Top 10 largest wildfires in Lake County since 2012

A look at region’s major wildfires

Two new wildland fires top Lake County’s growing list of major blazes over the past six years, including infernos that have devoured more than 280,000 acres of terrain and destroyed nearly 2,600 structures.

The latest fires, which started Friday in Mendocino County within one hour of each other, make 2018 the most destructive year for fire in Lake County based on acreage lost to flames since a run of devastating fires in 2015.

Most of the fires in Lake County during the past decade have burned in eastern and southeastern sections of the county, where residents have had to evacuate multiple times. This time, it’s residents on the western side of the county, in Upper Lake, Lakeport, Kelseyville and numerous smaller communities along the northwest shore of Clear Lake, who are evacuating.

2018

Ranch fire: 51,539 acres. It’s burning between Highway 20 and the Mendocino National Forest. It’s also threatening Blue Lakes, Witter Springs, Bachelor Valley, Upper Lake, Lucerne and Nice.

River fire: 28,869 acres. It’s burning between the Hopland grade and Lakeport, and Monday it pushed south of Highway 175, threatening Kelseyville and other communities. Together, the Ranch and River fires have destroyed seven homes and three outbuildings.

Pawnee fire: 13,000 acres, 22 structures destroyed in Spring Valley.

2017

Sulphur fire: 2,207 acres, 162 structures destroyed, mostly homes.

2016

Clayton fire: 4,000 acres, 300 homes and business in greater Lower Lake.

2015

Rocky fire: 69,000 acres, 43 homes, 53 outbuildings east of Clear Lake.

Jerusalem fire: 25,000 acres, six homes, 21 outbuildings northeast of Middletown.

Valley fire: 76,000 acres, 1,300 homes, 27 multi-family buildings, 66 businesses and 581 outbuildings. The fire, which stretched from Cobb Mountain to Hidden Valley Lake, killed five people.

2012

Wye-Walker fire: 8,000 acres, two homes east of Clear Lake.

Scotts fire: 4,700 acres, Cow Mountain, five injuries.