Glenhaven Fire in Lake County prompts evacuation orders

Glenhaven Fire: Homeowner describes house going up in flames

A couple tells us about their home going up in flames in Lake County. The Glenhaven Fire is holding at 403 acres Friday night. Forward progress has been stopped and the fire is 10% contained.

CLEARKLAKE OAKS, Calif. - A wildfire in Lake County just east of Clear Lake is 30% contained and forward progress has been stopped after the fire forced evacuations Friday afternoon.

The Glenhaven Fire is now holding at 417.5 acres. Earlier, there were active spot fires.

2,500 structures are threatened and 3,500 people are in evacuation order zones with another 400 in areas under evacuation warning, according to Cal Fire officials.

The fire started around 11:37 a.m., Cal Fire reported.

Cal Fire has issued evacuation orders and warnings in areas east of Glenhaven Drive and Paradise Valley Boulevard. Highway 20 is closed.

Officials said at least two structures have been destroyed and at least two temporary evacuation points have been opened.

SkyFOX flew over the fire and captured the moment a large ranch-style house went up in flames. We contacted the owner of the home on Pingree Road, Mariah Bowyer.

Raw video: Glenhaven fire engulfs Lake County home

SkyFOX is over Glenhaven Fire, where a house is being consumed by flames. Crews are working to extinguish the fire.

"We first noticed it when we were heading up to our house," said Bowyer. "I evacuated with my children."

She said they live on 40 acres of property and that her husband stayed to fight the fire with the firefighters. She said the fire was so bad that they could no longer do anything. They lived in the home for six years.

Bowyer's husband's face and ear became a little scorched when they were trying to rescue one of their dogs from the house.

"When he opened our front door he was blown back and landed on his tailbone. So he's having some pretty bad pain."

She said he was blown back from heat and flames. That dog wasn't rescued, but she said they had several animals on the property, some of which were rescued.

The Cal Fire firefighters were able to reunite Bowyers with her husband after the road they lived on was no longer accessible. They planned on contacting friends in the area for a place to stay tonight.

If that doesn't work out they said they'd stay at the Red Cross shelter inside the Casino event center as a last resort.

Earlier in the evening, Jason Clay, with Cal Fire, told KTVU crews were establishing control lines.

"Ground troops are being supported by the aircraft. We've got a number of helicopters."

25 engines are assigned to this fire along with two air tactical aircraft and 12 helicopters. Clay said crews are working in red flag warning conditions including low humidity and high temperatures.

"The winds are an aspect that is a concern for us," Clay said.

As the evening wore on, Cal Fire posted that crews found a dog roaming the perimeter of the fire. They gave the dog water and took it to a safe place. They posted photos of the animal to social media and said if you're missing a dog to contact animal control.

Area residents can expect a heavy presence of firefighters for several days.

Cal Fire reminds people to evacuate if you are told to do so in order to clear traffic for first responders.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.