COVELO, Calif. – The closure order for the North Pass Fire area was adjusted on Tuesday, reopening Forest Highway 7 between the Eel River Station and Mendocino Pass, while maintaining the closure within most of the fire perimeter on the Mendocino National Forest.

Closure Order Number 08-12-14 will go into effect at midnight tonight, replacing Order Number 08-12-13.

While it opens up FH7, Forest Road M4 at FH7 north to Road M2 remains closed, as well as Forest Road M2 between M4 and Green Springs.  

The closures were in response to the North Pass Fire, which started Saturday, Aug. 18. It has consumed approximately 41,983 acres north of FH7 between Anthony Peak and the community of Covelo. On Tuesday evening it remained at 97-percent containment.

Access to the Yolla Bolly Middle Eel Wilderness on the Covelo Ranger District remains closed from the southern portion near FH7 to the Forest border to the north.  

The closure also extends to the western edge of the Forest.

While FH7 is once again open, drivers should still watch for increased traffic in the area.

The closure area includes popular recreation sites both inside and outside the wilderness.

Residents and landowners or lessees of land within the closure area are exempt from the order to the extent necessary to access their property.

“We are happy to restore access to the forest on FH7 again,” said Forest Supervisor Sherry Tune. “We are asking the public to respect the closure order for the remainder of the North Pass Fire area, including M2, M4 and the wilderness and the many roads and trails within the area. This will help us maintain public and firefighter safety as we continue suppression efforts to achieve control of the North Pass Fire.”

Violation of the closure order is punishable by a fine of no more than $5,000 for an individual, $10,000 for an organization, or up to six months imprisonment or both.

For more information, please visit www.fs.usda.gov/mendocino or contact the forest at 530-934-3316.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – If there was any question about who Lake County’s best football was (and there seemed to be some opposing opinions floating around recently in both the clear skies over Middletown and the smoky haze that’s enveloped Upper Lake), the Middletown Mustangs gave the definitive answer in a rare Monday night performance.

Austin Benson rushed for 192 yards in 24 carries and scored all four touchdowns and Middletown’s defense, after some adjustments at halftime, shut down Upper Lake’s power running game as the Mustangs pulled away for 28-8 victory at Bill Foltmer Field.

The game, originally scheduled for Saturday afternoon at Upper Lake, was pushed back to Monday afternoon – still at Upper Lake – because of all the smoke in the air generated by the Scotts Valley fire west of Scotts Valley Road and east of Ukiah.

But when Monday morning came around, the air quality wasn’t any better, so it was decided that if the non-league game was to be played, it had to be played at Middletown on Monday night. Kick-off was at 5:30 p.m. and, not surprisingly, a smaller-than-usual crowd attended the game.

“Playing at home is always an advantage,” said Mustang coach Bill Foltmer, but that could only partially explain Upper Lake’s problems on both sides of the ball.

The Cougars, who ran over Kelseyville in its opener, 52-6, had just one impressive drive, marching 74 yards midway through the second quarter, with Travis Coleman running it in from the 4.

Coleman’s pass to Wes Thaxton on the PAT gave the Cougars an 8-7 lead.

And it looked like a good game was starting to unfold between the county’s top two teams.

But that was about it for Upper Lake, which not only couldn’t stop Benson and the Middletown offense, but couldn’t generate any offense of its own.

“Middletown wanted it more than we did,” said a disappointed Alex Stabiner, coach of the Cougars.

Benson played like he wanted to score a lot of touchdowns. On the Mustangs’ first possession of the game, it looked like he would score on what would have been a 15-yard run, but had the ball stripped from him inside the Cougars’ 5-yard line, with Ward Beecher recovering for Upper Lake.

“I thought it could be a break-out game for him,” Foltmer said of his 5-foot-10, 180-pound running back. “He’s come close to breaking a few runs, nearly broke a couple against Salesian (in the season-opening 7-3 loss).”

And breaking out is what Benson did. The big play for him on Monday is called “toss right,” where he takes a quick pitch from quarterback Ben Pike and tries to get outsides the Cougar defense.

His 14-yard sweep made it 7-0 early in the second quarter and his 20-yard sweep made it 14-8 with 2:30 left in the half (with Tyler Drew adding both PAT kicks).

Benson, in a career-best performance, scored on yet another “toss right” touchdown on a 10-yard sweep that pushed the lead to 20-8 with 10:30 left in the third quarter.

And he added a 1-yard run in the fourth quarter to close out the scoring.

The Mustangs made some adjustments on defense in the second half, basically involving the linebackers and defensive backs remembering to shift accordingly to the Cougars’  offensive formation.
 
“We weren’t making the adjustments,” Foltmer said, “and they put together a couple of early drives on us. It was something we practiced all week, but we didn’t execute.”

Upper Lake coach Alex Stabiner had a different explanation for his team’s poor showing. “We got our butts whipped,” he said.

Email Rich Mellott at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Firefighters kept a wildland fire on Cow Mountain from expanding on Monday, and at the same time more than doubled containment on the blaze.

The Scotts Fire remained at 4,618 acres on Monday night, with containment rising to 35 percent over the course of the day, Cal Fire reported.

Based on a perimeter map Cal Fire issued on Monday, which can be seen above, the fire is primarily located in Lake County, with a small spur stretching eastward into Mendocino County.

Cal Fire spokesman Mike Carr said firefighters’ efforts had paid off, and the fire – which began burning Friday afternoon west of Scott Valley Road and east of Ukiah – had been slowed down considerably by Monday.

In the first hours of the fire it had burned quickly, running up ridges through dry brush and vegetation, burning a total of 1,600 acres by nightfall Friday.

The fire had moved quickly in the first two days due, in part, to hot weather and topography. With regard to topography, Carr explained that fires burn more quickly when moving uphill.

Over the last day, the fire has slowed as it’s backed down hillsides. Carr said firefighters also have been able to prevent it from moving into drainages.

Based on how the fire was looking on Monday evening, Carr said they were optimistic about keeping the fire in its current footprint, with Cal Fire continuing to estimate that full containment would be reached on Saturday.

Thanks to a number of factors – among them, aggressive firefighting, more containment lines, a slowing of the fire’s action and better weather, including reduced winds – Carr said the threat had been reduced for the Blue Lakes and Scotts Valley Road areas, where an estimated 300 homes and 40 outbuildings were in the fire’s path at one point.

As a result, early on Monday evening the evacuation warning for Scotts Valley Road – which had been issued the previous day for the area from Highway 20 to Hendricks Road – was lifted. Blue Lakes had been under an evacuation order for several hours on Friday night before residents were allowed to return home.

Scotts Valley Road remains open to residents only. The Cow Mountain Recreation Area has been closed at both the Scotts Creek and Mill Creek entrances, Mill Creek Road is closed, and the Glen Eden and Valley View Trails are closed, officials reported.

The number of personnel assigned to the incident was increased again by about 260 on Monday to 1,642, with 161 engines, 44 fire crews, 12 helicopters, 30 bulldozers and 27 water tenders, Cal Fire reported.

On Monday afternoon a 50-year-old male firefighter from a strike team was taken off the lines with heat exhaustion. Carr said the firefighter was taken to the hospital and treated, and will be able to return to work on the fire.

There have so far been three to four such cases of heat exhaustion, but all of the firefighters have been able to return to duty, and thus are not counted as injuries, Carr said. Based on that definition, no injuries have occurred so far.

Carr said the fire’s cause remains under investigation.

In recent days a number of community members have voiced concerns about what role arson might have played in the recent string of wildland fires.

In response to those concerns, Carr explained, “California is prone to wildfires.”

That’s due to the hot climate, terrain and large numbers of people living in the wildland-urban interface. “You have all of those fire causes coming together,” he said.

All of the recent major wildland incidents in Lake and neighboring counties remain under investigation, with no final causes given. Carr said those investigations can take time – some are left open for months while the fact finding process takes places.

“Sometimes it’s premature to rush to a judgment,” he said.
                  
In other fire-related news, a California National Guard Black Hawk helicopter that was being used for water drops had to touch down in Scotts Valley early on in the firefighting effort due to mechanical issues.

Torie Clay posted a picture of the helicopter on Lake County News’ Facebook page, reporting that it landed on her family’s property on Friday.

Carr said the helicopter had transmission problems and had to be taken out of commission.

On Monday the helicopter remained grounded. “They haven’t decided what they’re going to do with it yet,” Carr said.

A crane could be brought in to put it on a truck or another helicopter may be used to lift it out and transport it, he said.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – A small wildland fire broke out along Scotts Valley Road on Tuesday afternoon, not far from a major wildfire that has been burning since last week.

The Tuesday fire was first reported in the 7000 block of Scotts Valley Road just after 1:30 p.m.

Northshore Fire Chief Jay Beristianos, in whose district the fire was located, said it occurred right off the parking lot for the Bureau of Land Management’s Glen Eden Trail, which has been closed due to the nearby Scotts Fire.

Beristianos said the fire on Tuesday afternoon burned a total of five acres.

Initial reports from the scene said the fire moved from grass into an area of heavy timber, with power lines in the middle of the fire area.

Beristianos said it also burned into a nearby walnut orchard, and was bordered by a dry creekbed.

Several helicopters were diverted from the Scotts Fire to make water drops, Beristianos said.

An air tanker that had been ordered was released en route, according to radio reports.

Along with Northshore Fire and Cal Fire, Kelseyville Fire and Lakeport Fire also responded, Beristianos said.

It took about 45 minutes to control the fire, with several hours of mop up, Beristianos said.

Beristianos said the cause remains under investigation.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Local officials said air quality conditions are expected to be much improved on Tuesday following days of heavy smoke due to a wildland fire on Cow Mountain.

With firefighters making significant advances in controlling the Scotts Fire and favorable weather in the forecast, the Lake County Air Quality Management said air quality in the “good” range is expected on Tuesday.

Air quality conditions on Monday afternoon were notably improved over the weekend, the district reported, due primarily to better meteorological conditions and increasing control over the fire, which by Monday night had burned 4,618 acres, with containment at 35 percent.

Areas close to the fires may have experienced degraded air quality early Monday, but most areas of the Lake County experienced good to moderate air quality much of the day, according to county Air Pollution Control Officer Doug Gearhart.

Gearhart said levels of ozone and particulate were elevated, but did not exceed state health-based air quality standards.

The prediction is for “good“ air quality in Lake County, though areas near active burn areas and where cleanup efforts are under way may experience “moderate” air quality intermittently on Tuesday and until recovery efforts are complete, Gearhart said.

Despite the favorable forecast, Gearhart urged county residents to be cautious, as conditions can change rapidly.

Residual haze and particulate from the wildfires can be expected to intermittently impact areas of Lake County until the fires are out and recovery efforts are completed, Gearhart said.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Monday evening officials lifted an evacuation warning for the Scotts Valley Road area outside of Lakeport.

The evacuation warning was issued on Sunday morning for Scotts Valley Road, from Highway 20, south to Hendricks Road.

Cal Fire said the warning was lifted Monday based on increased containment on the Scotts Fire, burning since Friday afternoon.

By Monday morning, the fire had burned approximately 4,618 acres and was 15 percent contained.

Officials said the potential threat to the Blue Lakes and Scotts Valley Road areas has been reduced.

Fire crews are continuing to work toward full containment of the fire, Cal Fire said.

Residents are reminded that fire equipment and personnel will remain in the area for several days and are urged to use caution when traveling the fire area.

CLEARLAKE PARK, Calif. – A 96-year-old Clearlake Park woman died on Monday in a fire that destroyed her home.

Hazel Jeannie Black was identified as the victim of the fatal structure fire, according to Sgt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

Lake County Fire Protection District Chief Willie Sapeta said the fire occurred in a modular home with additions that was located at 2881 10th St.

Firefighters were dispatched at 6:49 a.m. Monday. A volunteer who arrived on scene two minutes later found the home 50-percent involved, Sapeta said. The first engine arrived at 6:53 a.m.

A total of three Lake County Fire engines, a rescue unit, two medic units, three battalion chiefs and a mutual aid engine from Northshore Fire responded to the incident, Sapeta said. A Cal Fire engine also responded to help cover the district.

Sapeta said firefighters arriving on scene were hampered by a downed power line that energized the chain link fence around the home.

He said because of that danger firefighters had to make controlled access, going into the scene one or two at a time.

It took firefighters about half an hour to control the fire, with several hours of mop up, according to Sapeta.

Capt. Brice Trask, the district’s arson investigator, was on scene all day Monday trying to ascertain the fire’s cause, Sapeta said.

Sapeta said the investigation was continuing, with Trask still processing evidence.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

UKIAH, Calif. – Mendocino College will officially open its new library and learning center this week.

The public is invited to celebrate the opening at a gathering beginning at 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14.

After a brief presentation and welcome, guests will participate in a self-guided tour and featured presentations of the new facility.

Following the tour refreshments, prepared by the Mendocino College Culinary Arts students, will be served.

Visitors will be greeted by College Board President Joel Clark and by Richard Cooper, chair of the Measure W Oversight Committee.

“This new building provides the opportunity for students to increase their learning in a facility that maximizes the use of technology with an emphasis on interaction among staff, faculty and students,” said Interim Superintendent/President Roe Darnell.

The center includes a spacious library, a learning center, the Math Engineering Science Achievement program, a disabled resource center and a new language lab.

Visitors touring the facility will have the opportunity to enjoy student and staff demonstrations of programs provided by the center.

The library/learning center was designed by TLCD Architecture and constructed by Midstate Construction at a cost of $28 million.

The center was built as a result of community support through Measure W.

On Nov. 7, 2006, voters in the Mendocino-Lake Community College District passed Measure W authorizing $67.5 million in facility bond funds.

Measure W passed with 62 percent voter approval, substantially greater than the 55 percent required for passage under Proposition 39.

The Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee was formed in December 2006 by appointment by the college board of trustees.

This committee, as required by law, is comprised of members representing specific interests, including business, senior citizens, taxpayer organization, Mendocino College students, a college support organization and at-large members.

The oversight committee is charged with overseeing the expenditure of bond proceeds and ensuring that bond proceeds are expended only for the purposes set forth in Measure W.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – While acreage continued to climb on Monday on a wildland fire burning on Cow Mountain, firefighters also made more progress in getting containment on the blaze, which resulted in one report of heat exhaustion on Monday.

The Scotts Fire, burning since last Friday, increased to 4,618 acres on Monday, with 15 percent containment, Cal Fire reported.

The fire is located on Cow Mountain, west of Scott Valley Road and east of Ukiah, in steep and rugged terrain.

Incident command, based at the Lake County Fairgrounds, continued to utilize aircraft, fire crews and dozers on the incident, where 1,380 personnel were assigned on Monday. The focus was on building and strengthening containment lines.

Resources assigned included 131 engines, 38 fire crews, nine airtankers, 11 helicopters, 26 bulldozers and 20 water tenders, Cal Fire reported.

Cal Fire said fire crews and equipment have been successful in holding the fire south of Highway 20, west of Scotts Valley Road and east of Cow Mountain Road.

Cal Fire officials said Sunday that the fire had two flanks moving laterally, to the east and west, with the progression stopped on part of the fire that had been moving toward Blue Lakes.

A case of heat exhaustion also was reported on Monday. Just after 3 p.m. one male strike team member was being transported out of the fire area.

The Scotts Valley Road area – from Hendricks Road to Highway 20 – remained under an evacuation warning on Monday.

The fire was reported to be within a mile of both Scotts Valley Road and the Blue Lakes area, with a total of 340 structures threatened.

Officials said the Cow Mountain Recreation Area has been closed at both the Scotts Creek and Mill Creek entrances. Mendo Rock Road access to North Cow Mountain Road is closed at Mill Creek, with Mill Creek Road also closed.    

Cal Fire said Scotts Valley Road was open to residents only on Monday.

Highway 20 through Blue Lakes remained open with no traffic control reported.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – A wildland fire burning for the past week in Colusa and Yolo counties was fully contained on Tuesday morning.

The 16 Complex, two fires burning four miles apart off of Highway 16 in the Rumsey Canyon area, was 100-percent contained at 17,944 acres, according to Cal Fire.

Cal Fire said firefighters were continuing to patrol the fire perimeter and perform fire suppression repair and mop up on Tuesday.

Approximately 980 firefighting personnel remained assigned to the incident Tuesday, with plans to begin releasing them and the equipment that remained on scene, including 37 engines, 31 fire crews, eight bulldozers and 10 water tenders, Cal Fire reported.

Motorists traveling along Highway 16 are advised to continue to be cautious as they travel through the area, and to be on the lookout for fire vehicles still working on the incident as well as possible debris on the roadway.   

Cal Fire said the 16 Complex’s cause remains under investigation.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Wildland fires in Lake’s neighboring counties are close to being fully contained.

The North Pass Fire, located 10 miles northeast of Covelo in Mendocino County, and the 16 Complex in the Rumsey Canyon area of Colusa and Yolo counties were set to be fully contained on Monday, but by Monday night officials reported that some work still remained to be done.

The North Pass Fire, which includes two fires caused by lightning on Saturday, Aug. 18, has burned 41,983 acres and was 97-percent contained by Monday night.

The estimate for full containment for the North Pass Fire was pushed back to this Friday at 6 p.m.

The 391 fire personnel assigned to the incident were working on patroling the fire area, making repairs and mopping up, officials reported.

A forest closure order remains in effect for the area, and Forest Highway 7 is closed due to fire line repairs, according to the US Forest Service.

The 16 Complex, two fires four miles apart on Highway 16, was 95-percent contained at 17,944 acres, with 980 personnel on scene, Cal Fire reported.

Firefighters were continuing to strengthen control lines, extinguish hot spots and make repairs, according to Cal Fire.

Cal Fire said full containment is expected on Tuesday.

The complex’s cause remains under investigation.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Amidst a conversational throng of scientists and experts in geothermal power production, Calpine reopened The Geysers Geothermal Visitors Center on Thursday, Aug. 30.

Approximately 40 people attended the grand reopening, including geothermal representatives, local officials and business leaders.

During the event geothermal experts spoke on geothermal production and gave a walk through of the newly remodeled facility in Middletown.

The Geysers is the world’s largest geothermal production facility.

Mike Rogers, Calpine’s senior vice president of the geothermal region, described the geothermal fields below the area straddling the Lake and Sonoma County line as “a phenomenal resource.”

The new exhibition room is filled with interactive learning tools to help demystify the science of geothermal power production and give visitors a greater understanding of Lake County’s role in energy production.

The visitor’s center, located at 15500 Central Park Road in Middletown, is open Wednesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Email John Jensen at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .