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This story will be updated on a rolling basis until 11:59 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 4.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – This is the Mendocino Complex general information update for Saturday, Aug. 4.

Cal Fire said Friday morning that the complex had reached 201,471 acres and 34-percent containment by Saturday morning, and 229,006 acres and 32-percent containment by nightfall.

The following summary includes updated information on sheltering for humans and animals, air quality, road closures, reconnecting with friends and family after an evacuation, where to donate and volunteer, prescriptions and important information numbers, including how to contact local emergency operation centers.

To suggest additions to this resource and information list, please contact Editor and Publisher Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 707-274-9904.

AIR QUALITY

The Lake County Air Quality Control District issued an air quality alert for Lake County due to heavy smoke that has resulted in “unhealthy” and “hazardous” conditions and the forecast for extended smoke impacts. Current particulate levels in Lake County are in the range from “moderate” to “unhealthy.”

EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTERS/PUBLIC INFORMATION

County of Lake Emergency Operations Center: 707-263-3450

City of Lakeport Lake Emergency Operations Center (24/7): 707-263-5683

Cal Fire Public Information Line: 707-574-8261

Caltrans: http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/ or http://www.dot.ca.gov/cgi-bin/roads.cgi; 800-427-7623

Pacific Gas and Electric online outage center: https://m.pge.com/#outages

EVACUATIONS

MANDATORY

Anyone who remains in the areas under mandatory evacuation orders must remain on their property. Any unauthorized person who willfully and knowingly enters a disaster area and who willfully remains within the area after receiving notice to evacuate or leave shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

Lake County

• Lake Pillsbury area, north of Highway 20, east of the Lake-Mendocino County line, south of the Lake-Mendocino County line, west of the Lake-Glenn County line. This includes the areas of Lake Pillsbury, Elk Mountain Road, Bear Creek, Pine Mountain and the surrounding areas. Travel west to Potter Valley via Elk Mountain Road. Shelter is available at the Mendocino College Ukiah Campus.

• Double Eagle Ranch and Landrum Ranch off Highway 20 east of New Long Valley Road to the Lake-Colusa County line, including residents with driveway access on the south side of Highway 20. (ISSUED 11:42 A.M.)

• For the Lucerne, Pepperwood Grove, Paradise Valley, Glenhaven and Clearlake Oaks areas of Lake County, including Long Valley, High Valley and Spring Valley: All areas north of Clear Lake, south and east of Bartlett Springs Road at Highway 20, west of Bartlett Springs Road at the Indian Valley Reservoir, south to New Long Valley Road and Highway 20 at Highway 53.

• Western Lake County, north of Clear Lake and Bartlett Springs Road, east of the
Lake-Mendocino County line, south of the Ranch Fire, and west of High Valley Road and Bartlett Springs Road.

• Bartlett Springs Road at Highway 20, east along the National Forest boundary to High Valley Road, southeast to the 5 Star Fish Farm, southeast to the north side of Highway 20, east to New Long Valley Road, extending north to the west side of the Indian Valley Reservoir, north to Bartlett Springs Road, east to the Lake-Colusa County line, north along the Lake-Colusa County Line extending to Forest Service Road 18N40 (west of the Lake-Colusa-Tehama County line), and west to the western National Forest boundary in Lake County.

• Scotts Valley, Blue Lakes, Upper Lake, Bachelor Valley and Nice.

• South of Bartlett Springs Road at Highway 20, west of the Forest Boundary, including Pierce Canyon and High Valley Road, west of Sulphur Bank Drive at Hwy 20 and north of Clear Lake.

• West of Highway 29 and north of Park Way.

Mendocino County

• Cow Mountain area of Mendocino County, south of Highway 20, west of the Mendocino/Lake County line, east of the intersection of North Cow Mountain Road and the Cow Mountain Access Road, and north of the current fire perimeter of the River fire.

• Highway 20 area from one mile south of Highway 20, east of Potter Valley Road, south of the fire perimeter, and west of Mendocino-Lake County line.

Colusa County

• Town limits of Stonyford, west to the Colusa-Lake County line and North to Colusa-Glenn County line, Century Ranch subdivision, east and west side of East Park Reservoir, Lodoga from Squaw Creek Inn, south and all areas west of Bear Valley Road to Highway 20.

ADVISORIES/WARNINGS

Lake County

• Southeast Lakeport, north of Highway 29 at Highland Springs Road, east of Highway 29, south of Park Way, and west of Clear Lake.

• South of Hallberg Road, west of Highway 29, north of Highway 175, and east of the River fire perimeter.

• South of Highway 29 and Highway 175, west of Highland Springs Road, north and east of the Lake-Mendocino County line, and east of the River fire perimeter.

Mendocino County

• South of the Eel River, east of the Eel River Road, east of the East Side Potter Valley Road, east of Potter Valley Road to Highway 20, north of Highway 20, west of the Mendocino-Lake County line.

• South of the fire perimeter, east of intersection Highway 175 and Old River Road, north of Mendocino-Sonoma County line, west of Mendocino/Lake County line.

• South of Yokayo Ranch Road, east of the Russian River, west of the Lake-Mendocino
County line, north of the Old River Road-Highway 175 intersection.

• East Ukiah Valley area, south of Highway 20, east of the east side of Lake Mendocino and
east of the Russian River, north of Yokayo Rancheria Road, and west of the intersection of North Cow Mountain Road and Cow Mountain Access Road.

Colusa County

• East of the Lake-Colusa County Line (Bartlett Springs Road/Brim Road) to Leesville-Lodoga Road, north to Lodoga, west to the National Forest boundary, north along the National Forest boundary to the Colusa-Glenn County Line, and west to the Colusa-Lake County line.

Glenn County

• Southwestern portion of Glenn County, south of Road 308 and west of Road 306. (ISSUED 4:21 P.M. AUG. 4.)

EVACUATION SHELTERS

Evacuation shelters offer overnight accommodations.

• Mendocino College, Dance Room, 1000 Hensley Creek Road, Ukiah
• Lower Lake High School, 9430 Lake St.
• Middletown High School, 20932 Big Canyon Road
• **At Capacity ** Twin Pine Casino, 22223 Highway 29, Middletown - LCSO 12:30 p.m. Friday DIVERT to Middletown or Lower Lake High Schools.
• Middletown Middle School, 15846 Wardlaw St.
• Mountain Vista Middle School, 5081 Konocti Road in Kelseyville

CONNECTING WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY AFTER EVACUATIONS

The Safe and Well locating service from the American Red Cross is now active.

Visit https://safeandwell.communityos.org/cms/index.php to list yourself as safe, using the Mendocino Complex Fire-July 2018 Disaster Event.

If you’re looking for someone, use the same link and click on “Search Registrants.”

ANIMAL EVACUATIONS

Lake County

Large livestock can be taken to Cole Creek Equestrian Center, 4985 Steelhead Drive, Kelseyville, telephone 707-279-0915; or to Helen Owens’ A1 Horse Programs, 18585 Guenoc Lane, Hidden Valley Lake, telephone 707-355-0121.

Lake Evacuation and Animal Protection has been activated and is still offering animal evacuation support services. Call Lake County Animal Care and Control Department at 707-263-0278. Phones are answered by staff between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m.

The Animal Care and Control Shelter is not accepting pets at this time.

The SPCA of Clear Lake, 8025 Highway 29, is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily and is accepting senior pets, or pets with medical issues and/or heat distress.

If you can keep your pets with you, please do so. Pet supplies are delivered to all open evacuation shelters regularly.

Mendocino County

Redwood Riders Arena, 8300 East Road, Redwood Valley is accepting horses.

Mendocino County Animal Care, 298 Plant Road, Ukiah is accepting small animals.

ROAD CLOSURES

Lake County

• Southbound Elk Mountain to south Pillsbury Lake
• Elk Mountain Road at Middle Creek Road
• Westbound Highway 20 at Highway 29
• Northbound Highway 29 at Park Way
• Northbound Lakeshore Boulevard at Park Way
• Northbound Hill Road at Park Way
• Northbound Hill Road East at Park Way
• Westbound Highway 20 at Highway 53
• Hill Road at Hill Road East
• New Long Valley Road at Highway 20
• Scotts Valley Road at HIll Road
• Highway 20 at Sulphur Bank Road
• Old Long Valley Road at Highway 20
• Walker Ridge Road at Highway 20

Mendocino County

• Eastbound Highway 20 at Potter Valley Road
• Mill Creek Road, half a mile east of Old River Road

Colusa County

• Northbound Bear Valley at Highway 20
• Eastbound Leesville at Bear Valley Road
• Southbound Leesville-Lodoga Road at Sites-Lodoga Road
• Sites-Lodoga Road at Rail Canyon Road
• County Road 306, half a mile north of the county line

UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE – MAIL DELIVERY

The Lakeport Post Office reopened on Friday, with normal hours of 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Kelseyville and Finley Post Offices are open with normal hours of operation.

Customers served by the Upper Lake, Nice, Lucerne, Glenhaven, and Clearlake Oaks Post Offices can pick up their mail at the Clearlake Post Office between the hours of 1 and 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 1 to 4 p.m., The Clearlake Post Office is located at 14500 Olympic Dr., Clearlake.

Photo identification required. Change of address forms for temporary mail forwarding are available at the post office.

PRESCRIPTIONS

State law allows for residents in declared emergency areas to fill prescriptions at available pharmacies, even if it is not where your prescription is on file.

Please bring your medication bottle(s) and/or the actual medication with you to help the pharmacist fill your prescription. The pharmacist will contact your physician for confirmation.

In addition, California Pharmacy Law (Section 4054) provides that pharmacists may in good faith furnish a “reasonable” supply of medications or devices to patients in emergency conditions without a prescription.

Patients who need to obtain prescription medications or devices on an emergency basis should go to an open pharmacy and bring their original prescription containers or be able to provide their physician’s name.  

Before filling the prescription, the pharmacist should make every reasonable effort to contact the original prescriber, and should make an appropriate record. That record must include the basis for proceeding under this section.

It is important to remember that the prescriber will not have any liability as a result of refilling a prescription under this section of law. The law was designed to offer this protection during states of emergency.

Any questions or concerns about this section of California Pharmacy Law that may arise should be referred to the Lake County Emergency Operations Center, 707-263-3450.

HOW TO DONATE

The county of Lake is unable to accept in-kind donations, such as clothing, household goods and other supplies, in the fire recovery effort. In-kind donations require significant time and financial resources to distribute.
 
Cash donations are most helpful at this time; such donations allow those supporting disaster relief efforts to direct assistance where it is most needed.
 
Donations can be made to the fire fund established by North Coast Opportunities, https://www.ncoinc.org/.

HOW TO VOLUNTEER

American Red Cross

The American Red Cross is immediately seeking volunteers to assist with disaster response in Lake County. Help is needed with shelters, feeding, logistics and administrative tasks.

For general inquiries about volunteering, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. To apply online visit https://tinyurl.com/MendoComplexVol .

Organizations and agencies seeking volunteers can email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to be added to this list.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Fire officials said the fight continues against the growing Mendocino Complex, which on Friday led to the entire Northshore being under mandatory evacuation.

Cal Fire said Friday night that the incident was up to 157,450 acres – an increase of nearly 4,000 acres since the morning – with containment remaining at 30 percent.

The Ranch fire is at 115,250 acres, with containment unchanged at 28 percent; it had grown just over 3,000 acres since the morning, Cal Fire said.

The River fire is up to 42,200 acres, about a 700-acre rise from Friday morning. Containment remains at 50 percent, according to Cal Fire.

The count of structures destroyed remains at 88; of those, 41 are homes. Damaged structures so far total 10 residences and nine other buildings.

Both fires remained active on Friday, with firefighters working the north edge of the River fire and trying to keep ahead of the Ranch fire’s southeast push, according to radio reports.

The Ranch fire’s advance on the ridges above the Northshore on Friday triggered mandatory evacuation notices for Lucerne, Glenhaven, Clearlake Oaks and all the small communities in between that ring the northern and eastern edges of Clear Lake.

An advisory evacuation also was urged in a portion of western Colusa County that’s in the fire’s path.

Cal Fire officials said at a Friday night community meeting that the fire had pushed into the Spring Valley Lakes subdivision, where the Pawnee fire had burned in June, and that 55 engines were deployed there to fight it.

Firing operations also were taking place on Friday evening in the hills above Lucerne, according to radio reports.

Assigned resources include 3,449 personnel, 419 engines, 60 water tenders, 15 helicopters, 51 hand crews and 54 dozers.

This story is developing, and more information will be posted as it becomes 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.
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MENDOCINO COUNTY, Calif. -- At 1:00 p.m. Friday, Cal Fire issued a man mandatory evacuation for the community of Potter Valley area including:

East of Eastside Potter Valley Road and Eel River Road
South of the Eel River
West of Mendocino Lake County line
North of Mid Mountain Road
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Mendocino Complex is causing a delay for the start of school in the Lakeport Unified School District.

On Friday, Superintendent April Leiferman reported that at the district board’s meeting the previous night – which had to be moved around due to available venues – board members discussed the many issues that need to be addressed to safely open school for staff and students.

Among the issues she said the board discussed were the fact that evacuation orders still need to be lifted from the entire district; facilities need to be checked for safety conditions, buildings need to be cleaned inside and out, air quality will need to be healthy outside and inside buildings, playgrounds and parking lots need to be cleaned, and refrigeration units will need to be emptied, sanitized and food replaced.

Leiferman said administrators and teachers also will need time to prepare for students.

“With all of these logistics necessary to open school, the district does not anticipate staff returning before Aug. 16 and students to begin school before Aug. 22,” she said.

She said she’ll be sending weekly updates to staff and families. “Until all safety issues can be addressed, staff and students will not be allowed in offices or classrooms.”

Due to the anticipated late start to school, Leiferman said the district will  need to adjust the school calendar and will consult with the California Department of Education for guidance.

“The District is committed to getting this year off to a safe start despite this fire. We have faith in our talented classified and certificated staff to deal with this adversity and still provide a quality education for our students this year,” she said.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. -- The Lake County Sheriff's Office has reported that Mountain Vista Middle School has Opened as an Evacuation Shelter. 

The Mountain Vista Middle School is now open as an evacuation shelter for evacuees. 

The school is located at 5081 Konocti Rd. in Kelseyville.

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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. -- Friday mandatory evacuation orders were issued for additional parts of Lake County including the Lucerne, Glenhaven & Clearlake Oaks areas and the Hwy 20-Blue Lakes area.

Due to large numbers of evacuees, Twin Pine Casino has reached capacity and evacuees are being diverted to Middletown or Lower Lake High Schools.

At 10:32 a.m. Friday the Lake County Sheriff's Office ordered a mandatory evacuation for the Lucerne, Glenhaven & Clearlake Oaks areas. Evacuees are advised to proceed South. 

At 11:30 a.m. Friday the Hwy 20 Blue Lakes areas were also putin mandatory evacuation status. Evacuees were advised to leave the area immediately to the North & West.  A shelter has been established at Mendocino College, and additional shelters will be established as necessary. 

At 12:30 p.m. The LCSO reported that Twin Pine had reached capacity and diverted evacuees to Middletown or Lower Lake High Schools.

 

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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – As firefighters continue to battle the Mendocino Complex, forecasters are warning of increased fire weather conditions on Saturday.

The National Weather Service issued the warning that remains until 11 p.m. Saturday for Lake County and other parts of California.

The agency said a red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. “A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.”

The forecast calls for westerly winds to increase as a series of dry low pressure systems pass through northern California.

Highest threat areas include the Carr Fire and Mendocino Complex.

The specific Lake County forecast in Lake County calls for winds in the mid teens throughout the afternoon, rising into the high 20s by late Saturday, with temperatures in the high 80s and low 90s.

That raises concerns on the fire lines, where winds pushed the Ranch down to the ridges lining the town of Lucerne on Friday night.

Conditions on Sunday include light winds and slightly hotter temperatures, rising toward the center mark later in the, according to the forecast.

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.
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LAKE AND MENDOCINO COUNTIES, Calif. – Cal Fire has issued mandatory evacuation orders for the Cow Mountain Area of Mendocino County (South of SR-20, west of the Mendocino/Lake County line, east of the intersection of North Cow Mountain Road and the Cow Mountain Access Road, and north of the current fire perimeter of the River Fire )
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LUCERNE, Calif. -- At 10:32 a.m. Friday the Lake County Sheriff's Office ordered a mandatory evacuation for the Lucerne, Glenhaven & Clearlake Oaks areas. 

Residents are advised to leave immediately, traveling South. 

A staging area has been established at the Twin Pines Casino, where further directions will be provided.

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MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – Firefighters have gained more ground on the Eel fire which began near Covelo earlier this week.

The fire, burning 10 miles east of Covelo, was reported to be at 40-percent containment and approximately 1,000 acres, according to a Friday report from Mendocino National Forest spokeswoman Punky Moore.

With the rise in containment, Moore said fire managers lifted the mandatory evacuations along the M1 North Road from Eel River Station to Indian Dick Station at 6 p.m. Friday.

An evacuation advisory for the area remained in place, she said.

Moore said there are more than 100 personnel assigned to the incident. They are working to reinforce hand and dozer lines.

Travelers are reminded to drive with caution and watch for personnel and equipment working in the fire area, Moore said.
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CLEARLAKE, Calif. -- Friday afternoon Clearlake Mayor Bruno Sabatier published a video invitation to evacuees to take advantage of available park space in Clearlake.

Walking through Austin Park, Sabatier reported that the city had just approved opening the parks for evacuees. "They are public lands", he said and went on to say that the city is working on an evacuation center in the city.

"Please, come on down and enjoy yourself", he said adding "it's a safe place to be".

With Twin Pine casino reaching capacity, more space is needed for evacuees, Sabatier said.

 

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The Mendocino Complex in Lake County, Calif., as mapped by Cal Fire on the morning of Friday, August 3, 2018.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Continuing its pattern of dramatic nighttime growth, the Mendocino Complex marked the end of its first week by scorching nearly 30,000 more acres overnight as it pushed into the footprint of another recent wildland fire.

At the same time, officials gave a new tally of the complex’s destroyed and damaged structures that had risen sharply since the last report.

Cal Fire said Friday morning that the Mendocino Complex of the Ranch and River fires was up to 153,738 acres, with containment rolled back from 39 to 30 percent containment.

The Ranch fire was reported to be 83,890 acres Thursday night, with 33-percent containment. By Friday morning, the updated acreage had ballooned to 112,226 acres, with containment rolling back to 28 percent, according to Cal Fire.

Based on Lake County fire history, the Ranch fire – part of which is located in Mendocino County – is on track to become the largest in Lake County’s recorded history, far outpacing the 83,000-acre Fork fire of 1996.

The River fire remains at 50-percent containment, having grown less than 300 acres overnight to a total of 41,512 acres, Cal Fire said.

Cal Fire also released a new damage assessment on the complex, which showed a total of 88 structures destroyed, 41 of them homes. Another 19 structures – 10 of them homes – have been damaged.

Cal Fire said 9,200 structures remain threatened. Numerous evacuations, which are listed here, remain in place.

Both the Ranch and River fires continued to remain active throughout the night, with Cal Fire noting that the Ranch fire made significant and rapid expansion to the east towards the scar of the Pawnee Fire, which burned in and around the Spring Valley Lakes subdivision east of Clearlake Oaks in June.

Radio reports also indicated overnight that firing operations were used successfully to remove vegetation, with the goal of controlling the complex.

On Friday, the plan is for firefighters to continue to prep and defend structures and construct primary and secondary control lines, according to Cal Fire.

Access and weather make many areas of the fire difficult to directly fight fire, so Cal Fire said aircraft support will be utilized when weather and smoke visibility conditions permit.

Cal Fire has pushed back by more than a week the expected date of full containment on the incident, now estimated to be achieved on Aug. 15.

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.

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