Lake Fire

Situation Summary

Update (6 p.m., Monday, Aug. 4): It is expected that the fire will be 100 percent contained by the end of the day shift on Saturday. Once that is reached, the fire will move into patrol status where firefighters will continue monitoring the site until they go three consecutive days with no smokes found coming from the site.

What Happened

The fire was exhibiting moderate to erratic fire behavior with short-range spotting, as the winds aligned with the topography in the early stages of the fire. Multiple structures were threatened with fire engines assigned to structure protection as evacuation orders and warnings were established. Airtankers concentrated at the head of the fire and established a fire retardant line that was tied into the dozer and hand lines established on the left flank and left shoulder near Pond Road. The dozers and hand crews then continued work and had completely constructed a control line around the fire's entire perimeter by 6:15 p.m. Sunday when forward progress was stopped.

During the height of the fire, there were four zones under mandatory evacuation orders that had 3,386 people who resided within them (CLE-E123, CLE-E126, CLE-E135 & CLO-E113). There was an additional 65 people residing within the two evacuation warning zones (CLE-E124 & CLO-E109). Those four zones under evacuation orders were downgraded to warning status by 5:45 p.m. and by 6:55 p.m., all evacuation warnings were lifted. 

The damage inspection process revealed that six outbuildings were destroyed in the fire and five additional structures were damaged (four outbuildings and one single-family residence).