News

Some 2,700 firefighters from around the state, including the Humboldt County Strike Team, are battling the Pawnee Fire burning north of the Lake County community of Clearlake Oaks, which as of this morning was 25 percent contained with 13,500 acres burned, according to Calfire.

To date, 22 structures have been destroyed in the fire that started on the evening of June 23 while another 600 are threatened. The cause remains under investigation, according to Calfire, and there is no predicated date for full containment.

The Humboldt County Strike Team, which includes crews from the Arcata Fire, Blue Lake Fire, Humboldt Bay Fire, Miranda Volunteer Fire and Briceland Volunteer Fire departments, is led by Humboldt Bay Fire Battalion Chief Kent Hulbert. Yesterday, the strike team successfully kept the Pawnee Fire from burning the carefully tended vines of the Cache Creek Winery.


According to this morning’s Calfire update, the Pawnee Fire was very active yesterday, burning in the Spring Valley area located north-east of Clearlake Oaks. More resources are being sent to combat the wildfire, which officials say is “being  driven by low relative humidity, erratic winds and above normal temperatures.”

Read more Calfire information on the Pawnee Fire below:

Road closures: New Long Valley Road is closed at Highway 20 • Old Long Valley Road is closed at Highway 20 • Walker Ridge is closed at Highway 20 • Mule Skinner Road is closed at Highway 20 • Bear Valley Road is closed at Highway 20 • Bear Valley Road is closed at Brim Road • Leesville Lodge Road is closed at Brim Road

Evacuations: Mandatory evacuation orders are in 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. Areas also include Mule Skinner, Long Branch, Watertrough Road, Flintlock, Muzzleloader, No Guns, Antelope, Cougar, Marianne, Ramrod, and Moccasin. An evacuation advisory warning has been issued for east of Walker Ridge area, Wilbur Springs area, Bear Valley, and Brim Road.

For the latest evacuation information visit the Lake County Sheriff's Office’s website here.

Evacuation center: Lower Lake High School 9430 Lake Street, Lower Lake, CA

For all animal needs, call animal control at (707) 263-0278.