Containment grows to 50 percent on Pawnee fire in Lake County

Populated areas of Lake County no longer face an immediate threat from the Pawnee fire, authorities said Thursday, allowing the remaining 200 residents under evacuation orders to return home as firefighters increased containment on the blaze to 50 percent by day’s end.

The push to corral the fire came ahead of hot, dry and windy weather expected to set in today and remain through the weekend. Authorities across the North Coast issued red flag warnings about the predicted fire weather.

“We’re trying to get everything wrapped up before the weather changes around midnight, when the winds will be out of the north again,” said Brian Price, a battalion chief with the Fresno Fire Department, who is working on the Pawnee fire incident command team. “The last thing we want is for the wind to pick up an ember and slide it across the line.”

The total area burned by the fire, east of Clearlake Oaks, remained at 13,700 acres after winds remained calm Wednesday into Thursday. The perimeter of the fire was not expanding, and active flames were reported only well within the perimeter, Price said.

More than 3,200 fire personnel from all over California were assigned to the fire, and crews continued clearing brush and installing fire line Thursday.

About 200 residents of the Double Eagle Ranch subdivision east of the fire were permitted to return home starting Thursday morning. The bulk of evacuees, about 1,300 Spring Valley residents, were allowed back into their homes Wednesday.

A closure order remains in place for the Walker Ridge and Indian Valley Reservoir federal lands to ensure public safety while heavy equipment works in the areas, according to Lake County Sheriff Brian Martin.

“As far as fire activity goes, it’s not fully contained, but it’s no longer posing an immediate threat to the community,” Martin said. “But there’s always a danger of fires in the summer, particularly in Lake County, and we ask that the public be careful and be vigilant.”

A total of 12 homes in greater Clearlake Oaks were destroyed at the outset of the now six-day blaze, with another 10 structures claimed by flames. The sheriff’s office was asking residents to use care when sifting through fire debris and dispose of waste appropriately in temporary collection zones for fire-affected areas.

The American Red Cross continued to operate an evacuation shelter at Lower Lake High School in Clearlake and had nine people stay overnight Wednesday, down from 15 the night before.

The shelter will remain open until there is no longer a demonstrated need in the community, an American Red Cross spokeswoman said.

A one-stop aid center opened Thursday to all affected residents at the Spring Valley Community Center, at 3000 Wolf Creek Road, offering food, medical care assessments and answers to questions about insurance and replacing vital records such as driver’s licenses.

Several nonprofits, including the Red Cross and Habitat For Humanity, will be on hand at the county-hosted site, which will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.

You can reach Staff Writer Kevin Fixler at 707-521-5336 or at kevin.fixler@pressdemocrat.com.