Volunteers from The Salvation Army in Solano County are helping to feed firefighters and evacuees at the Clayton Fire in Lake County.
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This time, the 4,000-acre Clayton fire – which is only 5% contained – has forced thousands of people from their homes and destroyed almost 200 structures and threatened some 1,500 more. It had scorched more than 5,400 acres (2,185 hectares) within less than 48 hours after erupting on Saturday afternoon, destroying a dozen structures and threatening about 200 more, with hundreds of residents being told to evacuate.
In Lower Lake, houses have been razed by the flames, with only their brick chimneys still standing. No fatalities or injuries have so far been reported but the devastation has left scores homeless.
More than 1,000 personnel are working together to extinguish the fire.
In Southern California, forecasters warned of high fire danger due to a heat wave and gusty winds.
Officials made the announcement at a news conference but didn’t take questions or give any other details on Pashilk.
“The community has suffered significantly”, Pimlott added, saying damage from the fire was estimated to have topped $10 million.
“The fire activity could change in a moment’s notice right now”, said Suzie Blankenship, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Despite getting some rain last winter and spring, Lake County is tinder dry.
Officials confirmed 10 homes around Lower Lake were burned, although witnesses said they could see more. Her home, built in 1850, was destroyed.
The fire reached Main Street in Lower Lake, a town of about 1,200, and burned the post office, a winery, a Habitat for Humanity office and several businesses and restaurants as black smoke loomed over the four-block strip. “The trees are lovely, but when they catch fire, they carry fire”. “There are a lot of people who are down here, down on their luck. I really feel for people and think that we can stay and help them”. It grew to almost 7 square miles and forced authorities to evacuate residents by boat when it shifted toward Lake Nacimiento on Sunday. It was partially contained.
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The conflagration is one of two dozen major wildfires across the drought-parched U.S. West that have all together charred almost 300,000 acres (120,000 hectares).
