Fire In Lake County Grows To 4,000 Acres; Nearly 200 Buildings Burned
LAKE COUNTY (CBS13) – The latest on the fire in Lake County:
1:15 p.m.
Cal Fire says the Clayton Fire has grown to 4,000 acres.
Winds are picking up and causing some concern for firefighters. Containment still remains at 5 percent.
What's left of Lower Lake Methodist Church. Pastor says it was cornerstone for community @CBSSacramento #ClaytonFire pic.twitter.com/01Mv69MPRA
— Angela Musallam (@AngelaM_PCSO) August 15, 2016
The Konocti Unified School District says that classes are canceled this week.
12:05 p.m.
A relief fund that was active during last year's fires in Lake County is being reactivated in response to the Clayton Fire.
Anyone interested in making donations can go to any Mendo Lake Credit Union branch or any North Coast Opportunities office. Also, according to the Lake County Sheriff's Office, a PayPal account has been set up.
Checks should be made payable to NCO/Wildfire Relief Fund, with "Clayton Fire" written in the memo section.
8:53 a.m.
As their damage assessment continues, Cal Fire is now saying 175 structures have been destroyed in the Clayton Fire burning in Lake County.
It is unclear how many of those structures are homes.
Cal Fire is continuing to assess the damage.
6:55 a.m.
Cal Fire is now saying that more than 100 structures have been destroyed in the fire.
Just In - #ClaytonFire in Lower Lake area (Lake Co) remains 3,000 acres & 5% contained. 100+ structures destroyed. pic.twitter.com/aoUDG6HqUb
— CAL FIRE PIO (@CALFIRE_PIO) August 15, 2016
The fire remains and 3,000 acres and 5 percent containment, the same numbers as Sunday night.
6:27 a.m.
The Clayton Fire ignited then exploded in size over the weekend – tripling in acreage in a 24-hour period.
The blaze tore through the downtown area of Lower Lake, destroying homes and businesses as flames crisscrossed the streets.
Firefighters on the ground are now getting help from a massive DC-10 that's joined the fire fight.
From the air, it's clear that several homes have burned. Cal Fire says 10 structures are destroyed, while hundreds more homes are threatened.
Smokey scene along Main St in Lower Lake because of the #ClaytonFire @GoodDaySac @CBSSacramento pic.twitter.com/5yDxEQPxCu
— Sean Bennett (@tvseanb) August 15, 2016
About 3,000 acres have burned.
The entire community of Lower Lake has been evacuated, along with the southern end of Clearlake.
Highway 29 is closed in that area, and St. Helena hospital in Clearlake has been evacuated.
More than 1,000 personnel are assigned to this fire. Containment stands at just 5 percent as of Monday morning.
The fire started burning Saturday off Highway 29, just south of Lower Lake – right in the middle of the burn zone from last year's massive Valley, Rocky and Jerusalem fires.