Thursday, 27 February 2025

Register

News

Posted On

Cal Fire’s Mendocino Complex evacuation map as of the evening of Tuesday, August 6, 2018. The areas with red perimeter are mandatory evacuation areas, while yellow denotes advisory evacuation areas.


LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Better weather conditions and strengthening containment lines on the Mendocino Complex allowed more Lake County residents to return home on Tuesday after a lengthy evacuation.

Cal Fire said the growth on the complex, burning since July 27, was held to approximately 2,000 acres during the day on Tuesday, rising to 292,692 acres. Containment remained flat at 34 percent.

All of that new growth occurred on the Ranch fire, up to 243,772 acres and 20-percent containment, while the River fire’s size and containment, 48,920 acres and 78-percent containment, respectively, did not change, according to Cal Fire.

Also showing no change so far are damage assessment numbers: 143 structures destroyed and 26 damaged. Approximately 10,300 structures remain threatened.

Cal Fire said weather played a big factor on Tuesday. The winds aloft covered the fire area in smoke, causing lower-than-predicted temperatures that allowed crews to continue critical work to contain the fire perimeter edge, thus slowing growth.

Those winds also caused visibility issues for aircraft early Tuesday evening. When visibility dropped to less than a mile at around 6 p.m., all aircraft – including helicopters – were called off the complex for the night, according to incident radio traffic.

Cal Fire said the River fire continued to be cleaned up on Tuesday, and it’s progressing steadily toward full containment.

Conditions on the Ranch fire remained dynamic on Tuesday, with a flare up requiring a mandatory evacuation order in Mendocino County south of the Eel River, west of the Mendocino-Lake County line, east of the 10500 block of Mid Mountain Road and north of Pine Avenue. At that time Cal Fire also stated that “houses on Pine avenue are not affected.”

In Lake County, the situation improved enough that on Tuesday morning the mandatory evacuation order was lifted for Blue Lakes, Bachelor Valley, Witter Springs, Saratoga Springs and Scotts Valley, with the advisory evacuation for those areas lifted during the afternoon.

The area from Upper Lake to Clearlake Oaks remains under mandatory evacuation as firefighters continue to strengthen containment lines along the Northshore.

A mandatory evacuation also remains in effect in Colusa County for the area south of the Glenn-Colusa County line, north of Highway 20 and west of Bear Valley, Leesville Lodoga Road, Sites Lodoga Road and County Road 401.

Mapping showed the Ranch fire has continued to push north farther into Colusa County, reaching the outskirts of Lodoga by Tuesday night.

In Glenn County, an advisory evacuation is in place for the area north of the Glenn County/Colusa County line, west of County Road 306, south of County Road 308, east of the Mendocino National Forest boundary.

By Tuesday night, the Ranch fire hadn’t yet passed into Glenn County’s boundaries; at about 9 p.m. fire mapping showed the fire to be about 5 miles south of the Colusa-Glenn County line. However, a tweet posted from the Glenn County Office of Emergency Services Twitter account after 8 p.m. Tuesday said that a potential threat remains to southwestern Glenn County.

The goal Tuesday night is to use the lower temperatures to increase the incident’s containment lines, Cal Fire said.

With the complex still burning actively and growing, Cal Fire on Tuesday pushed back the estimated date of full containment by two weeks to Sept. 1.

Cal Fire said the resources assigned include 4,088 firefighting personnel, 381 engines, 96 water tenders, 19 helicopters, 63 hand crews and 89 dozers.

In other fire-related news on Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a proclamation of a local health emergency due to the Mendocino Complex, formally requested from Dr. Gary Pace, Lake County’s interim health officer, and received brief updates from county staff about their response to the incident.

In addition to firefighters, the response to the complex includes a large force of workers from Pacific Gas and Electric Co., which has established a base camp at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Lakeport.

PG&E spokeswoman Deanna Contreras said there are 800 employees working out of the camp, from crews to mutual aid, contractors and other personnel.

On Tuesday night Contreras said PG&E is working to restore power safely and as quickly as possible in the fire-impacted areas. At that point, she said there were fewer than 300 customers without power, all of them in Blue Lakes and Clearlake Oaks.  

“Today, we have made a significant amount of repairs to areas where we have access, however, there are still some areas where the fire is actively burning. Therefore we are at about 90 percent in assessing all of our equipment,” she said.

The company pretreated more than 800 wooden poles with fire suppressant that were in the fire’s path to minimize damage, she said.

Throughout the entire complex, at least 264 poles and eight transformers need to be replaced. Contreras said 25 of those damaged wooden poles have already been replaced with steel poles, and PG&E is continuing to determine locations for other steel poles.

Cal Fire said it will hold a virtual meeting to update the community on the latest developments on the complex at 6 p.m. Wednesday. The meeting can be viewed on the Cal Fire Mendocino Unit Facebook page, the county of Lake’s Facebook page and PEG TV Channel 8, or listened to live on KPFZ 88.1 FM.

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.
Pacific Gas and Electric crews from Ukiah, Eureka and Fort Bragg work to restore power in Lake County, Calif., in the wake of the Mendocino Complex. Photo courtesy of PG&E.
Posted On



LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Mendocino Complex continued aggressively burning and threatening communities on Monday, with its day’s-end acreage total making it the largest wildland fire in state history.

Cal Fire said Monday evening that the complex has so far burned 283,800 acres, a more than 10,000-acre increase since the morning.

Total containment on Monday remained unchanged at 30-percent, with 11,300 structures remaining threatened, 143 destroyed — including 75 residences — an 26 damaged.

Because of the continued fire activity and threat to communities, on Monday thousands of Lake County residents along the Northshore, from Upper Lake past Clearlake Oaks, and into western Colusa County remained under mandatory evacuation status, officials reported.

In Colusa County, the fire continued to push north toward Lodoga and Stonyford. Early Tuesday morning, the fire appeared to be nearing Lodoga, but still had a distance to reach Stonyford, which is farther to the north, according to fire mapping.

With the complex not expected to be fully contained until Aug. 15, it’s likely the complex could set a far higher record for acres burned, and still more structures could be destroyed or damaged.

Much of the acreage growth has occurred on the largest of the complex’s two fires, the Ranch, which by itself is among the largest wildland fires in state history at 235,000 acres. Cal Fire said its containment also remained unchanged at 21 percent as it grew by 10,000 acres on Monday.

The other fire, the River, is at 48,800 acres, up by only about 140 acres since the start of the day, with containment holding at 58 percent, Cal Fire said.

The complex has shown little sign of slowing, aided by the summer’s hot weather conditions.

The smoke from the Ranch fire filled the sky in Lake County, Calif., on the evening of Monday, August 6, 2018, and resulted in a dramatic sunset. Photo by Jenny Hole.

Cal Fire said that on Monday a higher pressure system brought warmer weather, drying and strong winds to the region.

That caused continued spread to the east-southeast sections of the Ranch fire, where Cal Fire said crews worked aggressively to hold previously established containment lines.

On Monday afternoon, the Ranch fire continued to burn aggressively in Spring Valley, where firefighters tried to protect homes as the fire burned on both sides of Spring Valley Road in the 2500 block. The short video clip below was shot by this reporter in the area before it was necessary to leave due to the fire’s advance.

In Spring Valley, the ridges are delineated by wide dozer lines, cut to try to stop the fire, with some of them believed to be from the June Pawnee fire.

By sunset, thick smoke from the Ranch fire was hanging over the county, creating a dramatic sunset and an orange-hued sky.

The activity on the River fire side of the complex on Monday involved what Cal Fire said was a successful firing operation in the Cow Mountain area, continuing to tie into Scotts Valley Road.

On Monday more engines, water tenders and dozers arrived to help fight the fire. Cal Fire said the assigned resources grew to 3,908 personnel, 441 engines, 93 water tenders, 15 helicopters, 62 hand crews and 85 dozers, along with air tankers.

Cal Fire said that on Monday night crews will try to take advantage of the lower temperatures to increase suppression and hold current containment lines.

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.
Posted On

NORTH COAST, Calif. – Fire managers have lifted the evacuation advisory previously in place for roads and areas near the Eel fire, 10 miles east of Covelo.

The fire began last Tuesday.

With containment at 60 percent and no growth in several days, fire managers have determined the area is safe for the public and residents, according to Punky Moore, spokeswoman for the Mendocino National Forest.

The public is asked to use caution while traveling through the area as personnel and equipment are still working on the fire.

Moore said fire crews continue to mop up smoldering vegetation, reinforce containment lines and fell dead standing trees that pose a threat to firefighters on the line.

With diminished fire activity, the number of resources needed on the incident will start to decrease. Moore said there are approximately 144 personnel working on the incident and the fire remains at 972 acres.
Blog Left ad
Posted On

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – On Tuesday, Congressman John Garamendi (D-Davis, Fairfield, Yuba City), together with neighboring Representatives Mike Thompson and Jared Huffman, sent a letter to President Trump supporting Gov. Jerry Brown’s request for a major disaster declaration for Lake, Napa and Mendocino counties in response to the Steele and Mendocino Complex fires.

If approved, the major disaster declaration will provide federal resources to facilitate firefighting and recovery efforts, which will be badly needed to recover from the Mendocino Complex, now the largest wildfire in California history.

“As these fires continue to rage across California, my thoughts go out to all the families who have lost loved ones, their homes, and their jobs,” Garamendi said. “I have been traveling through Lake County observing the fire damage and firefighting operations, and I am constantly amazed by the bravery of our incredible first responders, evacuation center volunteers, and local residents who have confronted this disaster together.

“This is the fifth major fire in Lake County over the last three years. Families throughout the community have faced the ultimate hardship but continue to persevere and keep their heads held high. I spoke with an evacuee at Lower Lake High School last week as she tried to gather any information available on the status of her home. ‘I just came back from the hospital and they told me the news,’ she told me. I asked if she was OK and she replied, ‘Yes, but in three months I’ll have triplets – not twins.’ She got up with a hearty laugh, a big smile and said, ‘Yep I’ll be OK’ as she walked off to the evening meal without knowing if her home was safe,” Garamendi said.

“That unbreakable spirit can be witnessed in every firefighter, evacuee, and evacuation center volunteer in the community. It’s truly inspiring, and I have been moved by the acts of heroism I have witnessed here this week,” he said. “I will do everything in my power to provide proper support and relief for the victims of the California Wildfires, and I implore the president to grant swift approval of our request for a major disaster declaration.”

The full letter from Representatives Garamendi, Huffman and Thompson is available here, and the text is below.

The letter was also signed by 22 other members of the California delegation, including Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (CA-23), Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (CA-12), and Representatives Ken Calvert (CA-42), Anna G. Eshoo (CA-18), Ed Royce (CA-39), Zoe Lofgren (CA-19), Grace Napolitano (CA-32), Adam Schiff (CA-28), Doris Matsui (CA-06), Jerry McNerney (CA-09), Jackie Speier (CA-14), Judy Chu (CA-27), Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), Scott Peters (CA-52), Raul Ruiz (CA-36), Eric Swalwell (CA-15), Juan Vargas (CA-51), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11), Norma Torres (CA-35), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34).


August 7, 2018

The President
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President:

Today, we write in support of the State of California’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance and Public Assistance as a result of the devastating wildfires in Lake, Mendocino, and Napa Counties.

California has experienced an unusual amount of wildfire activity – with 16 wildfires burning simultaneously throughout the state. These fires have been exacerbated by the weather, which is exceptionally hot and dry. Daytime highs and nighttime lows have averaged 10 degrees above normal and drought conditions prevail. We appreciate your swift approval of a Major Disaster Declaration for Shasta County for the Carr Fire, as well as of Fire Management Assistance Grants, to help our state fight these devastating fires.  As you know, the Carr Fire that began its devastating impact in Shasta County has also crossed into Trinity County, where mandatory evacuation orders were issued and additional assistance may be required.

On July 27, 2018, the River and Ranch Fires ignited in Mendocino County and quickly crossed into Lake County. These two fires, collectively known as the Mendocino Complex Fire, subsequently exploded in size, threatening highly populated areas within Lake County. They have scorched more than 270,000 acres and forced the entire population of Upper Lake and the City of Lakeport to evacuate. The Mendocino Complex Fire continues to grow at an alarming rate, and is now the largest fire in our state’s history. It is only 30 percent contained.

In addition, on the evening of July 28, 2018, the Steele Fire ignited in Napa County. Though smaller in size than the Carr or Mendocino Complex Fires, the Steele Fire has already been extremely destructive. Residents were forced to flee with almost no prior notice, as the fire destroyed homes soon after ignition.

These catastrophic fires are a disaster of major scope and consequence. Therefore, we strongly support the State of California’s request for a major disaster declaration for these communities. We appreciate your consideration of this request and stand ready to assist you in expediting support and resources to the communities afflicted by this terrible tragedy.
Posted On

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors will hold a regular meeting on Tuesday during which members will consider proclaiming a local health emergency due to the Mendocino Complex, get an update on the fires and also consider a fall ballot measure to establish a cannabis business tax ordinance.

The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 7, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.

The meeting can be watched live on Channel 8 and online at https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx. Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.

At 9:15 a.m., the board will consider a proclamation of a local health emergency by the Lake County health officer due to the Mendocino Complex, which on Monday became the largest wildland fire in California history.

The board also will get a status report on the complex. It consists of the Ranch and River fires, which began July 27 in Mendocino County before burning in Lake and Colusa counties.

In an untimed item, the board will hold a second reading of an ordinance establishing a cannabis business tax in the unincorporated areas of the county, and will consider a tax measure, a general purpose local revenue measure for the Nov. 6 General Election, and consider a resolution placing the Lake County Cannabis Business Tax Ordinance and the ballot measure statement for the Nov. 6 election.

The full agenda follows.

EXTRA ITEMS

4.1: Consideration of the rental of Redwood Fuels fuel truck with driver and the purchase of gasoline and diesel fuels from Redwood Fuels, in the amount of $33,781 plus the cost of fuel for the Mendocino Complex (River and Ranch) fires disaster response, authorizing the sheriff/OES director to sign all necessary documents.

4.2: Consideration of transportation-related expenses in excess of $25,000 for evacuees of the Mendocino Complex (River and Ranch) fires disaster, authorizing the sheriff/OES director to sign all necessary documents.

4.3: Consideration of a resolution establishing primarily call first and by appointment services for the office of the Lake County Air Quality Management District, for the period of Aug. 1, 2018, to Nov. 30, 2018.

CONSENT AGENDA

6.1: Approve minutes of the Board of Supervisors meeting held June 19, 2018.

6.2: Approve resolution of the Board of Directors of the South Lake County Fire Protection District calling a special election for Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018, on an ordinance authorizing the district to impose and levy a special tax to assist the district in meeting the costs of providing authorized services and exercising other rights and powers of the district, increasing the district's appropriations limit for the maximum period allowed by law to allow the use of the proceeds of the special tax, and requesting that the election be consolidated with any other election held on the same date in the same territory.

6.3: (a) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and (b) approve the agreement between the county of Lake and Native American Mental Health Services dba North American Mental Health Services for telepsychiatry services for fiscal year 2018-19 for a contract maximum of $250,000 and authorize the chair to sign the agreement.

6.4: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and the cities of Clearlake and Lakeport creating an agency to be known as the Lake County Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Service Authority, and authorize to chair to sign.

6.5: (a) Approve the group insurance committee’s recommendation to renew the EIA health, dental, vision and life insurance plans for 2019; and (b) authorize human resources to execute renewal documents for the 2019 plan year.

6.6: Sitting as Lake County Sanitation District Board of Directors, approve an exception to Lake County Sewer Code Sec. 205, allowing APNs #013-040-16, #013-040-13, #013-040-10 and #050-406-02 to remain on private septic systems until such time as each system is in need of repairs or replacement, at which time, the property will be required to connect to the sewer system at owner’s expense.

6.7: Sitting as Lake County Sanitation District Board of Directors, approve agreement with California Exterminators Alliance for herbicide/pesticide application in the amount of $29,348 through June 30, 2019, and authorize the chair to sign.

6.8: Adopt proclamation recognizing the 50th anniversary of North Coast Opportunities Inc.

6.9: Adopt resolution approving the application of the Lake County Arts Council for the California Arts Council Grant for FY 2018-19 and authorizing the Lake County Arts Council to execute the grant contract.

6.10: Approve amendment between the county of Lake and county of Yuba on behalf of Yuba-Sutter-Colusa Tri-County Regional Juvenile Rehabilitation Facility Maxine Singer Youth Guidance Center, youth housing agreement for an amount not to exceed $48,000 per county fiscal year and a term ending June 30, 2019; and authorize the chair to sign.

6.11: (a) Waive the normal sealed bid process under Ordinance #2406, Section 38.2 because there is no economic benefit to the county, for the purchase of two vehicles with the Public Services Department; and (b) authorize the Public Services Department / assistant purchasing agent to issue a purchase order through the statewide bid contract to Wondries Fleet Group in the amount of $52,572.86.

6.12: (a) Waive the normal sealed bid process under Ordinance #2406, Section 38.2 because there is no economic benefit to the county, for the purchase of two vehicles with the Public Services Department; and (b) authorize the Public Services Department / assistant purchasing agent to issue a purchase order through the statewide bid contract to Downtown Ford in the amount of $53,059.72.

6.13: (a) Approve rental agreement between the county of Lake and Paul E. Lowen and Kevin Soto for Storage Hangar #1 at Lampson Field for the monthly amount of $300, and authorize the chair to sign; and (b) approve rental agreement between the county of Lake and Paul E. Lowen and Kevin Soto for Storage Hangar #2 at Lampson Field for the monthly amount of $500, and authorize the chair to sign.

6.14: Adopt resolution approving right-of-way certification, for the Active Transportation Program, Upper Lake Sidewalk Project, Federal Program # ATPL-5914(103).

6.15: Approve contract between the county of Lake and Lake Family Resource Center for Cal-Learn Teen Parenting Services in the amount of $38,899 from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019, and authorize the chair to sign.

6.16: Approve contract between the county of Lake and Lake Family Resource Center for child abuse prevention, intervention, and treatment services in the amount of $75,883 from July 1, 2018, to June 30, 2020 and authorize the chair to sign.

TIMED ITEMS

7.2, 9:10 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation recognizing the 50th anniversary of North Coast Opportunities Inc.  

7.3: 9:15 a.m.: (a) Consideration of a proclamation of a local health emergency by the Lake County health officer due to the Mendocino Complex Fire; and (b) status report on Mendocino Complex Fire also known as the River and Ranch fires.

7.4, 9:16 a.m.: Consideration of the continuation of a proclamation of a local health emergency by the Lake County health officer due to the Pawnee fire incident.

7.5, 9:30 a.m.:  Consideration of resolution declaring the results of the majority protest proceedings and establishing the Lake County Tourism Improvement District. (THIS ITEM TO BE CONTINUED TO AUG. 21, 2018 AT 9:30 A.M.)    

7.6, 10 a.m.: Public bid opening, consideration of bids to purchase the Bevins Court properties in Lakeport. (DUE TO THE MANDATED EVACUATION OF THE CITY OF LAKEPORT DUE TO DISASTER, THE PUBLIC BID OPENING WILL BE CONTINUED TO AUG. 14, 2018 AT 10:15 A.M.)

UNTIMED ITEMS

8.2: Consideration of change in Board of Supervisors committee assignments to appoint Jim Steele as chair to the Disaster Council.

8.3: Discussion/consideration of constituent concerns about their inability to make timely tax payments due to office closure resulting from disaster and the mandatory evacuation of Lakeport.

8.4: Consideration of request for board approval of recommended changes to paid emergency leave policy.

8.5: (a) Consideration of an ordinance establishing a cannabis business tax in the unincorporated areas of the county of Lake (second reading); (b) consideration of a tax measure, a general purpose local revenue measure for the November 6, 2018 General Election; and (c) consideration of a resolution placing the Lake County Cannabis Business Tax Ordinance and the ballot measure statement for the Nov. 6, 2018 election.

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.
Posted On



LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Mendocino Complex continued to add acreage overnight as it pushed further into the national forest and western Colusa County, and new damage totals showed another increase in structures lost in its path.

Cal Fire said the Mendocino Complex grew to 273,664 acres and 30-percent containment by Monday morning, an overall increase of nearly 6,700 acres overnight.

That breaks down as 225,001 acres and 21-percent containment for the Ranch fire and 48,663 acres and 58-percent containment for the River fire, according to Cal Fire.

The complex is now the second-largest wildland fire incident in California’s history, second only to the Thomas fire, which burned 281,893 acres in Ventura and Santa Barbara in December.

Based on an updated damage assessment, Cal Fire said Monday morning that the complex has so far destroyed 143 buildings, specifically, 75 homes and 68 structures. Approximately 26 structures, 12 residents and 14 other types of building, have been damaged.

Cal Fire said the complex continues to threaten 9,300 structures.

Officials said the River Fire had limited movement overnight. A burnout operation conducted on the northern portion of the fire late Sunday afternoon improved containment. Firefighters are planning to work on burning out and tying in containment lines on Monday.

With containment up and firefighters making progress on the River fire, resources are being mobilized to help with the Ranch fire, according to Cal Fire.

The Ranch Fire continues to grow to the north and southeastern directions, threatening communities in its path, fire officials said.

Fire mapping shows it is continuing to move north toward Stonyford in Colusa County. Cal Fire Incident Management Team 2 Operations Section Chief Charlie Blankenheim said Sunday that fire officials have plans for protecting Stonyford should it reach there, and have put in control lines to keep it out of that community.

Cal Fire said the terrain on the northern quarter of the Ranch Fire makes it challenging to access the fire front directly.

Late Sunday night, Kurt Jensen Jr., a Lake County News contributor, said he witnessed the fire burning actively off of High Valley Road above the community of Clearlake Oaks, while Lake County News staff in the area on Sunday evening said it did not appear to be active Sunday in areas of including Lucerne, Glenhaven and Clearlake Oaks along Highway 20.

Cal Fire said many crews will be on the ground in the communities threatened by the fire, providing structure protection.

Resources that Cal Fire said are assigned to the Mendocino Complex as of Monday morning include 3,781 personnel, 432 engines, 89 water tenders, 15 helicopters, 57 hand crews and 80 dozers.

The target for full containment continues to be Aug. 15, Cal Fire 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.
The Ranch fire, part of the Mendocino Complex, burning along High Valley Road near Clearlake Oaks, Calif., late Sunday, August 5, 2018. Photo by Kurt Jensen Jr. for Lake County News.
Posted On

The Mendocino Complex boundaries on the morning of Tuesday, August 7, 2018. The red lines around the perimeter are uncontrolled fire edge, while the black lines are completed fire line. Image courtesy of Cal Fire.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Mendocino Complex continues to burn through thousands of acres of wildland, but in some portions of the impacted areas of Lake County the situation had improved enough by Tuesday morning to allow evacuees to begin returning home.

The complex’s overall size rose by nearly 7,000 acres overnight, reaching 290,692 acres by Tuesday morning, with containment at 34 percent.

On Monday night, the Mendocino Complex became the largest wildland fire incident in California history, as Lake County News has reported.

Cal Fire said Tuesday that the complex isn’t expected to be fully contained until Sept. 1, two weeks later than previously anticipated.

Most of the acreage increase in the complex continues to take place on the Ranch fire, which Cal Fires said on Tuesday morning was up to 241,772 acres – a 6,700-acre increase overnight – with containment rolled back to 20 percent.

The River fire is at 48,920 acres – up 120 acres from Monday night – with containment up to 78 percent, Cal Fire said.

So far, one firefighter has been injured, according to Cal Fire report.

Improved conditions on the River fire and on the west end of the Ranch fire led to officials allowing the residents of Blue Lakes, Bachelor Valley, Witter Springs, Saratoga Springs and Scotts Valley Road to return home on Tuesday morning.

However, thousands of structures remain threatened, Cal Fire said Tuesday. The damage assessment totals remain at 143 structure destroyed and 26 damaged.

Cal Fire said the Ranch fire continued to burn actively overnight, expanding farther to the north and east.

The fire has continued to challenge crews because of limited access, heavy fuel loads in the wildland, low fuel moisture and high temperatures, Cal Fire said.

On Tuesday fire resources are continuing to be deployed to all areas of the Ranch fire perimeter, according to Cal Fire’s morning report.

On the River fire, Cal Fire said crews have continued to increase containment and are working to tie in the remaining containment lines to Scotts Valley Road.

Cal Fire said 3,908 firefighting personnel, 441 engines, 93 water tenders, 15 helicopters, 62 hand crews and 85 dozers are assigned to the incident as of Tuesday morning.

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,
Posted On

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Mendocino-Lake Community College District is planning to reopen its Lake Center doors by Aug. 13 in order to begin preparing for the upcoming fall semester, which begins on Aug. 20.

The center has been closed since July 30 because of mandatory evacuations in the city of Lakeport put in place due to the Mendocino Complex fires.

Restoration experts are working hard to complete all required work so that college staff and students can safely return to the center.

While the Ukiah campus continues to operate as an evacuation center in coordination with Mendocino County and American Red Cross, students can visit the admissions and records office or call 707-468-3000 to register, enroll for classes and get questions answered relating to the fall semester.

A list of resources for students affected by the fires can be found on the college Facebook page.

The Lake Center is located at 2565 Parallel Drive in Lakeport.

For more information about Mendocino College, go to www.mendocino.edu.
Posted On



LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Fire officials reported gaining ground on the Mendocino Complex on Sunday, with much of that success being in protecting Northshore communities.

Cal Fire said it has established fire lines on the ridges of the Northshore meant to protect communities stretching from Upper Lake in the west to Clearlake Oaks in the east.

A full update on the situation that unfolded on Sunday is here: http://bit.ly/2vHlNlZ.

In response to community members’ questions about the situation in Clearlake Oaks and Glenhaven along Highway 20, John Jensen of Lake County News took a quick trip to those areas on Sunday evening, reporting that both appeared to be unscathed.

The short video above gives an idea of the conditions there on Sunday.

In the town of Lucerne, Kurt Jensen Jr., a Lake County News contributor, reported on Sunday night that it was quiet, with no fire activity in the community boundaries.

However, Kurt Jensen said he encountered the Ranch fire burning off High Valley Road above Clearlake Oaks, in an area where Cal Fire had earlier confirmed that the fire was active.

Fire officials have reported losses in the Spring Valley Lakes subdivision east of Clearlake Oaks, but so far specific numbers have not been reported.

Separately, Lake County News has received reports from property owners about structure losses in the Bartlett Springs area in the hills above Lucerne. A tally of losses is not yet available.

Lake County News is planning another trip through the fire areas on Monday to visit other communities impacted by the Ranch fire, as conditions allow.

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.
Posted On



LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – This is the Mendocino Complex general information update for Tuesday, Aug. 7.

This story will be updated on a rolling basis until 11:59 p.m. with important new information, including acreage and containment estimates, and evacuation developments.

The Mendocino Complex on Tuesday morning reached 290,692 acres and 34 percent containment. The Ranch fire is 241,772 acres and 20-percent contained, and the River fire is 48,920 acres and 78-percent contained.

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 “unhealthy” air quality alert for the portions of Clearlake and all of the Northshore results from the heavy smoke conditions expected from the burn areas. All other areas of Lake County are forecast to have “moderate” to “unhealthy” conditions depending on the wind and fire conditions.
 
Conditions in the South County (Middletown, Hidden Valley, and Cobb) were “unhealthy” in and Lakeport and Kelseyville were “moderate” on monday morning, though conditions worsened to “unhealthy” by midday.  When particulate levels reach “unhealthy” levels, everyone needs to take steps to protect themselves from exposure.

All areas of the County are likely to have periods of “good” to “moderate” air quality as the winds shift through the next few days, but the potential for periods of "unhealthy" air quality continues through the work week.

All areas of the county may experience “unhealthy” air quality as smoke settles into the basin in the overnight and morning hours.  The smoke typically lifts by mid day into the evening resulting in “good” to “moderate” air quality later in the day.

Current air quality information can be found here: https://www.airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=airnow.local_state&stateid=5&mapcenter=0&tabs=0 .

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

 • East of the Lake-Mendocino County line, south of the Lake-Mendocino-Glenn County line, west of the Lake-Colusa County line, north of SR 20.

Mendocino County

• South of Eel River, west of the Mendocino-Lake County line, east of 10500 block of Mid Mountain Road, and north of Pine Avenue. Note: Houses on Pine Avenue are not affected. (ISSUED AT NOON ON TUESDAY, AUG. 7.)

• 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.

• 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.

Colusa County

• The 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

• South of the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff Road, west of Clear Lake, north of 11th Street, and east of the Lake-Mendocino County line.

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.

• East Ukiah Valley area, south of Highway 20, east of the east side of Lake Mendocino and east of the Russian River, north of Mill Creek 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

• North of the Glenn County/Colusa County line, west of County Road 306, south of County Road 308, east of the Mendocino National Forest boundary.

EVACUATION SHELTERS

Evacuation shelters offer overnight accommodations.

• Mendocino College, Dance Room, 1000 Hensley Creek Road, Ukiah
• Lower Lake High School, 9430 Lake St.• Twin Pine Casino, 22223 Highway 29, Middletown
• Twin Pine Casino, 22223 Highway 29, Middletown
• Middletown High School, 20932 Big Canyon Road (AT CAPACITY)
• Middletown Middle School, 15846 Wardlaw St.
• Mountain Vista Middle School, 5081 Konocti Road in Kelseyville
• Colusa County Veterans Hall, 108 E. Main St., Colusa

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.; requests can be made to check on animals that were left behind.

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

• Blue Lakes Road at Highway 20
• Mid Lake at Highway 20
• Irvine at Highway 20
• Scotts Valley at Highway 20 (Southend of Blue Lakes Road)
• Saratoga Springs at Highway 20
• Witter Springs at Highway 20
• Batchelor Valley at Highway 20
• Eastbound Highway 20 at Highway 29
• Mockingbird at Highway 29
• Northbound Lakeshore at Nice-Lucerne Cutoff
• Scotts Valley at Hendricks
• Sulphur Bank at Highway 20
• Westbound Highway 20 at Highway 53
• Old Long Valley Road at Highway 20
• New Old Long Valley Road at Highway 20
• Walker Ridge at Highway 20
• Water Trough at Highway 20

Mendocino County

• Mill Creek Road, half a mile east of Old River Road
• Eel River Road at County Road M6 (20N01)

Colusa County

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

PUBLIC LAND AND PARK CLOSURES

Cache Creek Management Area

The Bureau of Land Management Ukiah Field Office is temporarily closing the Cache Creek Management Area, which includes Cowboy Camp, due to the potential risk to public safety from the nearby Mendocino Complex Fire.

Included in this temporary closure are the Cowboy Camp Equestrian Area; Blue Ridge, Cache Creek Ridge, Frog Pond, Fisk Creek, High Bridge, Judge Davis, Langs Peak, Perkins Creek Ridge and Redbud trails; Cache Creek; Cache Creek Wilderness and Wilderness Study Areas; and the Buck Island Rafting Area. The BLM has also closed the Cow Mountain Recreation Area and Indian Valley, which are actively burning. Public lands on Walker Ridge are also closed to all access.

The Ukiah Field Office has increased fire restrictions, which prohibit recreational target shooting and ban all campfires and open flame.

Read more at https://www.blm.gov/press-release/blm-ukiah-increases-fire-restrictions-limits-shooting-Aug2018.

A complete listing off all fire restrictions on BLM-managed public lands in California is available at https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-info/california/fire-restrictions. For specific questions, please contact the Ukiah Field Office, Monday through Friday, at 707-468-4000.

Highland Springs Recreation Area and Mt. Konocti County Park

Highland Springs Recreation Area, Mt. Konocti County Park and regional trails are closed until further notice, action the county of Lake took on July 27 due to concerns about fire danger and the availability of local fire resources. The River fire also had moved toward Highland Springs at one point.

Indian Valley Management Area

On Aug. 2 the Bureau of Land Management Ukiah Field Office temporarily closed the Indian Valley Management Area in eastern Lake and western Colusa counties for public safety due to the proximity of the Mendocino Complex Fire.

Mendocino National Forest

Mendocino National Forest officials have issued two orders for closures on the forest due to the Ranch fire.

Forest Order No. 08-18-12 closes the area, roads and trails in the vicinity of the Ranch fire.

Forest Order No. 08-18-13 closes roads, trails and campgrounds in a large area due to the Ranch Fire on the Upper Lake ranger district. The purpose of the closure is to provide safety to the public and for the firefighters on the incident.

The closure will remain in place until hazards to the public are diminished.

The details are posted on the forest Web site at https://tinyurl.com/yapyxxpm.

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.
Posted On

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The city of Clearlake reported that its National Night Out event scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 7, has been canceled due to the Mendocino Complex fire.

The fire has placed a significant demand on law enforcement, fire and other public safety resources throughout the county.

Additionally, the air quality remains impacted by smoke and ash from the fire.

“Our employees, volunteers and community partners worked hard to prepare for the event, so it is disappointing that we have to cancel it,” said Clearlake Chief of Police Andrew White. “However, we remain committed to working in partnership with our community, consistent with the spirit of National Night Out, to make neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live.”

The city of Lakeport, which was under mandatory evacuation for several days last week due to the complex’s River fire, also announced this week that it is postponing its National Night Out event on Tuesday, with plans to reschedule it, as Lake County News has reported.
Posted On



LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The fourth-largest wildland fire complex in California history grew by nearly 40,000 more acres on Sunday as it pushed further into forest lands in Lake County and east into Colusa County.

The Mendocino Complex reached 266,982 acres and 33-percent containment on Sunday night, according to Cal Fire.

The largest of the complex’s two fires, the Ranch fire, is up to 218,319 acres and 23-percent contained, while the River fire is 48,663 acres and 58-percent contained, Cal Fire said.

The boundaries of the two fires still have not touched, although they have continued to creep closer together and appear to be less than two miles apart in the area of Scotts Valley Road near West Highway 20, based on state mapping.

That growth between the northern edge of the River fire and the southern boundary of the Ranch fire, however, appears to have stalled thanks to containment lines fire officials said have been completed between Scotts Valley Road and Blue Lakes near Highway 20.

Firing operations planned for Sunday night and early Monday morning also are expected to strengthen containment, according to Cal Fire Incident Management Team 2 Operations Section Chief Charlie Blankenheim.

The Ranch fire, which burned into the scar of the June Pawnee fire on Saturday, has shown the most aggressive growth, gaining nearly 40,000 acres in size since Saturday night and throwing spot fires over one mile ahead of the main fire, according to Mendocino National Forest spokeswoman Punky Moore.

Cal Fire said more resources are now working the incident, including approximately 3,781 firefighting personnel, 432 engines, 89 water tenders, 15 helicopters, 57 hand crews, 80 dozers and an unspecified number of aircraft.

With some evacuations called off in the north Lakeport area, the number of structures threatened on Sunday was reduced to 9,300, Cal Fire said.

However, an updated damage assessment from Cal Fire showed a growing toll, with 130 structures – 68 residences and 62 other buildings – now reported destroyed, and 26 structures – 12 homes and 14 others – damaged.

The good news, according to Cal Fire, is that favorable weather allowed firefighters to get in and directly fight the fire in some areas.

That stable weather system occurred on Sunday morning, and Cal Fire said it gave ground and air opportunities to suppress the fire’s growth.

However, conditions continue to change quickly, and on Sunday afternoon lower humidity and higher winds caused the Ranch fire’s activity to increase and push forward as it has in previous days to the south, east and northern portions of the fire.

State fire mapping shows that the Ranch fire spread northward toward Lake Pillsbury overnight. Moore said firefighters initiated dozer line overnight from the Eel River northeast toward Elk Mountain Road to protect the residences around Lake Pillsbury, and to attempt to keep the fire out of the Pine Mountain Project.

She said the fire slowed around Little Round Mountain on Sunday morning.

The fire also has continued to move east toward western Colusa County. Over the court of the last few days, it has passed the northern end of Indian Valley Reservoir and continued approaching Leesville.

To the north lies the community of Stonyford. As of Sunday evening, the Ranch fire hadn’t reached there yet, Blankenheim said.

“The fire is still quite a ways from Stonyford,” he said, explaining there is fire line at the toe of the slope where the forest comes out of the hills before Stonyford.

While the Ranch fire is expected to continue moving north toward Stonyford, Blankenheim said they feel pretty good about where they've placed line to keep it out of that community. “We do have a plan to keep it out of the structures in Stonyford,” he said.

Moore said crews were working on dozer lines along the Stonyford-Lodoga Road and around Stonyford.  

She said the favorable conditions on Sunday on the southeastern side of the fire, included favorable visibility that allowed aircraft to use retardant drops to reduce the fire spread while firefighters on the ground built dozer line down the eastern edge of Bear Valley.

Moore said the Mendocino National Forest’s Stonyford Work Station is closed until further notice due to mandatory evacuations on the Ranch fire.

Firefighters gaining ground

During a Sunday evening community meeting held at the Lake County Courthouse in Lakeport, Blankenheim gave an overview of the gains and the challenges on the River and Ranch fires.

Blankenheim’s Incident Management Team 2 is familiar with Lake County, having worked here during the 2015 Rocky and Jerusalem fires, according to Cal Fire Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit Chief Shana Jones, who also spoke at the Sunday meeting.

“It’s been a real good day on the River fire,” Blankenheim said.

On the southern portion of the fire, near Highway 175 and Lakeport, all of the fire line is tied in, mop up has been completed and equipment is moving out, he said.

Up through Scotts Valley, where last week some of the most furious fire activity had occurred, the situation was looking good on Sunday evening, with fire line tied in, Blankenheim said. He said the situation was the same on the Mendocino side of the incident.

Blankenheim said two firing operations, expected to burn between 2,000 and 3,000 acres, will take place along the River fire’s northern edge in the Scotts Valley area overnight.

The successes on the River fire led to the reopening of Highway 20 between Highway 101 and Highway 29 on Sunday. Highway 29 south of Highway 20 also reopened in both directions. Highway 20 east of Highway 29 remains closed, officials said.

The situation on the Ranch fire was more dynamic and active on Sunday, according to Blankenheim.

He said the Highway 20 corridor from Upper Lake to Clearlake Oaks looks very good. However, he said the fire is still active along the highway coming out of Upper Lake.

Blankenheim said there is dozer line established along the ridges from Upper Lake to Clearlake Oaks.

Firefighters are trying not to use that line on the ridge, however. “We’re going direct wherever we can,” he said, using helicopters to drop water, planes to drop retardant and hand crews to cut lines.

“We’re trying to keep it from coming off the hill,” he said.

Engines are staged and prepped around the communities of Upper Lake, Nice, Lucerne and Clearlake Oaks to protect them, he said.

Blankenheim said the Ranch fire hit the Pawnee fire scar on Saturday. On Sunday, he said firefighters were holding the fire’s progression at High Valley Ridge, where it was backing down in a few places and structure protection was in place.

“The plan for tonight is to continue to go direct wherever we can,” he said, noting there are a lot of spot fires and activity on the Ranch fire.

With the River fire wrapping up, Blankenheim said they have been able to move resources and concentrate aircraft along the southeast portion of the Ranch fire. “We’re really having some good success.”

On Saturday, when the Ranch fire hit the Pawnee fire area, it moved up Indian Valley Reservoir and hit the lake.

He said it then made an 8- to 10-mile run from an area of the map that appeared to be northwest of Hough Springs in Lake County east toward Leesville and Brim Road in Colusa County.

The Ranch fire has crossed Brim Road and has an east wind from the Sacramento Valley on it, pushing it back toward Indian Valley Reservoir. They’re trying to tie it into the reservoir, where Blankenheim said they’re optimistic they can stop it.

Blankenheim said they took direct line from Brim line to Stonyford, and did firing operations Saturday night up to just below Lodoga, where it’s holding well.

If they can pick up the slopover on the fire’s eastern edge in Colusa County overnight, he said they will be good shape from the northeast corner near Leesville to the edge of the fire’s head near Lucerne.

While there is still a lot of potential for spot fires, Blankenheim said they believe they can hold the head of the fire – the active portion heading east – and their No. 1 priority on Monday is to work that area.

He said firefighters will continue to build line up past Stonyford and look for places to bend it back across the Mendocino National Forest. The forest area continues to provide a lot of challenges due to a lack of resources, with the focus on areas where structures are and where the head of the fire is.

Blankenheim said they’re now starting to shift resources and focus to building lines across the northern portion of the Ranch fire.

Line also is being built up out of Potter Valley toward the lake, with a goal of using the Eel River to control the fire’s advance, he said.

Blankenheim said a lot of work on the forest remains to be done, as well as a lot of planning.

Officials are optimistic that the situation is starting to come together after three to four days where their efforts seemed futile and nothing appeared to work, he said, adding that they’re finally feeling like they’re getting a handle on the bottom of the fire.

Sheriff Brian Martin said Sunday evening that mandatory evacuations for the majority of the Northshore are remaining in effect due to the continued fire activity – which can be seen in the hills above the towns.

He said law enforcement patrols are continuing to protect the evacuated communities.

Martin said evacuations will remain in place until it’s safe.

“If we let you in too soon, we’re going to fail you,” he said, explaining some areas remain dangerous and there also are some power outages in fire-impacted communities.

He said authorities will do their best to keep community members safe and get them home as soon as possible.

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.

LCNews

Responsible local journalism on the shores of Clear Lake.

 

Memberships:

 

Search