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The County fire in Yolo and Napa counties in Northern California on Wednesday, July 4, 2018. Map courtesy of Cal Fire.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Cal Fire said Wednesday that the County fire has had another significant growth in acreage, with hundreds more homes and other structures in Yolo and Napa counties now threatened, while the Pawnee fire in Lake County is nearing full containment.

The County fire has burned 82,700 acres as of Wednesday morning, with 25 percent containment, Cal Fire said.

Cal Fire said the fire is now threatening 1,345 structures, but none have been reported damaged so far.

That structure threat has led to a number of continuing mandatory evacuation orders in the fire area.

The Wednesday Cal Fire report said firefighters worked aggressively through the night to build containment lines around the incident, and have been hampered in their efforts by the steep and inaccessible on the fire’s north end.

Wednesday’s conditions were far cooler, with some wind, and Cal Fire said the winds – coupled with dry vegetation – could still lead to fire growth.

Radio reports on Wednesday indicated more efforts to contain the fire through the efforts of aircraft.

The reports stated that the fire continued to burn actively and was picking up in some areas by mid afternoon.

Cal Fire said 18 helicopters were working the incident on Wednesday. Other resources assigned include 2,894 personnel, 283 engines, 32 water tenders, 63 hand crews and 73 dozers.

The County fire is estimated to be fully contained on July 10, three days after Cal Fire expects to finally contain the Pawnee fire, burning northeast of Clearlake Oaks in Lake County since June 23.

The Pawnee fire on Wednesday remained at 15,000 acres with containment up to 90 percent.

Resources assigned to the fire continued to be rolled back on the incident, with personnel at 1,800, along with 92 engines, 27 water tenders, nine helicopters, 36 hand crews and 27 dozers, Cal Fire said.

Cal Fire said the causes of both fires remain 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.
The Pawnee fire northeast of Clearlake Oaks, Calif., on Wednesday, July 4, 2018. Map courtesy of Cal Fire.
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MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – Fire restrictions will go into effect on the Mendocino National Forest on Friday, July 6, and will remain in place through Oct. 30.

“We are implementing these restrictions due to dry conditions and the increased risk of wildfires. The public can help prevent human-caused wildfires by always practicing fire safety and complying with these restrictions,” Forest Supervisor Ann Carlson said.

Temporary fire restrictions are put in place to provide for public safety, protect natural resources and limit the threat of human-caused wildfires. Similar restrictions are going into effect on neighboring forests.

However, restrictions can vary by forest and visitors should check with the national forest they plan on visiting for the latest fire restrictions and conditions.

For the Mendocino National Forest, the fire restrictions are formally referenced through Forest Order Number 08-18-11.

Under the restrictions, fires, campfires, charcoal fires or stoves are prohibited except in the following designated recreation sites on the Mendocino National Forest (no campfire permit is required):

– Grindstone Ranger District: Whitlock, Kingsley, Three Prong, Ides Cove, Horse Packer, Wells Cabin, Lake Red Bluff Recreation Area, Big Springs Day Use Area, Letts Lake, Mill Valley, Dixie Glade, Plaskett Meadows, Masterson, Little Stony, Grey Pine, Fouts Springs, Davis Flat, South Fork, North Fork, Mill Creek, Cedar Camp, Old Mill and Sugar Springs campgrounds.

– Upper Lake Ranger District: Fuller Grove, Fuller Grove Group Camp, Navy Camp, Pogie Point, Oak Flat, Sunset, Middle Creek, Deer Valley, Bear Creek, Penny Pines Campground and Lake Pillsbury Summer Home Sites.

– Covelo Ranger District: Eel River, Little Doe, Howard Lake, Howard Meadows, Atchison, Green Springs and Hammerhorn Lake campgrounds.

Also, persons with a valid California Campfire Permit may have campfires, charcoal fires or stoves in federally designated wilderness areas and the following designated fire safe recreation sites on the forest:

– Grindstone Ranger District: Pacific Ridge Station, West Crockett, Board Tree, Rocky Cabin, Board Tree and Dead Mule.

– Upper Lake Ranger District: Lower Nye Campground, Pine Mountain Lookout, Hunter Camp, Pinnacle Rock Camp, Spruce Grove Camp, Sanhedrin Hunter Camp, Milsap Cabin, Dry Oak Camp, Graves Cabin and Barley Lake.

– Covelo Ranger District: Surveyor Camp, Rock Cabin, Rattlesnake, Post Camp, Grizzly Flat and Patrol Camp.

In all other areas of the forest, lanterns or portable stoves using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel will be allowed as long as the person has a current California Campfire Permit with them.

California Campfire Permits are free and may be obtained at any Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management or Cal Fire office in California, as well as from Forest Service field employees. They may also be found online at www.preventwildfireca.org .

The following activities are also prohibited as part of the fire restrictions:

– Smoking except within an enclosed vehicle or in the designated recreation sites listed above.
– Operating an internal combustion engine, except on National Forest system roads or trails.
– Welding or operating an acetylene or other torch with an open flame.
– Fireworks are always prohibited on public lands.
– Forest visitors are able to continue riding off-highway vehicles on designated roads and trails, provided that the vehicles are equipped with the required spark arresters. Spark arresters are also required on chainsaws being used for people filling valid personal use wood cutting permits and may only be used on designated roads and trails.

Violation of these fire restrictions 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 contact the Mendocino National Forest at 530-934-3316.
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The Pawnee fire northeast of Clearlake Oaks, Calif., on Tuesday, July 3, 2018. Map courtesy of Cal Fire.


CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – As the Pawnee fire moved closer to full containment on Tuesday, officials lifted the final evacuation order for the incident, while to the southeast the County fire burned another 10,000 acres.

On Tuesday afternoon Double Eagle Ranch subdivision residents were allowed to return home, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

About 50 structures had been threatened there in recent days due to the Pawnee fire.

By the time the evacuations were lifted the fire had grown to 14,900 acres, with containment at 80 percent, Cal Fire reported.

The fire began on June 23 northeast of Clearlake Oaks and had originally resulted in mandatory evacuation orders for both the Spring Valley Lakes and Double Eagle Ranch subdivisions.

Those orders had been lifted last week, but a Saturday flareup on the incident pushed the fire back toward Double Eagle Ranch, leading to another mandatory evacuation order.

The fire destroyed 22 structures and damaged five others in Spring Valley Lakes during its first days, but no structures were reported damaged in the fire’s more recent push toward the Double Eagle Ranch.

Cal Fire said weather conditions – decreased temperatures and higher humidity – have aided the firefighting effort.

Overnight crews strengthened control lines and extinguished interior hot spots, and work is continuing on mop-up and patrol, with 2,186 personnel, 114 engines, 30 water tenders, nine helicopters, 49 hand crews and 32 dozers assigned to the incident, Cal Fire said.

In the neighboring counties of Yolo and Napa, the County fire continues to burn aggressively.

On Tuesday, Cal Fire said the County fire had burned another 10,000 acres, with total size estimated at 70,000 acres and containment at just 5 percent.

The number of threatened structures is up to 980, Cal Fire said.

Cal Fire said the County Fire continued to burn actively throughout the night, with its growth driven primarily by steep terrain and dry vegetation.

Firefighters continued to work through the night to construct new containment lines and defend
structures threatened by the fire, Cal Fire said.

The situation led to the Napa County Sheriff’s Office issuing evacuation advisories late Monday night for Berryessa Highlands, Markley Cove Resort and Pleasure Cove Resort, in addition to mandatory evacuations in place near the Yolo County community of Guinda, where the fire started, as Lake County News has reported.

Officials said 2,115 personnel, 177 engines, 51 water tenders, 18 helicopters, 51 hand crews and 50 dozers are assigned to the County Fire.

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.
The County fire in Napa and Yolo counties in Northern California as of Tuesday, July 3, 2018. Map courtesy of Cal Fire.
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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Firefighters are working to contain a wildland fire that began on Wednesday afternoon in neighboring Colusa County.

The Stoney fire was first dispatched in the 2600 block of Lodoga Stonyford Road just before 1:15 p.m., according to Cal Fire.

Cal Fire, along with units from Maxwell and other Colusa County resources, responded to the quick-moving fire, based on radio reports.

Air attack, helicopters and air tankers also responded, according to reports from the scene.

Shortly after 2:15 p.m., Cal Fire issued a report estimating the fire’s size at 50 acres, with zero containment.

Cal Fire said the blaze is burning in grass with a moderate rate of spread, and is posing a threat to structures.

Minutes later, air attack reported from the scene that the fire had reached 100 acres, with forward progress stopped.

No structures have so far been reported damaged, Cal Fire said.

Resources assigned so far include 10 engines, two fire crews, two helicopters, four bulldozers and six air tankers, according to Cal Fire. No estimate was given for the number of personnel.

Additional information will be published 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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NORTH COAST, Calif. – The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office has arrested the man who they said shot and killed his father and wounded his older brother on Monday along Highway 101 near Willits.

Capt. Greg Van Patten said Ubaldo Ramirez Davila, 23, of Covelo is the suspect in the shooting.

Calixto Ramirez, 51, died at the scene, while his son, Miguel Ramirez, 30, was transported to an out-of-county hospital by air ambulance and remains in critical condition, Van Patten said.

Deputies responded to the area of Mile Post Marker 35 on North Highway 101 south of Golden Rule Shortly before 4:45 p.m., with initial reports suggesting there had been a vehicle crash, according to Van Patten’s original report.

Van Patten said that when the deputies arrived, they found the Ramirezes in a maroon 2001 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck that was stopped in the southbound traffic lanes of north Highway 101.

The investigation began immediately, and Van Patten said it was thanks to the assistance of the public that Ubaldo Ramirez was located on Tuesday at 1:30 a.m. in a parking lot in the 77800 block of Highway 162 in Covelo.

He was taken into custody without incident for the homicide of his father and the attempted homicide of his brother, Van Patten said.

Ubaldo Ramirez was booked into the Mendocino County Jail where he is being held without bail.

Specific details regarding the shooting are not being released at this time due to pending followup investigations by sheriff's detectives, Van Patten said.

Any persons with information about this incident, including anyone who might have seen Ubaldo Ramirez between the scene on Monday and Covelo on Tuesday are encouraged to contact the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office Tip-Line by calling 707-234-2100.

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NICE, Calif. – The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is investigating who is responsible for a methamphetamine conversion lab found at a home in Nice last week.

Lt. Corey Paulich said that on Friday detectives from the Lake County Sheriff’s Narcotics Unit served a search warrant at a residence in the 3800 block of Dixie Street in Nice.

He said detectives located the lab at the residence and determined that the home was being used to convert liquid methamphetamine into crystal methamphetamine.

Approximately one half gallon of liquid methamphetamine was located. Paulich said detectives estimated the liquid was capable of producing more than 2 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, which would have a street value of approximately $10,000.

He said no one was located at the residence and detectives are continuing their investigation to determine the person or persons responsible.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 707-263-3663.
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Pacific Gas and Electric crews worked on Tuesday, July 3, 2018, to replace damaged power poles in order to restore power to remaining customers impacted by the Pawnee fire. Photo courtesy of PG&E.

CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – Firefighters gained more ground on the Pawnee fire during cooler conditions on Tuesday, with officials estimating the incident will reach full containment this weekend.

The fire on Tuesday evening had reached 15,000 acres, with 85 percent containment, Cal Fire said.

Earlier in the day, officials lifted the mandatory evacuation order for the Double Eagle Ranch subdivision east of Clearlake Oaks, as Lake County News has reported.

The agency moved back the expected date for full containment from Thursday to Saturday.

Cal Fire said crews are focused on mop up and patrol, with their priority being to extinguish large
diameter fuels.

With firefighters and equipment much in need on other incidents – including the 72,500-acre County fire to the southeast – the assigned resources rolled back on Tuesday, with the number of firefighters down several hundred to 1,800, along with 92 engines, 27 water tenders, nine helicopters, 36 hand crews and 27 dozers, Cal Fire said.

Pacific Gas and Electric spokeswoman Deanna Contreras said crews on Tuesday worked to restore power to the final 16 customers who have been without power due to the Pawnee fire.

She said they were flying a helicopter to replace the 30 or so poles, with the landing zone located at Cache Creek Vineyards off Highway 20.

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 COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Registrar of Voter’s Office has completed the official canvass for the June 5 election, with close races for the Board of Supervisors now settled.

Registrar of Voters Diane Fridley released the final election results on Tuesday evening.

In the final count, Bruno Sabatier and Eddie “EJ” Crandell Sr. were elected as the newest members of the Board of Supervisors, representing Districts 2 and 3, respectively.

Both men had been engaged in races that were too close to call following the preliminary ballot count, at which point more than 6,000 ballots – primarily absentee, with some provisional – for countywide races remained to be tallied, as Lake County News has reported.

Sabatier, currently mayor of the city of Clearlake, received 853 votes, or 54.7 percent of the vote, compared to Joyce Overton, his Clearlake City Council colleague, who received 693 votes, or 44.5 percent.

Crandell, a Lake County planning commissioner and tribal chair of Robinson Rancheria, received 1,354 votes, or 51.4 percent, compared to 1,270 votes, or 48.2 percent, cast for Denise Loustalot, a businesswoman and formerly mayor of Clearlake.

In the race for the Department 4 seat on the Lake County Superior Court Bench, Shanda Harry and Don Anderson will engage in a runoff in November.

Harry, a deputy county counsel, received 6,008 votes, or 45.6 percent, compared to the 5,678 votes, or 43.1 percent, that went to Don Anderson, the county’s sitting district attorney.

The third candidate in the race, attorney Andre Ross, received 1,446 votes, or 11 percent.

In the race of Lake County superintendent of schools, incumbent Brock Falkenberg received 8,443 votes, or 71.2 percent, compared to the 3,355 ballots, or 28.3 percent, that went to Patrick Iaccino, the retired superintendent of the Upper Lake Unified School District.

In the district attorney’s race, Susan Krones, a senior deputy district attorney, received 7,517 votes, or 59.4 percent, compared to attorney Steven Brown, who received 5,060 votes, or 40 percent.

Krones has become the first woman in Lake County’s history to be elected district attorney.

The final results also showed that Measure G, the 1.5-percent proposed countywide sales tax, failed by a final margin of 6,080 no votes, or 60.2 percent, to 4,023 yes votes, or 39.8 percent. It needed at least a 50 percent plus one approval vote to pass.

Regarding Measure F, a street maintenance measure for the Butler-Keys Community Service District, it passed with 30 yes votes, or 76.9 percent, to nine no votes, or 23.1 percent.

The measure institutes a special annual tax of $50 per year per single lot within the district for a period of four years, beginning in the 2018-19 fiscal year, with the funds raised to go to maintain streets. It also will establish an annual district appropriations limit in the amount of $9,250 for four fiscal years.

Fridley said the official “statement of votes” with voting precinct breakdown will be posted on the Registrar of Voters Web page on Thursday.

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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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – The growth of the County fire and its potential threat to more residences resulted in Napa County officials advising evacuations in the fire’s path.

By Monday evening, the fire – which began Sunday in the Yolo County community of Guinda – had burned 60,000 acres with just 5 percent containment, as Lake County News has reported.

Earlier this week, the fire crossed into Napa County, officials reported.

Late Monday, the Napa County Sheriff’s Office issued an evacuation advisory for Berryessa Highlands, Markley Cove and Pleasure Cove Resort.

The areas impacted by the advisory are located east of Capell Valley Road; north of State Highway 128 from Capell Valley Road, east to the Napa County line; and all of Steele Canyon Road.

Authorities said residents of Berryessa Highlands, Markley Cove Resort and Pleasure Cove Resort should be prepared to evacuate if fire conditions worsen and the Napa County Sheriff’s Office, in consultation with fire incident commanders, determine the evacuation order is necessary.

Residents with special needs or pets requiring specialized transportation should consider extended travel times in their potential evacuation plans, the advisory said.

Although the evacuation advisory is precautionary, officials said residents who elect to evacuate voluntarily should utilize State Highway 128 west or Monticello Road south in their travel route.

Residents are asked not to use State Highway 128 east, as there is no access into Solano or Yolo counties via State Highway 128.

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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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Firefighters gained ground on the County fire in Yolo and Napa counties on Tuesday, but the fire’s continued threat to an expanding area led to more mandatory evacuations and the closure of a wildlife area.

The County fire grew to 72,500 acres by day’s end on Tuesday, with containment up to 15 percent and no damage to the 980 structures in the fire’s path, Cal Fire said.

On Tuesday the resources assigned to the County fire increased notably, with hundreds more firefighters and nearly 100 more engines arriving to assist.

By day’s end, Cal Fire said there were 2,665 firefighters, 274 engines, 56 water tenders, 18 helicopters, 55 hand crews and 67 dozers.

Cal Fire said firefighters worked aggressively through the day Tuesday to build containment lines
around the County fire.

Those efforts, Cal Fire said, have been hampered on the northern end of the fire by steep, inaccessible terrain.

At the same time, cooler temperatures are expected through Wednesday, but winds and dry vegetation still have the potential to fuel fire growth, Cal Fire said.

The changing conditions led to the announcement of some evacuation orders being lifted and new ones being implemented.

On Tuesday night, the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office said it changed certain evacuation orders from mandatory to advisory due to containment lines and better weather conditions.

Impacted areas include those west of State Highway 16, between County Road 76 and County Road 81, including the community of Brooks and the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation; west of County Road 89, to the burn area, from County Road 23 in the North, to State Highway 128 in the South.

Those areas don’t include the previously evacuated areas of Napa County, north of State Highway 128 between the eastern shore of Lake Berryessa and the Napa/Yolo County Line.

The road closure along State Highway 128 between Pleasants Valley Road and Markley Cove Resort remains in effect. Residents along Positas Road will be allowed access with valid identification, officials said.

Less than an hour after that announcement was made, the sheriff’s offices for Yolo and Napa counties said they had issued a mandatory evacuation for the area west of State Highway 16, to Berryessa Knoxville Road, south of Old County Road 40 and north of County Road 53.

Residents of the Yolo County portion of that area were urged to evacuate immediately.

The Napa County evacuation area does not include any permanent residences, with deputies surveying the evacuation area for campers.

In other fire-related news, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said Tuesday night that the Knoxville Wildlife Area located in northeastern Napa County is closed until further notice because of the County fire.

The Knoxville-Berryessa Road, which runs through the wildlife area, is currently closed. Due to the uncertain nature of the fire it is unknown when the wildlife area will reopen, officials said.

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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A helicopter drops water on a fire on Anderson Island near Kelseyville, Calif., on Tuesday, July 3, 2018. Photo by Tom Johnson.

THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED REGARDING ACREAGE AND FORWARD PROGRESS.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Firefighters are working to contain a fire on Anderson Island.

The island, located off Buckingham in Kelseyville, was first reported shortly after 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Firefighters were directed to respond to Braito’s Marina in order to be ferried out ot the island, estimated to be between 25 and 30 acres and containing several structures.

Cal Fire air resources also responded, with helicopters making multiple water drops and tankers dropping retardant.

The fire was reported to be close to five acres just after 5:30 p.m., burning in grass and oaks.

Just before 6 p.m. power to the island was turned off, according to reports from the scene.

Crews on the ground are reported to be working on hot spots.

Shortly after 6:30 p.m., incident command reported that forward progress had been stopped, and the fire had burned approximately 3.4 acres.

There was no structure damage, and crews at that point were expected to be committed for four hours of work at the scene.

Cal Fire is in unified command with Kelseyville Fire on the incident.

Additional information will be published 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.
An air tanker completes a retardant drop on a fire on Anderson Island near Kelseyville, Calif., on Tuesday, July 3, 2018. Photo by Tom Johnson.
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On Monday Gov. Jerry Brown, Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, Senate Republican Leader Patricia Bates and Assembly Republican Leader Brian Dahle announced action on legislation to strengthen disaster preparedness and set forth appropriate policies to respond to the increasing wildfire danger.

“Wildfires and extreme weather are more destructive than ever and that’s why we must take decisive action to protect the lives and property of the people of California. Tackling this challenge requires all of us to roll up our sleeves and to work together,” said the leaders in a joint statement.​​

Following some of the most destructive wildfires in California history, Gov. Brown joined with legislative leaders in March to commit to delivering a solution that will make California more resilient against future disasters.

Continuing this effort, legislative leaders plan to move Senate Bill 901 (Senator Bill Dodd, D-Napa) to a conference committee where it will be available to be amended to continue the state’s progress toward reaching that goal.

The amended legislation will help prepare the state to deal with the increasingly extreme weather and natural disasters caused by climate change.

Specifically, the committee will consider provisions of the plan outlined in March to update rules and regulations for utility services in light of changing climate and the increased severity and frequency of weather events, such as:

– Strengthen fire prevention activities such as vegetation removal, infrastructure maintenance, utility company inspections and temporary shut off of power during extreme weather;
– Continue to ensure that those who cause wildfires are held accountable for damages associated with them;
– Appropriately determine responsibility for a wildfire;
– Ensure fair allocation of wildfire prevention and response costs in a manner that protects ratepayers; and
– Require utilities to annually submit to the state more expansive and detailed wildfire and emergency preparedness plans.

The legislation would implement these changes in the future, and nothing in the bill would affect any potential liability for last year’s historic and massively destructive wildfires.

More land has already burned in California in the first six months of this year than during the same period last year.

Specifically, Cal Fire has already fought more than 53,000 acres of wildfire this year compared to an average of 23,000 acres over the same time in previous years.

Four of California’s five most destructive wildfires on record have burned in the last 15 years.

Forests serve as the state’s largest land-based carbon sink, drawing carbon from the atmosphere and storing it in trees and shrubs and in forest soils. But even a single wildfire can immediately cancel all those benefits.

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