Boyles Fire map: Evacuations in city of Clearlake

Mandatory evacuations ongoing, road closures in place

New fire in Lake County threatens homes; hundreds of acres burned

A new wildfire erupted in Northern California on Saturday afternoon, forcing mandatory evacuations in the city of Clearlake and prompting road closures amidst hot and dry conditions.

The Boyles Fire ignited at around 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 9, 2023, in the area of Boyles Ranch Road and Highway 29. The fire quickly grew, fanned by strong winds and fueled by dry vegetation in the region.

As of Saturday evening, the Boyles Fire had burned approximately 1,200 acres and was only 5% contained. Firefighters from multiple agencies were battling the blaze, including the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), the U.S. Forest Service, and local fire departments.

Mandatory evacuations were ordered for the city of Clearlake, including all areas west of Highway 53 and south of Old Highway 53. Residents in the affected areas were urged to evacuate immediately to a safe location.

Road closures were also in place due to the fire. Highway 29 was closed between Highway 53 and Butts Canyon Road, and Butts Canyon Road was closed between Highway 29 and Highway 53.

The Boyles Fire is the latest in a series of wildfires that have ravaged California in recent years. The state is facing a severe drought, which has created dry conditions that are ripe for wildfires.

The cause of the Boyles Fire is still under investigation.