Residents anxiously wait to see if homes withstood Rocky Fire

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. (KGO) -- These are critical hours for firefighters battling the enormous Rocky Fire in Lake County.

So far, the wildfire is 30 percent contained, has destroyed at least 39 homes and scorched 69,600 acres. Crews were able to make progress Tuesday due to cooler temperatures and higher humidity, but those favorable weather conditions started to change Wednesday afternoon.

"Today, we are already starting to see temperatures on the rise. The humidity is lower and that has the potential this afternoon and this evening for fire activity to pick back up," Cal Fire spokesman Daniel Berlant said.

Gov. Jerry Brown will visit fire and emergency officials at the Rocky Fire Tuesday morning.

PHOTOS: ABC7 News at the Rocky Fire in Lake County

The number of homes destroyed has now climbed to 39, up 15 from Monday. It is not because of any new fire activity, but because the inferno has finally died down, allowing officials to get in and see what it left in its wake.

On Wednesday, firefighters focused on dousing hot spots as they appeared along Highway 20, with fortunately, no major head of flames to contend with.

"Conditions are holding up. The ground forces are going in and they're doing great work on mop-up, but it's that time of day, recently in the past week that we get a lot of flare-ups," Rocky Fire spokesman Mike Yeun said.

The hope now is to have the Rocky Fire completely contained by next Monday -- that is if the weather cooperates.

That's good news for the thousands still evacuated from their homes. ABC7 News spoke to a couple who left their home in Spring Valley and have been at a Red Cross shelter in Middletown for four days.

"We're getting tired, we're getting real tired. This is like our third time out, third fire from living in that area. So we were prepared, we knew what to do, but you still worry," evacuee Ginna Powers said.

Joan Jacobs came to the shelter as a resident looking for help, but soon found herself, working as a Red Cross volunteer.

"As corny as it might sound, I felt like a found a new family here. Anything anyone needs, they're there... and if I can contribute, I want to do that," Jacobs said.

There are 13,000 people who had to evacuate.

PHOTOS: Smoke from Lower Lake area wildfire seen for miles

MANDATORY EVACUATIONS

Jerusalem Valley area east and west of Soda Creek, Bonham Rd, Double Eagle Ranch, Quarter Horse Ln, New Long Valley Road, homes along Highway 20 corridor between New Long Valley Road and east of the county line, Mustang Court, Bronco Court, Sunset Court, Morgan Valley east of Bonham Rd, Canyon Rd, June Bug Rd, Cantwell Ranch Rd, Sloan Ranch Rd, Sky High Ranch Rd, Rocky Creek Rd, Dam Rd from the gate to the dam, Grizzly Canyon, Long Branch Drive, Lance Rd, Cougar Rd, Red Rocks, Meridian Rd, Antelope Rd, Mule Skinner Rd, Flint Look Place, Moccasin Rd, Roundball Rd, Watertrough Rd, Grigsby Canyon, Lucky Canyon, Remington Canyon, Walker Ridge, Walker Ridge Rd, No Guns Rd, Meriann Drive, Bear Valley Rd from Highway 20 to Wilbur Springs Rd, Wilbur Springs Rd and Morgan Valley Rd X Butte Creek Rd, Ogulin County Rd and Spring Valley, Paradise Canyon, New Long Valley Rd, Old Long Valley Rd, Salt Canyon, Indian Hill Rd, Flaming Hills Ln, Benmore Canyon, Red Rock Rd, Red Rock Court, Round Mountain Rd North West of Highway 22, Fern Way, Juniper Way, Holly Way, Golden Red Way, Shasta Rd, Cougar Rd, Jeep Trail, Smith Ln, Pueblo Trail, Quail Trail, Ogulin Canyon Rd, Meadow Creek Rd, Cache Creek Rd, Wolf Creek Rd, Spring Valley Rd, Riverview Rd, Rocky Ridge, Chalk Mountain Rd, Lakeview Campground, Cache Creek Winery, Noggle Winery, Elm Way, Dogwood, Cedar, Blue Berry, Acacia Way, Acacia Street, Doe Trail, Madrone Way, Peach Way, Quince Way, Redwood Way, Sequoia Way, Tamarack Way, Weeping Willow Way, Yucca Way, Coyote Way, Elk Way and Fox Way.

ADVISORY EVACUATIONS

All areas including east of Hwy 29 at Raita Rd east of Hwy 53 north to Hwy 20, Clearlake area east of Highway 53 from Dam Rd to Highway 20, Spruce Grove Rd, Noble Ranch Rd, Black Bass Pass, Spruce Grove Rd to intersection of Jerusalem Grade, Lake Ridge, Highway 53 west to Sulphur Bank Rd along Highway 20.

EVACUATION CENTERS

Middletown High School, Kelseyville High School

An animal evacuation center is opened at the Lower Lake Social Services parking lot, 15975 Anderson Ranch Parkway, Lower Lake.

Animal Evacuation Centers: Lake Evacuation and Animal Protection 707-263-0278

ROAD CLOSURES

Jerusalem Valley Road is closed to all traffic at Spruce Grove Road. Highway 20 corridor will be closed from Highway 16 to Highway 53, both directions of Ogulin Canyon Road and Highway 16 is closed from Highway 20 to County Road 41 in Yolo County.

For more stories about the wildfires breaking out across California, click here.