Lake Co. Pawnee Fire Burns 11,500 Acres, Destroys 22 Structures

LAKE COUNTY and COLUSA COUNTY, CA — The massive 11,500-acre Pawnee Fire is now threatening two Northern California counties. With mandatory evacuations still in effect for the Spring Valley area of Lake County, Tuesday the Colusa County Sheriff's Office advised residents of certain areas to "be ready to evacuate at any moment."

California Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency Monday in Lake County, where the Pawnee Fire has destroyed 22 homes and other structures. Tuesday morning, the blaze was 5 percent contained but was still threatening at least 600 structures. The governor's emergency declaration allows for state and FEMA resources to be committed to the wildfire burning since Saturday in the Spring Valley area northeast of Clearlake Oaks.

In Colusa County, an evacuation advisory warning went into effect at noon Tuesday for the Wilbur Springs Area, the area east of Walker Ridge, Bear Valley and Brim Road. Authorities said they expected the Pawnee Fire to continue to burn; therefore, residents should "be ready to evacuate at any moment."

Mandatory evacuation orders remained effect for the entire Spring Valley community which includes all roads accessed off of Old Long Valley Road and New Long Valley Road, north of Highway 20, according to a Cal Fire update posted at 8:44 a.m. Tuesday. Mule Skinner, Long Branch, Watertrough Road Flintlock, Muzzleloader, No Guns, Antelope, Cougar, Marianne, Ramrod and Moccasin are also under mandatory evacuation orders.

All residents of the Double Eagle Ranch area were "strongly advised to evacuate immediately," on Monday, according to the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

State Highway 20 remains closed at Old Long Valley Road, New Long Valley Road, Walker Ridge and Mule Skinner Road in Lake County. In Colusa County, fire-related road closures include SR-20 at Bear Valley Road, Bear Valley Road at Brim Road and Leesville Lodge Road at Brim Road.

The fire is still burning "very actively," driven by low relative humidity, erratic winds and above-normal temperatures, according to Cal Fire. The agency requested area residents "reduce their water usage immediately in order to conserve water for fire-fighting purposes."

More than 230 firefighters and other personnel are battling the wildfire, with more resources on the way.

CAL FIRE, Lake County Sheriff's Office, Northshore Fire Protection District, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, California Conservation Corps, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, California Highway Patrol, PG&E and Lake Evacuation Animal Protection are among agencies assigned to the fire.

Additionally, crews from several Bay Area fire departments including Rohnert Park, Alameda County, Berkeley, Fremont, Hayward and Oakland were either already at the blaze or were en route.

An evacuation center is set up at Lower Lake High School, 9430 Lake Street, in Lower Lake. The shelter is accepting companion and large animals, according to the sheriff's office.

Additionally, animal evacuation staging is located at Social Service Center, 15975 Anderson Ranch Parkway in Lower Lake. Evacuees with questions about where to take their animal can also call animal control at 707-263-0278.

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Image: Screengrab from @CalFire_PIO video