Rocky Fire proves not to be typical blaze
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. (KGO) -- More than 3,000 fire personnel are fighting the massive blaze in Lake County. As of early Tuesday evening, there have been 67,000 acres burned and the Rocky Fire is 20 percent contained. The containment has gotten better since earlier on Monday when it was at just 12 percent.
The Middletown Unified School District in Lake County is delaying the opening of schools because some campuses are being used as evacuation centers.
The White House is keeping an eye on Lower Lake as the blaze burns.
"The President asks his team to stay in close touch with the governors and local officials as their efforts continue. And the White House will continue to closely monitor the situation from here," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said. "These are selfless individuals and we owe them a debt of gratitude for putting their lives on the line to fight these fires and protect their fellow Americans."
PHOTOS: ABC7 News at the Rocky Fire in Lake County
There is finally some encouraging news about the Rocky Fire, which has been burning for a week -- firefighters are getting a small break with the weather. There were even a few light rain drops falling near the fire.
The fire is not only burning in Lake County, but has also stretched to Colusa and Yolo counties.
The size of that fire is so hard to conceptualize. With 67,000 acres burned, that's over 101 square miles and it's been growing every day since it started. To compare, 101 square miles is about the size of the combined land mass of the cities of Oakland and Alameda combined.
VIDEO: Residents in path of Rocky Fire refuse to leave
The firefighters say they kept the fire across Highway 20 to 3,200 acres and they're proud of that. Hopefully, the weather will stay cool to help firefighters gain more containment of the fire.
PHOTOS: Smoke from Lower Lake area wildfire seen for miles
MANDATORY EVACUATIONS
Jerusalem Valley area east of Soda Creek, Bonham Road, Quarter Horse Lane, Mustang Court, Bronco Court, Sunset Court, Morgan Valley east of Bonham Road, Canyon Road, June Bug Road, Cambell Ranch Road, Sloan Ranch Road, Sky High Ranch Road, Rocky Creek Road, Dam Road from the gate to the dam, Grizzly Canyon, Long Branch Drive, Lance Road, Cougar Road, Red Rocks, Meridian Road, Antelope Road, Mule Skinner Road, Flint Look Place, Moccasin Road, Roundball Road, Watertrough Road, Grigsby Canyon, Lucky Canyon, Remington Canyon, Walker Ridge, Walker Ridge Road, No Guns Road, Meriann Drive, Bear Valley Road from Highway 20 to Wilbur Springs Road, Wilbur Springs Road and Morgan Valley Road X Butte Creek Road, Ogulin County Road and Spring Valley, Paradise Canyon, New Long Valley Road, Old Long Valley Road, Salt Canyon, Indian Hill Road, Flaming Hills Lane, Benmore Canyon, Red Rock Road, Red Rock Court, Round Mountain Road North West of Highway 22, Fern Way, Juniper Way, Holly Way, Golden Red Way, Shasta Road, Cougar Road, Jeep Trail, Smith Lane, Pueblo Trail, Quail Trail, Ogulin Canyon Road, Meadow Creek Road, Cache Creek Road, Wolf Creek Road, Spring Valley Road, Riverview Road, Rocky Ridge, Chalk Mountain Road, 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 Road east of Hwy 53 north to Hwy 20, Clear Lake area east of Highway 53 from Dam Road to Highway 20, Spruce Grove Road, Noble Ranch Road, Black Bass Pass, Jerusalem Valley area west of Soda Creek, Double Eagle Ranch, Homes along Hwy 20 corridor between New Long Valley Road and east of the county line, Spruce Grove Road to intersection of Jerusalem Grade, Lake Ridge, Highway 53 west to Sulphur Bank Road 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.
ROAD CLOSURES
Jerusalem Valley Road is closed to all traffic at Spruce Grove Road, Highway 20 corridor will be closed from New Long Valley Road to Highway 53, both directions of Ogulin County Road and Highway 16 is closed from Highway 20 to the Yolo County Line.
For more stories about the wildfires breaking out across California, click here.
