Rocky Fire Rages At 46,000 Acres; 12,000 Advised To Evacuate; 6,300 Structures Threatened

Photo by Al Francis of NapaSonomaPhotos.com. July 29 of #RockyFire in Lake County.

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Cal Fire reports this morning that the Rocky Fire has spread from Lake County into Yolo and Colusa counties and has consumed 46,000 acres, with 5 percent containment -- more than doubling in size from the 22,500 acres burned as of Saturday afternoon.

Twenty-four residences and 26 outbuildings are destroyed, with an additional 6,301 homes and structures threatened as of 7:45 a.m. today, the department said.

Additional evacuations were ordered, bringing the total affected to some 12,100 citizens living in more than 5,156 homes, Cal Fire said.

Cal Fire said that today, “The fire is expected to have significant activity and growth. Current strategic constraints include lack of access to areas of the fire, very hot and dry weather, critical fuels and changing winds.”

“The fire activity dramatically progressed yesterday afternoon. The fire did not cross Highway 20 or Highway 16,” the officials said.

Highway 16 is closed from Highway 20 to the Yolo County Line in both directions due to increased fire activity. Jerusalem Valley Road is closed to all traffic at Spruce Grove Road. Highway 20 from Highway 53 east to New Long Valley Road is open to residents with identification only. Highway 20 is closed to all traffic from New Long Valley Road to Highway 16, Cal Fire said.

An evacuation center is open at Middletown High School, Kelseyville High School. An animal evacuation center is open at the Lower Lake Social Services parking lot, 15975 Anderson Ranch Parkway, Lower Lake.

CAL FIRE Sonoma-Lake-Napa is the administrative unit on the fire, and is receiving assistance from Kelseyville FPD, South Lake FPD, Northshore FPD, Lake County Sheriff, CHP, Lake Evacuation and Animal Protection (LEAP), Lake County Office of Emergency Services and North Bay Incident Management Team.

Personnel at the scene total 1,942, according to the department.

The Rocky Fire began July 29 afternoon. The cause is under investigation.

Firefighters, meanwhile, have nearly contained the Wragg Fire in Napa and Solano counties, Cal Fire officials said.

The wildfire was 95 percent contained as of 7:45 a.m. this morning, according to Cal Fire.

The fire started July 22 near the intersection of Highway 128 and Wragg Canyon Road and has burned 8,051 acres, Cal Fire officials said.

Firefighters expect to have the fire fully contained Thursday. Fire officials and law enforcement have lifted all evacuation orders and all roads are open to traffic, Cal Fire officials said.

Lake Solano campground remains closed.

Also see:

• Previous Rocky Fire coverage here.
• #RockyFire: SEE PHOTOS
• Governor Declares State Of Emergency In Response To Wildfires
• Previous Wragg Fire coverage here.
• Sun Sets Tuesday Night On Wragg Fire Flare-Up: PHOTOS
• 14 Wildfires Now Raging Throughout California: SEE LIST, PHOTOS
• Federal Aid To Reimburse Counties Fighting #WraggFire

--Bay City News contributed to this report