Two fires controlled in Lake County, one in Napa County

Firefighters are investigating two suspicious wildland fires that erupted within minutes of each other Tuesday evening near Lower Lake, burning two structures and forcing some area residents to evacuate, according to Cal Fire.

By late Wednesday morning, firefighters had controlled the fires and were mopping up and monitoring the areas, said Cal Fire Capt. Matt Ryan. Hundreds of firefighters from multiple agencies responded.

The so-called Kugelman fire, reported at 5:30 p.m., burned about 45 acres near Kugelman Street and Highway 53, Ryan said, destroying a single-family home, and forcing evacuations. It also threatened structures in the town of Lower Lake, including the high school, he said.

Firefighters loaded some area residents into their trucks during the evacuation, he said. The evacuations were lifted Tuesday night.

The Canyon fire, reported at 5:32 p.m., burned 14 acres near Seigler Canyon Road and Highway 29, Ryan said, including a metal building.

A third fire reported at 6:08 p.m. some 20 miles away in Napa County near Berryessa-Knoxville Road, burned 39 acres, Ryan said.

All three fires are under investigation. One Cal Fire official Wednesday said the timing, proximity and location of the three fires have investigators considering them as suspicious.