[UPDATE: Highway 20 Reopened] Structures Damaged, People Evacuated in Lake County Fire

Smoke rising from the Arden Fire about 2:36 p.m. [Screenshot from AlertCalifornia]

A vegetation fire burning near Highway 20, Arden Drive, and Foothill Drive in Lucerne has grown to approximately 10–15 acres Saturday afternoon, with CAL FIRE reporting a moderate rate of spread and a continued moderate threat to nearby structures. Some structures appear to have been damaged, according to scanner traffic and images on AlertCalifornia.

The California Highway Patrol reports that Highway 20 is closed at Foothill Drive, and at Ceago Vineyards. The first calls about the fire came in around 2:11 p.m., with multiple reports of flames in the hills near the roadway.

According to CAL FIRE’s Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit, air tankers have already established a fire retardant line down to Highway 20. Two bulldozers are working to build control lines while firefighters aim to keep the blaze from advancing.

Resources assigned to the fire include 13 fire engines, three hand crews, four bulldozers, four water tenders, two helicopters, four air tankers, and one air attack plane coordinating aerial operations.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office has issued evacuation orders for zones LUC-E053, LUC-E063, LUC-E067, and LUC-E059. See the evacuation areas at the Genasys Map here. A temporary evacuation point has been set up in the parking lot of East Lake Elementary School at 13050 High Valley Rd in Clearlake Oaks. All evacuation traffic is being directed east on Highway 20 toward Clearlake Oaks.

Authorities are urging the public to avoid the area while crews work to contain the blaze.

UPDATE 3:50 p.m.: The Arden Incident Commander is reporting that the fire is about 26 acres and being held. The tankers are being released but the copters are still working the fire.

Video from Firis here: https://x.com/i/status/1954313988403319121

UPDATE 4:15 p.m.: According to the Genasys Map, all evacuation orders have been reduced to evacuation warnings. Highway 20 is still in a full closure according to Caltrans QuickMap from Lakeshore Blvd to Third Ave.

UPDATE 5:55 p.m.:  CAL FIRE is reporting that two structures were destroyed and the fire is 40% contained.

Caltrans is reporting that Highway 20 is still closed.

UPDATE 6:25 p.m.: A tanker and an air attack are being brought back to the incident after what appears to be a spot fire ignited to the north of the original fire footprint. And right after that there was a report of a second fire a quarter mile to the west of the new fire.