Valley Fire grows to over 25,000 acres; thousands evacuated
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. -- The Valley Fire in Northern California has grown to over 25,000 acres within five hours, burning homes, shutting down parts of a highway and forcing the evacuation of more than 3,000 people in nearby towns.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection says the fire began around 1:30 p.m. Saturday in Lake County. At it's start, it was 50 acres, but grew to 400 by 4p.m. It burned more than 10,000 acres by 6:30 p.m.
PHOTOS: Fire crews battle 10,000 acre Valley Fire in Lake County
Cal Fire reports that four firefighters suffered burn injuries and were transported to a burn center at UC Davis.
Mandatory evacuations orders have been issued for the Community of Cobb, Middletown, High Valley Road and Bottle Rock Road, Harbor Hot Springs and Big Canyon Road. That was later extend to Middleotwn. Cal Fire reports that the fire is also threatening structures.
Several road have also been closed in Lake County. Residents have been advised to gather their medications, pets, and important papers and leave the area immediately.
More than 100 firefighters from Cal Fire and the South Lake County Fire Protection District are on the scene. Aerial resources are aggressively fighting the High Valley Incident that is burning at a moderate rate of spread in Oak Grass Woodland.
Cal Fire PIO Daniel Berlant said that the dry conditions due to the drought are why these California wildfires are spreading so fast.
The injured firefighters were members of a helicopter crew based in Lake County. Their conditions have not been released, but Mike Lopez, President of CAL FIRE Local 2881, tweeted that he visited the for injured firefighters and said they are all expected to make full recovery.
