Adams Fire in Lower Lake forces evacuations, threatens buildings

A fire at a Lake County building is forcing evacuations Wednesday afternoon after spreading to vegetation and threatening other buildings in Lower Lake, Cal Fire reported.

The Adams Fire burned at least 5 acres after starting behind a business in the 16200 block of Main Street.

As of 3:50 p.m., Cal Fire reported that a crew of 10 engines, two crews, two bulldozers, three fixed-wing aircraft, two helicopters and three tankers were responding to the fire.

The spread is rapid and the Lake County Sheriff's Office has issued an evacuation order for the area designated as Low-E169, which is directly southeast of the intersection of Highway 29 and Main Street.

“There is an immediate threat to life and property of anyone in the affected area. Gather your household members, pets, and essential belongings (including medications), lock your home, and leave immediately,” the sheriff’s office said in a Facebook post.

The San Francisco Bay Area is currently under red alert, which began Monday and was extended Wednesday by the National Weather Service through Friday.

Daily temperatures in the area have exceeded 100 degrees. As of 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Lower Lake was 104 degrees, according to the weather service.

Low humidity and strong winds reaching 40 km/h have increased the risk of fire.

The brush fire is the second — after the Toll Fire in Napa County — to break out in the North Bay this week.

The Toll Fire, which started Tuesday near Calistoga, has burned about 40 acres and was about 20% contained as of early Wednesday afternoon, according to Cal Fire.

No injuries or damage were reported in the fire.

Editor Colin Atagi can be reached at [email protected]. On Twitter @colin_atagi