Lynn Kenyon stopped in Clearlake near the Walmart location and took in a frightening sight.
“The distant mountain tops were engulfed in flames,” Kenyon said.
On a day when dense smoke grounded helicopters for long stretches and the Rocky Fire jumped from 13,500 acres to 18,000 in a few hours, many Lake County residents were on edge.
In the late afternoon on Friday flames darted toward Clearlake, threatening more than 6,000 homes and St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake. The Lake County Sheriff’s office issued an evacuation advisory for the Highway 53 corridor. As winds cleared some of the smoke, however, fire crews again gained an advantage.
Still, the blaze remains 5 percent contained — a narrow line just to the east of Lower Lake — and the Rocky Fire had consumed 28 structures as of 8 p.m. on Friday night.
Friday was touch and go for much of the day. At first Rocky threatened to slice across Highway 20 to the east of Clearlake Oaks, near the Cache Creek Vineyards.
“The fire has not crossed to our side of 20 yet, but it is very close and we are on alert,” Cache Creek tasting room manager Linda Glover reported at mid-morning. “If the fire crosses 20 — well, it will be scary for sure.”
Fire crews were able to blunt the flames before they approached the highway.
Just afternoon, however, a dense brown smoke drifted across the lake, smothering drop zones and surrounding areas previously unaffected by the blaze. The Lake County Quality Management District warned of unhealthy air conditions in many areas, with ash fall throughout the county. Clearlake, Lower Lake and Hidden Valley Lake were particularly affected.
The smoke was so dense it grounded helicopters, which in turn allowed flames to spread as wind picked up.
Late in the afternoon, the fire turned its attention in the direction of Highway 53 between Lower Lake and the intersection with Highway 20. Spot fires were reported and residents indicated that red embers were landing nearby.
In addition to earlier mandatory evacuations in the Jerusalem Valley area, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office issued an advisory for all areas east of Highway 53 in the threatened area. In some neighborhoods residents reported being urged from their homes by authorities.
Around 5 p.m. a rumor circulated that St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake had shut down and was in the process of transferring patients elsewhere.
St. Helena responded with a press statement to the contrary. The hospital remained open at press time, reportedly operating at full capacity. In addition, they had set up a command center to communicate with first responders.
“Regardless of what happens, the hospital will be prepared”, said Carlton Jacobson of the hospital’s command center.
The Rocky Fire began on July 29 at approximately 3:30 p.m. As of Friday at 9 p.m., 131 engine companies, 35 water tenders, almost 25 aircraft and some 1,300 personnel were engaged in the effort to quell the blaze.
Local crews had been joined by teams from across California, at least three states, the National Guard and Coast Guard. Law enforcement, Lake County Office of Emergency Services, the Red Cross and Lake Evacuation and Animal Protection were also involved.
