s store as a wildfire burned and surrounded the area in Spring Valley, Calif., Sunday, June 24, 2018. Wind-driven wildfires destroyed buildings and threatened hundreds of others Sunday as they raced across dry brush in rural Northern California. (Paul Kitagaki Jr./The Sacramento Bee via AP)
Cal Fire battles a wildfire in Spring Valley, Calif., Sunday, June 24, 2018. Wind-driven wildfires destroyed buildings and threatened hundreds of others Sunday as they raced across dry brush in rural Northern California. (Paul Kitagaki Jr./The Sacramento Bee via AP)
Cal Fire battles a wildfire on Sunday, June 24, 2018 in Spring Valley, Calif. Wind-driven wildfires destroyed buildings and threatened hundreds of others Sunday as they raced across dry brush in rural Northern California. (Paul Kitagaki Jr./The Sacramento Bee via AP)
Horses roam in a pasture as Cal Fire battles a wildfire in Spring Valley, Calif., Sunday, June 24, 2018. Wind-driven wildfires destroyed buildings and threatened hundreds of others Sunday as they raced across dry brush in rural Northern California. (Paul Kitagaki Jr./The Sacramento Bee via AP)
