Another Major Blaze Ignites in Lake County, Vehicles Trapped on Road, Multiple Structures Reported Burning, Firefighters Injured

UPDATE SUNDAY at 8:13 a.m.: We have maps and the latest information on another post. Click here.

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A new fire sprang up in Lake County this afternoon. Mandatory evacuations are underway in Hidden Valley Lake Community. Four firefighters are being reported as injured. Multiple structures are burning. CHP is reporting that vehicles are trapped on or near Hartman Road.

At 6:09 p.m. according to the California Highway Patrol, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office told CHP, “Fire jumped road/ vehicles trapped in fire.”

Here is a tweet from a eyewitness.

We’ll be updating below as new information comes in. UPDATE 6:39 p.m.: The public information officer for Cal Fire tweets,

UPDATE 6:41 p.m.: Valley Fire’s Incident page says,

Evacuations: Mandatory evacuationsHigh Valley Road, Bottle Rock Road, Community of Cobb, Harbin Hot Springs, Big Canyon Road, Community Hidden Valley Lake, Community of MiddletownThere are structures threaten with mandatory and advisory evacuations. Road closures are in place.
Road Closures : Hwy 29 X Hwy 175 (Kelseyville and Middletown), Hwy 29 X Red Hills Road and Hwy 29 X Loch Lomond

UPDATE 6:50 p.m.:

Arcgis Map from Wildlandfire.com: Upper pin shows first gps coordinates. Lower pin shows where the fire jumped Hwy 175. Shaded area shows where two earlier fires (the Rocky and the Jerusalem burned together earlier this summer.)

Capture

 

UPDATE 7:03 p.m.: CHP Dispatch Cad reports, ” 1.5 miles just south of Grange [traffic hazard] with burnt vehicles and trees.

6:40 PM 61 [192] 7-061 CPYS 1.5 MILES JSO GRANGE 1125 W BURNT VEHS AND TREES

UPDATE 7:18 p.m.: The Press Democrat is reporting over 50 homes burned, 1000’s ordered to flee.

Homes and buildings lost in blaze included structures at Hoberg’s Resort, a historic retreat founded in the 1880s on the wooded slopes of Cobb Mountain. It was burned to the ground. The fast-moving fire also consumed all the structures and vehicles within three miles of the resort, located on Highway 175 north of Cobb.

About 50 homes on the northern outskirts of Cobb were destroyed, but the community’s downtown area, including a school and a fire station, was intact.

UPDATE 7:23 p.m.:

Flames seen from Middletown around 5:30 p.m.show in this tweet.

UPDATE 7:40 p.m.:

UPDATE 7:48 p.m.: Per scanner, as vehicles flee the fire on Hwy 29, they are utilizing both south and northbound lanes to go north.   Cal Fire’s Quickmap says that Hwy 29 is closed northbound from Tubb’s Lane in northern Callistoga.

Capture 2UPDATE 8 p.m.:

According to CHP dispatch report, BOTH SIDES OF RD INGULFED AT MCKINLEY / HEADING BACK TO CLOSURE AT DRY CREEK

UPDATE 8:03 p.m.: Here’s a map of where McKinley Drive is located.

UPDATE 8:09 p.m.: Multiple reports of people trapped by fire. This person is tweeting about a pregnant niece and several others unable to get out.

UPDATE 8:13 p.m.: Cal Fire states, “The fire is at 10,000 acres and is burning in a south east direction from the Community of Cobb towards the communities of Middletown and Hidden Valley Lake. There have been an unconfirmed number of structures destroyed.” UPDATE 8:15 p.m.: The smoke is incredible!

The Valley Fire, located in Lake County, grew to 10,000 acres this evening and was first reported at 1:24 PM PDT. The…

Posted by US National Weather Service Eureka California on Saturday, September 12, 2015

UPDATE 8:21 p.m.: As residents flee, traffic on one of the few routes out of the area is stalling. According to CHP dispatch report, “MULT VEHS BACKED UP 29.”

UPDATE 8:24 p.m.: Pregnant woman and others rescued after being trapped.

UPDATE 8:32 p.m.: Scanner traffic and multiple tweets report approximately 25 people trapped at Hardester.

UPDATE 8:45 p.m.: The Valley Fire lights up the sky east of Cloverdale.

Capture

Cloverdale residents can see the Valley Fire as it burns in Lake County tonight. [Photo by Craig Philpott. Also used as Featured Photo.]

UPDATE 10 p.m.:

UPDATE 10:36 p.m.:

UPDATE 10:40 p.m.: From Cal Fire:

Acres Burned – Containment: 25,000 acres
Evacuations: Mandatory evacuations Bottle Rock Road, High Valley Road, Hwy 175 Cobb, Hwy 29 Tubbs Lane (Calistoga, Napa County) to Hwy 29/Hwy 53 (Lower Lake, Lake County) Butts Canyon Road to Napa County Line, including Berreyssa Estates. Communities of Cobb, Seigler Canyon, Loch Lomond, Middletown and Hidden Valley LakesEvacuation Centers:

Kelseyville Presbyterian Church. Also Calistoga Fair Grounds in Calistoga.

Road Closures : Hwy 29 X Bottle Rock, Hwy 29 X Hwy 175 (Kelseyville), Hwy 29 X Red Hills Road and Hwy 29 from Hwy 29/Hwy 53 Lower Lake to Hwy 29

UPDATE 10:48 p.m.: For those displaced or searching for loved ones, register or search here. http://www.redcross.org/m/find-loved-ones#arcmobile

UPDATE 10:58 p.m.: According to CHP dispatch report, “MULT RES STUCK IN BIG VALLEY THAT NEED ASSISTANCE. [Multiple residents stuck in Big Valley that need assistance.]”

UPDATE 11:15 p.m.: A newsphotographer is livestreaming the fire. The images are very intense. Click here to view.

UPDATE 12:18 a.m.:

UPDATE 1:04 a.m.: Tweet from Marin County Sheriff:


UPDATE SUNDAY at 8:13 a.m.: We have maps and the latest information on another post. Click here..

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71 Comments
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Kathy
Guest
Kathy
8 years ago

This is one fast moving fire! 10,000 acres in five hours….. Road choices are few for evacuation. This is not good. Not good at all.

clearlake fool
Guest
clearlake fool
8 years ago

ive never seen that black of smoke before from any fire , including the other ones here

send ♡
Guest
send ♡
8 years ago

A sad but good reminder to have a bag to grab with your important things&money, etc. Imagine having only 10-15 mins to leave, for real. Keep your car at least half full if you can afford to, it would suck to need to run for your life and have the car run outta gas.

Prayers to all the creatures of those woods, lets hope the forest practices will change and our forests will be managed as a forest, not for cattle grazing and logging.

Count your blessings if you are going to bed tonite in your own bed with no smoke or ash surrounding you.

moocow
Guest
8 years ago
Reply to  send ♡

Perfect comment…..agree 100% – the go bag is a great idea ……if you can afford a water tank & small pump next to your house in these areas it’s not a bad investment….

holy s''t
Guest
holy s''t
8 years ago

Wouldn’t this be a good time to get the natl guard out helping?

I cant even imagine how terrified
those folks are trapped in their car hoping fire doesnt get them. Their families must be freaked as well. That picture is so intense 🙁

Michael
Guest
Michael
8 years ago
Reply to  holy s''t

Most guard troops are still out on other fires, none of the others are out, just closer to contained. All the six rivers fires are still staffed..

Eric chamvers
Guest
8 years ago

Black smoke signifies homes cars and buildings!

Seamus
Guest
Seamus
8 years ago

Damn, it looks like all hell broke loose.

LeAnna Carson-Hansen
Guest
LeAnna Carson-Hansen
8 years ago

Thank you for the update.
Prayers for all the folks who are in danger, who lost their homes.

Uti
Guest
Uti
8 years ago

10pm: I can’t get in touch with my friends at Harbin Hot Springs outside of Middletown. I hope they got everyone evacuated. There’s only one road into the resort through a narrow valley from town.

Uti
Guest
Uti
8 years ago
Reply to  Uti

They’re safe, but no details on whether Harbin burned.

Vivian
Guest
Vivian
8 years ago

This is the most horrific fire I have ever seen in Lake County. I agree holy s”t. Why don’t we have more help. Where is the National Guard? This is a Disaster.

Mellanie
Guest
Mellanie
8 years ago

Does anyone know if the hill up Dry Creek Cutoff is burning?

kimberly
Guest
kimberly
8 years ago

Has anyone heard any news about Harbin Hot Springs?

Uti
Guest
Uti
8 years ago
Reply to  kimberly

Nothing official as of 11:30pm, but my friends who worked there had to flee and other say it was burning.

Uti
Guest
Uti
8 years ago
Reply to  Uti

Just saw this post from Harbin’s Facebook Page. Still no official word on damages at the retreat

Phyllis
Guest
Phyllis
8 years ago
Reply to  kimberly

Harbin burned and Middletown and hidden valley. The high school, hartisters and store24 in Middletown burned. It’s all gone. I came off Cobb and the fire followed me as I drove to clearlake oaks. I can’t believe it’s raining now.

Tarah
Guest
Tarah
8 years ago
Reply to  Phyllis

Im in clearlake. Anyone know how fast moving this way? This fire has moved so fast im scared to even close my eyes

deb
Guest
deb
8 years ago
Reply to  Phyllis

really how hard did it rain

clearlake fool
Guest
clearlake fool
8 years ago
Reply to  Phyllis

after a day the truth is out there now
the only thing true you said was it was raining and harbin burned

ED Denson
Guest
ED Denson
8 years ago

Incredible coverage of an awful event. Keep up the great work. I hope they can get everyone out alive.

WHO
Guest
WHO
8 years ago

Just great here we go again more Forest on fire .Im hearing seven firefighters hurt on the Lumpkin fire now burning in butte county .

LeAnna Carson-Hansen
Guest
LeAnna Carson-Hansen
8 years ago

Thank you for the news coverage. Just had a spirited conversation with a fella on face book regarding this fire. His presumption of folks not being prepared and hoping for windfalls of insurance payouts upset me. Most folks I know who live in rural wildland areas are not either able to afford insurance or are not able to get it. May the fire fighters be safe and the folks able to escape with their life and hopefully treasured “items”. Such a hellstorm of fire.

Martin's
Guest
Martin's
8 years ago

This has grown so fast. Devastating. Be safe out there.

nines
Guest
8 years ago

I do NOT do helplessness well. I keep having this feeling, this gut response, that I was once all-powerful and could make things like this evaporate, unhappen, just by setting my mind to it… or maybe pointing at it with my cosmic finger… continually bewildered that it seems more like a memory than just a frustration hallucination. Truly, it feels more like all-powerfulness unplugged, like, wait, link those synapses back up, dummy… like a dream where I’m running from a monster but my feet won’t move… like if I could just wake up from this dream of my impulses not working I could go back to making awful things disappear from existence at will.

melissa
Guest
melissa
8 years ago

In San Francisco trying to reach/locate/check on my friends in and on Cobb! We hope you are all safe!!
-Melissa, manny, and Sammy
(Pine Grove)

melissa burciaga
Guest
melissa burciaga
8 years ago

Anyone know if all of cobb is burned, hardesters n the golf course or the houses up golf road or loch lomond, whiperping pines??

Tarah
Guest
Tarah
8 years ago

I know hardesters, school,gas station in cobb gone most everythinh

Tom
Guest
Tom
8 years ago
Reply to  Tarah

I found this video late last night looking for info on Pine Grove. It shows Hardester’s, Cobb Elementary, etc. still intact. Give it a try.

https://www.facebook.com/forrestkuecker/videos/1069417536422120/

jay
Guest
jay
8 years ago

How about Cobb Mountain Spring Water Company?

CobbDwell
Guest
CobbDwell
8 years ago
Reply to  jay

Intact

Marty Lynn
Guest
Marty Lynn
8 years ago
Reply to  jay

Latest word about Cobb Mountain Water? Bruce Anderson’s place?

CobbDwell
Guest
CobbDwell
8 years ago

Hardesrers standing.. all little shopping center standing.. video store..gas statiin fire station / bar / tim toyes.. whispering pines water.. possibly whispering pines resort.. possibly Whispering pines.. see video posted today by Utility trucks and LakeCo.com

WHO
Guest
WHO
8 years ago

Videos popping up on facebook now .Horrible is all I can say .facebook group clearlake highlands our backyard and beyond

deb
Guest
deb
8 years ago
Reply to  WHO

were is clear lake high lands

clearlake fool
Guest
clearlake fool
8 years ago
Reply to  deb

thats our old name . its now city of clearlake . clearlake is 5 miles north or so of the fire

cece
Guest
cece
8 years ago

we have friends on Bottle Rock rd. accros from Jelly Stone camp ground..Did the fire get there? cant get a hold of them.

Michael
Guest
Michael
8 years ago
Reply to  cece

The fire started off Bottle Rock road, most of that area burned, but all the folks they know of got out, as the fire wasn’t big yet then. Hopefully your friends did as well.

Hick
Guest
Hick
8 years ago

SeptEMBER is a very long month in lake county. Bog’s Mt. is the home base for Copter 103 & Crew. Good luck guys!

Michael
Guest
Michael
8 years ago
Reply to  Hick

The 4 Firefighters that got burned yesterday were from Boggs mtn. Helitack H-104, they are all in good condition at UC Davis Burn center, and will be ok…

Scooter
Guest
Scooter
8 years ago

40,000 acres in 18 hours. Unbelievable.

clearlake fool
Guest
clearlake fool
8 years ago

power just came back on in clearlake , went out at 6 am
been up since 3 am , too hot to sleep and heavy smoke and its lightly raining
they now evacuating rivera west all the way to and including parts of lower lake , rivera is 5 miles north of lower lake off hwy 29 toward kelseyville

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Teresa
Guest
Teresa
8 years ago

is whispering pines ok?

clearlake fool
Guest
clearlake fool
8 years ago
Reply to  Teresa

everything on cobb mountain is evacuated and so far no official nothing on whats been burned or survived
kym has the best reporting so far and its lots better than our local online news

CobbDwell
Guest
CobbDwell
8 years ago
Reply to  Teresa

Possibly… watch utube video… truck goes by with cam… from middletown 175 .. up Cobb whispering pines sign it completly ash where houses stood.. old stagecoach stop house intact.. old neon sign business and whithouse next door looks intact.. whispering pines water co. And WP lodge intact ( on roadside view anyway) both little malll areas look intact.. including Hardesters.. Bar ( old liquor store) grey n white cottages next door .. elementary school Texaco station all look intact… Loch Lomond intact… Most of the older places are intact. ( Accept for Hobergs and Harbin they are both gone especially Hobergs.)) why ??? Wells..spring water and water tanks Im guessing but I really cant say .. … all newer places ..newer areas.. pretty much gone… sorry.. ck. Out Utility truck video drive of area… good luck all.. Im so sorry for all losses..

Angela L
Guest
Angela L
8 years ago

Anyone hear how Whispering Pines, Pine Grove, Gifford & Gordan Springs were effected??? Still in shock over this.

Liz
Guest
Liz
8 years ago

This devastating, sad and depressing news. Please Kym, find a ‘feel good story’ to lighten our heavy hearts. There must be someone doing something good for someone somewhere.

Fire
Guest
Fire
8 years ago

Bear Dyken of Clan Dyken lost his home to the Butte/Calavaras fire. Clan Dyken is one of the hardest working bands doing benefits and helping others……. Send some loving energy their way.

clearlake fool
Guest
clearlake fool
8 years ago

just found this ash fallout in my yard in city of clearlake , aprox 7 miles from the fire , largest piece is about 3 inches long and all half burned and blackened , hope pic works

DHuf
Guest
DHuf
8 years ago
Reply to  clearlake fool

Getting those in Cloverdale too.

DHuf
Guest
DHuf
8 years ago
Reply to  DHuf

Calif bay

Nicole Greenleaf
Guest
Nicole Greenleaf
8 years ago

Waiting for an update on Pine Grove in Cobb Mountain, Looking for Bill Reed he has no phone or means of communication. Making sure he is ok.

Diane Williamson
Guest
Diane Williamson
8 years ago

Also waiting on some word about Pine Grove. Have not seen anything.

Jim foley
Guest
Jim foley
8 years ago

Nicole, my Mom, Jan Foley, asked about Bill too, old family friends of Bill and your family. Let me know if you hear anything

Suzanne Donati
Guest
Suzanne Donati
8 years ago
Reply to  Jim foley

Also waiting for word about Pine Grove and Bill.

Suzanne Donati
Guest
Suzanne Donati
8 years ago

Nicole, If you have heard from Bill, will you tell him to contact me in Oregon.

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[…] UPDATE 10 p.m. Office of Emergency Services Trying To Open Enough Shelters Another Major Blaze Ignites in Lake County, Vehicles Trapped on Road, Multiple Structures Reported Burning, Firefighters Injured. September … Article by shelters – Google Blog Search. Read entire story here. […]

Gordon Roberts
Guest
Gordon Roberts
8 years ago

I lived on Hoberg Drive, Cobb from 1979 until 2004 – some of the happiest years of my life were spent there. I now live back in my native UK. This news brings tears to my eyes as I think of all my past friends still living there who have in all probability now lost their homes. My thoughts go out for them.

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Cory Gaeta
Guest
Cory Gaeta
8 years ago

Looking for information on Pine Grove Resort and Whispering Pines.

CobbDwell
Guest
CobbDwell
8 years ago
Reply to  Cory Gaeta

Pls. See my post above. Video as of yesterday.. posted video today..Utube..

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Vince
Guest
8 years ago

About 60 years ago George Hoberg owner of Hobergs Resort was also faced with a raging fire. George took things in hand in his successful attempt to save the family resort. He set backfires that as I understand, destroyed some homes, but saved Hobergs. I was the music director at the resort in the late 60’s and early 70’s. I saw the passing of George Hoberg and eventually the decision to to sell the resort. I now live in San Diego, but in August I drove to visit family in Napa, while there I took a drive to Cobb Mountain to revisit my youth and see the renovation being done at the resort in anticipation of its grand opening. I am glad that I saw everything intact one last time. When my son bought his first home it was in Loch Lomond, he recently sold his home and returned to Napa. To my friends on Cobb, I pray for the best. As a child by family would gather at Anderson Springs over the Labor Day Weekend. All those memories and now I just cry when I look at the pictures.

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[…] Another Major Blaze Ignites in Lake County, Vehicles Trapped on Road, Multiple Structures Reported B… […]

Suzanne Donati
Guest
Suzanne Donati
8 years ago

If the Greenleaf’s have news about Bill, will you please let me know as I am
concerned about my cousin.

tom
Guest
tom
8 years ago

any news on pine grove? spent many happy days of my youth there.

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7 years ago

More Information On The Public School Black Check Harbin

[…] onsumed all the structures and vehicles within three miles of the resort, locate […]