Firefighters limit growth overnight of Elk fire in Lake County

Firefighters overnight held a new wildfire burning in Lake County to 450 acres, halting flames that at one point Wednesday threatened homes northwest of Upper Lake, forcing residents to flee under a mandatory evacuation order.

The Elk fire broke out in brush and timber Wednesday, one week after firefighters contained the last of a long series of wildfires that have torched parts of Lake County since late July.

The Elk fire was burning off of Elk Mountain Road and Mount Dinger Road. It was moving up the flank of Young's Peak Wednesday night as state and local firefighters sought to hold its perimeter at Pitney Ridge.

No structures were reported lost and the fire was still 20 percent contained by Thursday morning.

Witnesses said firefighters appeared to throw numerous resources at the southern end of the blaze to keep it from moving toward the community of Upper Lake, home to about 1,000 people.

'I actually saw the flames race up the ridge,' said former Lake County Supervisor Denise Rushing, adding that firefighters appeared to work on the southwest side of the blaze where the most structures would have been threatened.

Rushing, who owns Dancing TreePeople Farm, a walnut orchard and organic farming community on the north end of Upper Lake, said the area where the fire was burning includes some ranch homes. She said the evacuation of White Rock Canyon Road likely affected about 30 people.

Lauren Silva, an administrative officer for Cal Fire, said the flames spread quickly Wednesday, propelled by strong winds. By evening, when the gusts had died down, the blaze was moving away from Upper Lake.

Silva said the fire was burning on both state and federal land. The cause is under investigation but early reports indicated it may have been sparked by a local resident mowing grass.

The Lake County Sheriff's Office issued an evacuation order for residents on White Rock Canyon Road in Upper Lake. That order was lifted late Wednesday night. Sheriff's officials said Elk Mountain Road at Rancheria Road was open only to residents.

Residents who live near White Rock Canyon Road were under an evacuation advisory 'and should be prepared to evacuate,' the Sheriff's Office said in a statement.

An evacuation staging area was set up at Upper Lake County Park, where evacuees can receive information about available resources. Those in need of shelter were asked to call the Red Cross at 866-272-2237.

'Residents are reminded to gather their medications, important papers and pets, due to evacuating the area for an unknown length of time,' the Sheriff's Office statement said.

On Wednesday night, there were 202 fire personnel assigned to the fire, including units from Cal Fire, the Forest Service and the North Shore Fire Protection District. Sixteen engine companies, three water tenders, four air tankers, two helicopters, six bulldozers and six fire crews were fighting the blaze.

Wildfires that started in late July and August in Lake County burned about 95,000 acres and 71 homes. The largest of the four major blazes, the Rocky and Jerusalem fires, were responsible for most of the damage, scorching a wide swath of rural land south and east of Clearlake.

You can reach Staff Writer Martin Espinoza at 521-5213 or martin.espinoza@pressdemocrat.com.