Mandatory evacuations as outbreak spread

While a major forest fire in Lake County, Northern California, continued to burn on Sunday, the authorities had to evacuate approximately 3,000 people and East Bay fire crews were called to help fight the fire.

What's known as the Pawnee Fire burned about 1,500 acres, destroyed at least 12 structures and threatened 600 more on Sunday morning, according to Jonathan Cox, a battalion chief with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. , known as Cal Fire.

Firefighters from the Alameda Department, Fremont, Oakland, Hayward and Berkeley Fire Fighters were deployed early Sunday morning as part of the designated intervention teams to help combat the fate of the firefighters. fire, according to Aisha Knowles, spokesman for the Alameda County Fire Department.

Cox said the fire was centered near Pawnee Road and New Long Valley Road, northeast of Clearlake Oaks, and that it was zero percent at 10 pm Sunday. The fire was burning actively in several directions.

"We now have more than 200 firefighters on site, and more resources have been ordered, both by plane and by land," said Cox. The fire mainly burns through what it calls a "steep and dry terrain" that has been marked with a red flag for the danger of fire before the fire.

New Long Valley Road and Old Long Valley Road have both been closed on Highway 20, according to Cal Fire.

The Lake County Sheriff's Office has ordered mandatory evacuations for all residents of the Spring Valley area, according to the Nixle page of the agency.

A shelter was established at Lower Lake High School at 9430 Lake Street, according to the Sheriff's Office.

The fire started around 5:20 pm. Saturday, said Cox, but the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Cox said the Pawnee fire was one of four big forest fires burning Sunday in northern California.

Lane's fire in Tehama County had burned over 3,000 acres, and was only contained by five percent as early as Sunday morning.

The Stoll fire, also in Tehama County, burned about 500 acres and was confined to 40%.

The Bascom fire in Shasta County had burned about 328 acres and was confined to 75% since Sunday morning.

Come back here for updates.