Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today issued an emergency proclamation for Lake County due to the effects of the Clayton Fire, which has burned thousands of acres, damaged critical infrastructure, destroyed homes and caused the evacuation of residents.
By Laura Anthony
Updated 41 mins ago
LOWER LAKE, Calif. (KGO) -- Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. on Monday issued an emergency proclamation for Lake County due to the effects of the Clayton Fire, which has burned thousands of acres, damaged critical infrastructure, destroyed homes and caused the evacuation of residents.
PHOTOS: Crews battle massive Clayton Fire in Lake County
The aftermath of the massive Clayton Fire in Lake County, California on Monday, August 15, 2016. (KGO-TV)
Firefighters are battling a raging wildfire that CAL FIRE officials say has destroyed at least 175 structures and forced thousands to evacuate the Lower Lake area of Lake County.
Firefighters are calling this the Clayton Fire because it started near Clayton Creek Road. It started Saturday and crews seemed to have a handle on it until it blew up Sunday afternoon, quickly taking over the town of Lower Lake.
With the Clayton Fire still raging to the east, and aerial tankers and firefighters doing their best to stop it, all the weary residents of Lower Lake can do is watch, worry and hope.
"My hope was that I still might have a house here," said Matt Colburn.
Matt and Crystal Colburn live on Winchester Street, just a few blocks from downtown Lower Lake. Here, home after home is gone. And though she hasn't been allowed back in yet to see it for herself, it's a reality Crystal has already begun to accept.
"As long as the lives are safe and the animals, we saw animals, people getting their animals out and everything. Everything else is rebuildable," said Crystal.
The big flames from Sunday were a wind-whipped inferno that destroyed one business after another in a matter of minutes. And it's a battle that's far from over
"We have a lot of resources in the air and on the ground. We want to get this under control as quickly as possible. We want to get this wrapped up. This community has been through a lot of fires in the last year," said Paul Lowenthal with the North Bay Incident Management Team.
Indeed, families like these, who are waiting it out with their animals at an evacuation center in Middletown are left to wonder why this keeps happening here.
"Two summers now. Yeah, the Valley Fire. It's too much for one person to handle you know," shared Manny Cook, another evacuee.
PG&E has cut power to miles of electrical lines in order to make it safer for firefighters.
As of Monday morning, roughly 1,800 homes and businesses are without power. That's down significantly from 8,00 who were without power on Sunday night.
The flames have damaged about 20 PG and E power poles and other essential equipment.
Clayton Fire Resources:
School closures:
The following schools will are closed Monday in the Konocti Unified School District because of the fire: Lower Lake High, Lower Lake Elementary, Carle, Konocti Education Center, Burns Valley, Pomona, East Lake and Clearlake Creativity Center.
Evacuation centers:
A power outage has closed the Clearlake Highland Senior Center as an evacuation center. Residents are being advised to go evacuation centers located at:
Kelseyville High School - 5480 Main Street, Kelseyville
Twin Pine Casino - 22223 Hwy 29, Middletown
Seventh Day Adventist Church - 3500 Hill Road E. Lakeport
Closures:
Highway 53 is open to all traffic between Olympic Dr. and Highway 20; however, it remains closed between Olympic Dr. and Highway 29.
Donation information:
North Coast Opportunities is re-activating the fire relief fund created during 2015's devastating Lake County wildfires and is already working with local organizations to react as quickly as possible to the Clayton fire. More details about the fund and how to apply will be forthcoming. In the meantime, to donations are being accepted at any Mendo Lake Credit Union branch, at any NCO office or via PayPal.
To donate via PayPal, click here.
Make checks payable to: NCO / Wildfire Relief Fund. Be sure to write "Clayton Fire" in the memo section.
The Salvation Army of Northern California has deployed multiple canteens (mobile kitchens) to the #ClaytonFire scene in Lake County. Salvation Army representatives are also distributing meals to evacuation centers at Kelseyville High School and Seventh Day Adventist Church in Lakeport. They are also providing emotional and spiritual care to the affected areas.
Click here to learn how you can help.
Also, the Salvation Army is also collecting monetary donations. They use 100 percent of disaster donations in support of local disaster relief operations. To learn more about how to donate, click here.
PHOTOS: Crews battle massive 2015 Valley Fire
Some of the materials found in Middletown, Calif. that the Environmental Protection Agency deemed hazardous Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2015. (KGO-TV)