Lucerne fire burns 11 acres, threatens homes

Fire early Monday burned about 11 acres above Clear Lake, forcing the nighttime evacuation of residents from several homes south of Lucerne.

The fire was reported just before midnight alongside Highway 20 near Rosemont Drive. It took off up the hillside, consuming grass, brush and oaks, said Northshore fire Battalion Chief Mike Ciancio.

When the flames began to threaten homes, Lake County sheriff’s deputies temporarily evacuated 40-50 residents and one pig from Rosemont and Panoramic Drive, sheriff’s Lt. Steve Brooks said.

Firefighters stopped the flames from reaching homes and no structures were damaged.

The fire started along a rural stretch of the lake highway, just a few feet off of the roadway. Officials closed Highway 20 for the investigation and firefighting effort, which involved several local Lake County fire agencies and Cal Fire. Both lanes were clear by about 9 a.m.

Meanwhile, south of Lucerne, more than 1,000 firefighters Monday continued to work toward full containment of the nearly 4,000-acre Clayton fire. Cal Fire Monday had the fire listed at 95 percent contained.

Hundreds of homes and other buildings were destroyed by the blaze. A Clearlake man is in custody, charged with setting the fire as well as several other smaller fires in the county.

- Randi Rossmann