Some residents return home as crews make progress on Rocky Fire
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. (KTVU) - As firefighters continue to make progress on the Rocky Fire, hundreds of evacuated residents of the Clearlake Oaks community of Spring Valley, were allowed to return home for the first time since Sunday.
Among those returning were Shirley and Felix Conley. They spent the day unloading and unpacking.
But it beats being evacuated. Especially for people in their 70s and 80s.
"When you come home and see everything still standing it sure comes as a relief," said Felix Conley.
Spring Valley had been under threat from the Rocky Fire.
On Friday Cal Fire lifted the evacuation order in the morning, and those living there were able to move back home.
The Conleys stayed with relatives.
"We kind of were scared the whole time. We're too old to rebuild again," said Shirley Conley.
"You have visons that your house is destroyed. It's a catastrophe," said Felix Conley.
The Conley's are fortunate. Their home is in good shape.
Others were not so lucky.
Along Morgan Valley Road about a half hour from the Conleys in Lower Lake, there is evidence of just how devastating the fire has been.
KTVU saw a home burnt to the ground. It is one of the 43 structures Cal Fire has reported as destroyed.
The area is still closed to the public.
One woman who lives nearby says the fire spared her home.
"I feel blessed. I feel God put a special favor for us out there," said Carolyn Tate of Lower Lake.
Hundreds still remain evacuated, but Cal Fire is hoping those people can return home within the next few days.