Clayton Fire - Lower Lake, CA

The recent Clayton fire in Lake County tore through the community of Lower Lake in Lake county, destroying over 150 structures including many in the historic downtown. Hundreds of residents were evacuated. A 40 year old Clearlake resident, Damon Pashilk, was arrested under suspicion of arson which has grievously angered an already stressed community as visions of last year's Valley, Jerusalem, and Rocky fires bring back painful memories and worries of the future.

Yesterday, Tuesday, August 16th, I drove into Lower Lake's historic Main street to photograph the damage and recovery efforts.

Lake County
If you are interested in donating to help victims of the Clayton fire, please see:
Lake Area Rotary Club Assn.  |  Lake County Rising  |  North Coast Opportunities
Redwood Credit Union  |  The Salvation Army

A truck scorched by the Clayton fire sits in a field up the hill from Main Street in Lower Lake, CA. August 16th, 2016.

A boat covered in flame retardant remains relatively unharmed amidst several other vehicles and structures which were destroyed by the Clayton fire, in a field up the hill from Main Street in Lower Lake, CA. August 16th, 2016.

The Habitat for Humanity building on Main Street in Lower Lake, CA was devastated by the Clayton Fire, with only one badly damaged wall still standing on Tuesday, August 16th. The group had been working to raise funds to help families rebuild from last year's Rocky, Jerusalem, and Valley fires which devastated the region. 2016.

The Habitat for Humanity building on Main Street in Lower Lake, CA was devastated by the Clayton Fire, with only one badly damaged wall still standing on Tuesday, August 16th. The group had been working to raise funds to help families rebuild from last year's Rocky, Jerusalem, and Valley fires which devastated the region. 2016.

Debris is visible through blown-out windows of what remains of the Habitat for Humanity building on Main Street in Lower Lake, CA which was destroyed by the Clayton Fire. Only one badly damaged wall still standing on Tuesday, August 16th. The group had been working to raise funds to help families rebuild from last year's Rocky, Jerusalem, and Valley fires which devastated the region. 2016.

The gateway to a home on Lake street frames the debris of the home itself, which was destroyed by the Clayton fire. August 16th, 2016.

The cracked and collapsing wall of a garage leans heavily against trees scorched by the Clayton fire on Second Street in Lower Lake, CA. August 16th, 2016.

Rick Barger sorts through the rubble of what remains of his friend's historic Lower Lake home after it was destroyed by the Clayton fire. August 16th, 2016.

The chimney and stove are all that remain of Duane Barbic's historic Second Street home in Lower Lake, CA. August 16th, 2016.

Rick Barger, friend of Duane Barbic who owned the historic home at 16245 Second Street, holds up a photo of the house in front of the property before it was destroyed by the Clayton fire. August 16th, 2016. Photo by Kirstin Adams-Bimson.

A set of stairs is one of the few remaining pieces of the United Methodist Church on Second Street in Lower Lake, CA. Built in 1884, the church was destroyed by the Clayton Fire. August 16th, 2016.

The bell of the United Methodist Church on Second Street in Lower Lake, CA sits amongs the rubble of the bell tower. August 16th, 2016.

A large charred wooden beam rests atop part of the foundation of the historic United Methodist Church in downtown Lower Lake, which was destroyed in the Clayton fire. August 16th, 2016.

PG&E crews on Lake street in Lower Lake, CA work on repairing electrical lines destroyed by the Clayton fire. August 16th, 2016.

Wiring for an electrical pole on Lake Street was burned into the ground by the Clayton fire. August 16th, 2016.

Small charred wooden planks are all that remain of an electrical pole on Lake Street in Lower Lake, CA after the neighborhood was scorched by the Clayton fire. August 16th, 2016.

PG&E crews on Lake street in Lower Lake, CA work on repairing electircal lines destroyed by the Clayton fire. August 16th, 2016.

Sun streams through trees above what remains of the Tuscan Village Terrill Cellars Winery on Main Street in Lower Lake, CA which was burned almost entirely to the ground by the Clayton fire; only a few heavily damaged walls remained standing on Tuesday, August 16th. 2016.

The Tuscan Village Terrill Cellars Winery on Main Street in Lower Lake, CA was burned almost entirely to the ground by the Clayton fire; only a few heavily damaged walls and part of a wrought-iron gate remained standing on Tuesday, August 16th. 2016.

If you are a news agency or media outlet and would be interested in using any of these photos, please contact me, or visit my editorial gallery.