LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Authorities have arrested a Lower Lake man for allegedly setting a fire Sunday afternoon in an attempt to protect his marijuana grow from a larger wildland incident burning nearby.

Juan Ramos Silva, 49, was taken into custody shortly before 8 p.m. Sunday by Cal Fire, according to Lake County Jail booking records.

Ramos Silva was booked later Sunday night on a misdemeanor charge of unlawfully setting a backfire and a felony count of causing a structure or forest fire, with bail set at $15,000, based on his booking sheet.

“This is the fifth arrest our officers have made in just the past two weeks,” said Chief Ken Pimlott, Cal Fire director. “Especially now with the dry conditions from the drought, we will absolutely not tolerate arson of any type and will track down those suspected of causing harm to our communities.”

The fire that Ramos Silva allegedly set was not related to the cause of the Jerusalem fire or the Rocky fire. The investigation into the origin and cause of both the Rocky Fire and Jerusalem Fire are ongoing, as investigators continue to work to determine a cause, Cal Fire said.

The Jerusalem fire was first reported just after 3:30 p.m. Sunday in the 20700 block of Jerusalem Grade Road northeast of Middletown, and grew to 3,000 acres by Sunday night, as Lake County News has reported.

On Sunday at approximately 5:43 p.m., deputies responded to the area of Jerusalem Grade in the area of Hidden Valley in response to the wildfire, which was threatening several residences. Deputies were conducting mandatory evacuations of residences in the Jerusalem Grade and Jerusalem Valley area, according to Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

Brooks said deputies noticed that a large fire had ignited in the area close to their location and responded to a residence located in the 15000 block of Spruce Grove Road, where the fire was believed to have originated from. They noticed a large marijuana grow site on the property, within 50 feet of the residence. Deputies contacted several witnesses at the residence who said the property owner, Ramos Silva, had started the fire. 

Deputies located Ramos Silva who admitted to starting the fire on his property. Ramos Silva explained he started the fire to prevent the Jerusalem Fire from reaching his residence, Brooks said.

The deputies noticed that Ramos Silva had started the fire behind his marijuana grow to protect his plants, not his residence. Brooks said Ramos Silva also said he had been a firefighter in Mexico years ago and had attempted to conduct a “controlled burn” of the back of his property to protect it from burning. 

Jail records show that Ramos Silva is tentatively scheduled to appear in Lake County Superior Court for arraignment on the charges on Tuesday.

Cal Fire advises that residents should remain vigilant in their preparedness and aware of suspicious persons when a fire does start. Suspicious activity should be reported including the time, individual’s physical description, and a vehicle description, including the license plate number.

Always contact law enforcement, Cal Fire advises, never approach a suspicious person. Anyone with information about arson is urged to contact the CAL FIRE Arson Hotline at 1-800-468-4408. Callers can remain anonymous.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A wildland fire burning between Lower Lake and Middletown continued to grow on Sunday night.

The Jerusalem fire was first dispatched just after 3:30 p.m. Sunday off Jerusalem Road, seven miles northeast of Middletown, according to Cal Fire.

As of 9 p.m., Cal Fire reported that the fire had burned 3,000 acres, with no containment.

Cal Fire confirmed to Lake County News that the fire was burning south of the perimeter of the Rocky fire, east of Lower Lake.

The most recent Cal Fire report said the fire is moving east in steep terrain.

The fire prompted authorities to issue mandatory evacuations for the Jerusalem Valley area east of Spruce Grove.

Cal Fire said Jerusalem Valley Road is closed to all traffic at Spruce Grove Road, with fire personnel and emergency vehicles working in the area. 

The Lake County Office of Emergency Services reported that a Red Cross evacuation center set up at Middletown High School for the Rocky fire was remaining open for the Jerusalem fire evacuees.

In addition, officials set up a temporary shelter for pets and other animals at 6885 Old Highway 53 in Clearlake, the site of the former water park.

Air and ground resources – tankers, planes, copters, dozers and water tenders – have been pulled from the nearby Rocky fire throughout the afternoon and evening and sent into the Jerusalem fire area, including Jerusalem Valley.

Radio reports indicated that additional air attack and tankers will return to the Jerusalem fire site in the morning, as they cannot continue to fly at night.

Shortly before 9 p.m. officials at the scene reported that the fire was burning into the Jericho Canyon area, and had slowed down considerably, with the anticipation that firefighters can make good progress on it overnight.

Radio reports also indicated it was headed toward the Rocky fire's southern perimeter.

Cal Fire said the cause of the Jerusalem fire is under investigation.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Lake County will open a local assistance center this week.

The LakeLAC, located at 14092 Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake, will open at 8 a.m. Monday.

Officials said the LakeLAC is intended to assist residents and business owners with access to recovery information and to connect with available resources.

The county also has launched a virtual Local Assistance Center at www.lakecountyLAC.com .

Services to be provided at the LakeLAC include financial assistance, social services, health services and other community resource programs.

Confirmed participants include:

– Assessor/Recorder;
– Community Development;
– Health Services;
– Housing Commission;
– North Coast Opportunities;
– Public Services;
– Salvation Army;
– Social Services;
– Special Districts;
– Tzu Chi;
– United Christian Parish;
– Veteran’s Services.

The LakeLAC will be open Monday, Aug. 10, through Wednesday, Aug. 12, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Additional hours will be evaluated based on need.

Residents or business owners with questions are invited to visit the LakeLAC in person, view information at www.lakecountyLAC.com or call the Lake County Public Assistance Hotline at 1-800-325-9604.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Planning Commission approved a use permit Tuesday for construction of a new helipad at St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake.

The new helipad, which will replace the existing temporary aerial landing facility, will increase the number of types of helicopters able to land at the hospital.

Following adjournment of Tuesday's meeting, Commission Chairman Carl Webb said the upgraded facility is important in improving the area's health care services as currently there exists no trauma center within the county.

This, he said, requires many patients with serious injuries to be flown to out-of-county facilities for treatment and the new helipad will improve accommodations of equipment to service those patients.

According to Assistant City Planner Julie Burrows, the current landing zone allows for the use of a single type of helicopter.

She said four different types of helicopters will be able to land at the new facility.

REACH Air Medical Services will construct the new helistop on the hospital's property.

It will be located southeast of the main parking lot area, supported by steel columns, drilled piers and consist of a 43-foot by 43-foot metal helideck, lighting and fencing, ramp and stair access and underground utilities.

The current emergency landing site, which was established in the mid-1990s, was designated by the Lake County Fire Protection District under the condition that a new, safer Federal Aviation Administration-approved helistop be constructed. Burrows said the project satisfies that stipulation.

Burrows said the proposed helipad has been designed to accommodate air medical helicopters including Augusta Westland 109, Airbus EC135 and EC 145 and Bell 407 helicopters.

The design is based on FAA Circular 150/5390-2, Heliport Design. It will be lit with state-of-the-art LED technology controlled by the helicopter pilot prior to final approach.

Upon exiting the facility, the lights will automatically turn off. FAA-approved security and lighting will be installed.

The Lake County Fire Protection District expressed concern, in a written response to the proposal, for the design's lack of connection with the hospital's backup generator in such case of a power outage.

Burrows said a condition requiring that improvement plans for the project be submitted to the city building and engineering department for approval by the fire district addresses the district's concerns.

In addition, in approving the use permit application, the commission added a stipulation that requires an American Indian tribal monitor be present in the event ground disturbance occurs during construction.

Email reporter Denise Rockenstein at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

This story has been updated.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Firefighters are working at the scene of a new wildland fire reported Sunday afternoon south of Lower Lake that is requiring evacuations from nearby homes.

Cal Fire dispatched air and ground units to the fire, reported to be in the 20700 block of Jerusalem Grade Road just after 3:30 p.m.

The Jerusalem fire is located south of Lower Lake and seven miles northeast of Middletown, Cal Fire said.

Cal Fire spokeswoman Suzanne Blankenship said the fire is in the area of Jerusalem Grade Road and Canyon Road, which is south of the Rocky fire perimeter.

The Lake County Sheriff's Office said mandatory evacuations were in effect for the Jerusalem Valley area east of Soda Creek.

Jerusalem Valley Road is closed to all traffic at Spruce Grove Road, as fire personnel and emergency vehicles will be working in the area.

By 6 p.m., the fire had reached 100 acres, according to Cal Fire. A short time later, officials said the fire had jumped to 200 acres.

By 7 p.m., Cal Fire said the fire was up to 2,000 acres, with zero containment.

Copter 104 first arrived on the scene first, at around 3:45 p.m., estimating the fire at that point to be between one and 1.5 acres, based on scanner reports.

The helicopter's crew reported over the air that the fire had appeared to start down at the bottom of a creek.

Ground resources were working to access the fire, according to reports from the scene.

As of shortly after 5 p.m., the fire had reached 20 acres with a moderate rate of spread, according to Blankenship.

“It is spotting because of the wind,” Blankenship said.

A short time later, Cal Fire confirmed the fire had reached 200 acres, before again ballooning in size over the next few hours.

Blankenship said structures were threatened, with mandatory evacuations called for.

She said the sheriff's office and the California Highway Patrol were working to get residents in that area out of harm's way.

Sheriff Brian Martin confirmed to Lake County News that his agency was responding to the area to start evacuations just before 5:30 p.m.

At that point, Martin did not have an estimate of how many residents may need to be evacuated from their homes.

Cal Fire has dispatched additional air resources to the area – including multiple air tankers and helicopters – with some of the units responding coming from the nearby Rocky fire.

Martin said shortly after 6 p.m. that the fire was being aggressively fought with five air tankers and three helicopters.

Additional details will be posted as they become available.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Library invites the public to get to know Lake County’s Anderson Marsh State Historic Park and the Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association in the Aug. 15 installment of Know Lake County, a free lecture series.

The diverse programs take place on the third Saturday of each month from February through December at 2 p.m. at Lakeport Library, 1425 N. High St.

Gae Henry and Henry Bornstein will present this month’s program, which will feature “A Walk Through Time,” a short documentary about Anderson Marsh.

In this recently-released film Koi nation members and local archaeologists and historians tell the history of the Anderson Marsh area where humans have lived for about 14,000 years.

The Know Lake County program will also include a slideshow “What’s up with Anderson Marsh State Historic Park?” and other displays.

Anderson Marsh State Historic Park includes some of California’s richest ancient archaeological sites, the Anderson family’s 19th century ranch house, a nature preserve, and hiking and boating trails.

The park is located in Lower Lake at the junction of Highway 53 and Anderson Ranch Parkway.

Budget cuts in 2011 nearly caused the Anderson Marsh park to close but a partnership agreement between AMIA and the California State Department of Parks keeps the park open through at least June 30, 2016.

For more information about AMIA, visit www.andersonmarsh.org . The Web site for Anderson Marsh State Historic Park is www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=483 .

Gae Henry and her husband Henry Bornstein have been involved with Anderson Marsh since 2007.

Henry’s eagerness to see inside the Anderson ranch house across Cache Creek from her home incited what she calls a “personal passion” for the park.

Henry is a retired middle school teacher of math, science and music and Bornstein is a retired lawyer and musician.

They both serve as park docents and are on the AMIA board of directors. They train other docents and have been involved with the Old Time Bluegrass fundraiser, nature walks and field trips at the park.

Know Lake County delves into many facets of Lake County, including human history, natural history, outdoor recreation, science, performing arts and programs for children.

The family-friendly programs are designed to inform and entertain Lake County residents about Lake County.

Some programs will cover interesting lore about the county and others will cover the work that community organizations perform.

Future Know Lake County programs will feature archaeologist Dr. John Parker on Lake County’s prehistory, retired park ranger Tom Nixon representing Konocti Regional Trails, Mike Adams from the Soper Reese Theatre and Carolyn Jarrett from the Children’s Museum of Art and Science.

Know Lake County’s full 2015 schedule is posted on the Know Lake County Web site http://co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Lake_County_CA__Library/KLC.htm .

For more information about Know Lake County and other library programs call 707-263-8817.

The Lake County Library is on the Internet at http://library.lakecountyca.gov and on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/LakeCountyLibrary .

Library events are also posted at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Lake_County_CA__Library/Calendar.htm .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Firefighters are rapidly closing in on the goal of fully containing the Rocky fire.

Cal Fire said the fire remained at 69,636 acres on Sunday night, with containment up to 85 percent after no movement since the 70-percent mark reported the previous night.

The Rocky fire began burning since July 29 east of Lower Lake, eventually burning to an area just north of Clearlake Oaks.

Cal Fire continues to anticipate fully containing the vast fire by Thursday.

The cause remains under investigation, the agency said.

Cal Fire said approximately 1,925 firefighting personnel remained committed to the fire on Sunday evening, a little less than half of those assigned during the fire's peak.

Other resources still assigned to the incident included 99 engines, 54 hand crews, 14 water tenders, 12 dozers and four helicopters, Cal Fire said.

The incident is under the management of Cal Fire Incident Management Team 2, which is stationed at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Lakeport.

Cal Fire said firefighters are continuing to be released from the incident as containment grows, allowing them to be reassigned and available for other fires throughout the state.

However, some of them haven't had to go very far for a new assignment.

On Sunday afternoon and into early Monday, resources were diverted from the Rocky fire to the Jerusalem fire, which broke out to the south of the fire perimeter on Sunday afternoon, as Lake County News has reported.

More of those Rocky fire resources are expected to report to the Jerusalem fire early Monday, according to reports from the scene.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – As the Rocky fire slowly starts to die down, those affected can start to take stock of what has happened.

Thousands of evacuees will go home to assess the damages. Fortunately for most, they will have a home to return to; for those who don’t it’s the start of a long, painful, and expensive road back to normalcy.

Even for those without property damage, many evacuees spend their savings on hotels and eating out. For them, the process of rebuilding a safety net can take a long time.

In the wake of such a widespread disaster affecting so many Lake County residents, one question comes up over and over again: “How can I help?”

The generosity of the human spirit is never more apparent than during a time of crisis. In the spirit of providing an outlet for that generosity, North Coast Opportunities (NCO), Mendo Lake Credit Union (MLCU), and the Lake County Social Services Department have teamed up to create a fund for those affected by the Rocky fire.

MCLU is an active presence in Lake County and is committed to the communities it serves. MCLU will match the first $5,000 in donations, effectively doubling donors’ dollars.

“One-third of our membership base is located in Lake County, and our Clearlake office has already seen the need from members who have lost everything,” said MLCU CEO Richard Cooper. “MLCU is all about people helping people, and our mission is to support the economic well-being of the communities we serve.”

NCO is the Community Action Agency for Lake and Mendocino Counties, and part of its mission is to serve those in need during emergency situations. The fund was officially set up by NCO as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

“Our values as an organization and as concerned citizens compelled us to act,” said NCO Executive Director Patty Bruder. “As soon as the fund was set up, word got out and donations started coming in. It’s heart-warming to see people rallying around those affected by the fire.”

The fund will be managed by a committee that is currently being formed. Although Lake County doesn’t have a “Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster” (VOAD) group, NCO is active in Mendocino County’s VOAD and will apply those policies to creating the committee.

It will include employees and/or board members of NCO, MLCU and the Lake County Social Services Department, plus an equal number of Lake County representatives from other organizations and the general community.

Those affected by the fire can apply for assistance, and the committee will determine how to distribute the funds once the fire has been fully contained and all impacts can be assessed.

More details will be available about how to apply for the fund on both NCO and MLCU’s Web sites and Facebook accounts.

MCLU Director of Marketing and Community Outreach Jamey Gill lives on Cobb Mountain, and has seen firsthand the effects of the fire on her fellow Lake County residents.

“Several of our own team members live in the fire zone, so this is very close to home for all of us,” explained Gill.

She will serve on the committee tasked with administering and disbursing the fund.

During a town hall meeting in Lakeport on Thursday, Sen. Mike McGuire and several Lake County officials gave updates on the Rocky fire, and MLCU was mentioned several times as a “safe place” to make monetary donations.

Unfortunately, while most people want to help, there are always a few to try to capitalize on the misfortune of others.

Lake County Sheriff Brian Martin encouraged people to donate only to reputable organizations, including the MLCU/NCO fund.

“It’s important to note that 100-percent of funds collected will go straight to those affected,” pointed out Bruder. “We will not use any of it to cover administrative costs.”

She also noted that all donations are tax-deductible.

Anyone wishing to donate to the Rocky fire relief fund can go in person to any MLCU branch, or send a check to MLCU with “Rocky fire” in the notes field.

There also is a PayPal account set up to accept online donations, which can be found on the front pages of both the NCO and MLCU Web sites:

– NCO: https://www.ncoinc.org/ ; and
– MLCU: www.mlcu.org .

For more information on how to donate, how to apply for funds, or how to apply to serve on the management committee, contact NCO Executive Assistant Elizabeth Archer at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 707-467-3210.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – With the last of the community members under Rocky fire mandatory evacuation orders now cleared to head home, local health officials are urging caution when reentering the fire area and beginning cleanup.

On Saturday, in cooperation with Cal Fire, Lake County Sheriff Brian Martin authorized reentry into the former mandatory evacuations areas of Morgan Valley Road and the Double Eagle subdivision, as Lake County News has reported.

Authorities previously had allowed other residents in Lower Lake and in Spring Valley to return home.

The Lake County Public Health Department advises residents of those previously evacuated areas that sifting through ash and burned material could be a serious health risk.

Hazards may include asbestos, heavy metals, byproducts of burnt plastic items and other hazardous chemicals. Some hazards may not be visible.

Public Health recommends that no one remove debris without help.

Various agencies will be involved in the Rocky fire recovery effort and may be able to assist with property clean up.

Please call the Rocky fire help line at 1-800-325-9604 for more information and to request help.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Registrar of Voters Office reported that the nomination period has been extended for a number of elected school district and special districts positions on the November ballot.

Registrar of Voters Diane Fridley said the time period to file for candidacy for the Nov. 3 election has been extended due to incumbents who didn't file in th specific races.

She said all qualified persons – other than the incumbent office holders – now have until 5 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12, to file for the following positions:

– Lake County Board Of Education, Trustee Area No. 1;
– Lucerne Elementary School District;
– South Lake County Fire Protection District;
– Buckingham Park Water District;
– Callayomi County Water District;
– Clearlake Oaks County Water District;
– Cobb Area County Water District;
– Scotts Valley Water Conservation District; Divisions I and III;
– Upper Lake County Water District;
– Adams Springs Water District;
– Villa Blue Estates Water District.

Fridley said any voters wanting information regarding filing for the offices listed can contact her office at telephone 707-263-2372, or by visiting Room 209 on the second floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St. in Lakeport, during regular business hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Smoke and haze in Lake County's skies in recent days are a product not just of a massive wildland fire burning in the county but a number of incidents farther north, according to officials.

In addition to the Rocky fire, which at 69,636 acres remains the state's largest wildland fire currently burning, the Lake County Air Quality Management District attributed much of the new smoke coming into the air basin over the last few days to several major fires burning farther north in California.

Cal Fire reported on Saturday that there were 17 active wildfires continue to burn in California.

However, the air quality management district pinpointed only a portion of the total number burning as having an impact locally.

Those include the lightning caused Humboldt Complex in Humboldt County. The group of 75 fires, which began July 30, had burned 4,608 acres and was 40-percent contained on Saturday night, according to Cal Fire.

There also are several lightning-caused complexes in Del Norte County that are sources of the smoke, the district said.

On July 30, lightning sparked the four fires in the River Complex, which has burned 13,827 acres and is 10-percent contained, as well as another four fires that make up the Route Complex, which has burned 16,798 acres and is 15-percent contained, according to the US Forest Service.

The Gasquet Complex, a group of nine lightning fires that began July 31, burned 1,702 acres with 5-percent containment as of Saturday, Cal Fire said.

There also is the Mad River Complex, which began Aug. 1. It's a group of three fires that has burned 17,852 acres, with 35-percent containment, the US Forest Service reported.

All of those incidents are contributing significant smoke to the air, which is blowing south and out over the ocean, according to the Lake County Air Quality Management District.

Cal Fire said that the threat of thunderstorms has passed, which is helping firefighters working on the incidents around the state while also relieving concerns about new blazes that lightning could set off.

However, the Lake County Air Quality Management District said westerly winds in the forecast – as high as 13 miles per hour in parts of the county on Monday – could continue to push significant amounts of smoke from the lightning complexes into Lake County's skies.

The air quality management district urged people to be prepared for changing conditions, as an increase in smoke could result in air quality in parts of the county dropping into the “unhealthy” range.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The steady, hard work of firefighters on the Rocky fire yielded more good news on the fire lines on Saturday, with efforts pushing the incident still closer to the full containment that's anticipated early next week.

On Saturday evening, Cal Fire reported that the Rocky fire was holding steady at 69,636 acres, with containment up to 70 percent.

The fire began east of Lower Lake on July 29. Cal Fire expects to have it fully contained on Aug. 13.

Cal Fire said the cause remains under investigation.
 
In its 10-day run, the fire has threatened more than 6,500 homes and caused thousands of residents to be under mandatory or advisory evacuation orders, burned into the neighboring counties of Colusa and Yolo, closed Highway 20 and Highway 16 for several days, and destroyed close to 100 structures.

Cal Fire's count of damages remains at 43 homes and 53 outbuildings destroyed, with eight other structures damaged.

The increasing containment and improving conditions led authorities on Saturday morning to lift the remaining mandatory evacuation orders for the Double Eagle Ranch subdivision east of Clearlake Oaks  and some areas near Lower Lake, including Rocky Creek Road, for which the fire is named.

With all evacuations now lifted, the Lake County Office of Emergency Services said the Red Cross evacuation shelter at Middletown High School will close at 5 p.m. Sunday. The Red Cross shelter at Kelseyville High School closed at noon on Saturday.

Anyone needing assistance due to Rocky fire impacts is urged to call an around-the-clock hotline set up at 800-325-9604.

While they're closing in on full containment, firefighters are still encountering challenges, from difficult-to-access terrain to deep-seated pockets of heat that have produced several small flare ups within the interior during peak fire conditions, Cal Fire said.

Cal Fire said cooler temperatures overnight and better relative humidity have reduced the fire activity threat along the fire's perimeter.

Cal Fire spokesman Jay Smith told Lake County News on Saturday evening that, overall, the fire's activity has pretty much died down at this point, with firefighters working on hot spots and heat pockets.

“We're in the mop up phase right now,” he said.

Smith said firefighters are concentrating on making sure no flare ups or embers move from the black, burned areas to the green, unburned fuels.

Early Saturday morning, Rocky fire radio traffic indicated there were hunters in the area, with Saturday being the opening day of deer hunting season in the county.

However, Smith said he had received no reports of hunters causing any issues for firefighters.

With numerous fires burning around California, the resources on the Rocky fire have continued to be scaled back as full containment nears.

The still-massive force – based at an incident command center at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Lakeport – on Saturday night included 2,420 personnel, 142 engines, 84 hand crews, 23 water tenders and 13 dozers, Cal Fire said.

Radio reports indicated that some air resources were being diverted from the Rocky fire on Saturday evening for a fire in Mendocino County.

A large amount of smoke continues to pour into the Lake County air basin, which according to a Lake County Air Quality Management District report is largely due to a number of wildland fires to the north.

The district said the winds are blowing the smoke south toward Lake County and out over the ocean.

Because of a forecast for westerly winds, Lake County could experience significant amounts of smoke from those northern fires in the days ahead, the district reported.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.