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MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Lake County Sheriff’s Office on Monday evening expanded the south county evacuation warning area in response to the Kincade fire.
At 5:50 p.m., the sheriff’s office issued an alert reporting that the evacuation warning – which is not a mandatory order – had been expanded to include all residents in the Middletown area south of Butts Canyon Road and Highway 175 to the Napa/Sonoma County lines.
This includes all roads off Highway 175 between Middletown and McKinley Drive as well as all of Butts Canyon Road including side streets.
The evacuation warning for the Cobb Mountain area, which was issued Friday, remains in effect, the sheriff’s office said.
“We are asking everyone to take preparations in the event that a mandatory evacuation order is issued,” the sheriff’s office said in its alert. “Preparations should include gathering all medications, important documents, making plans for pets, and notifying family members where you may be going. Those requiring additional time to evacuate or those with pets or livestock should leave the area as soon as possible.”
The report continued, “During a mandatory evacuation, it will be extremely hectic and traffic conditions will be very congested. By evacuating early, you do your part in keeping yourself, your neighbors, and our first responders safe. This is not an evacuation order and is only a warning.”
The alert is published below in Spanish.
“La ADVERTENCIA DE EVACUACIÓN relacionada con el incendio de Kincade se está ampliando para incluir a todos los residentes en el área de Middletown al sur de Butts Canyon Road y la autopista 175 a las líneas del condado de Napa / Sonoma. Esto incluye todas las carreteras fuera de la autopista 175 entre Middletown y McKinley Drive, así como todas las calles de Butts Canyon Road, incluidas las calles laterales. La advertencia de evacuación para el área de Cobb Mountain sigue vigente. Les pedimos a todos que se preparen en caso de que se emita una orden de evacuación obligatoria. Los preparativos deben incluir reunir todos los medicamentos, documentos importantes, hacer planes para mascotas y notificar a los miembros de la familia a dónde puede ir. Aquellos que requieren tiempo adicional para evacuar o aquellos con mascotas o ganado deben abandonar el área lo antes posible. Durante una evacuación obligatoria, será extremadamente agitado y las condiciones del tráfico estarán muy congestionadas.Al evacuar temprano, usted hace su parte para mantenerse a salvo a usted, a sus vecinos y a nuestros socorristas. Esta no es una orden de evacuación y es solo una advertencia.”
On Monday morning, Cal Fire said the fire had increased to 66,231 acres, with containment remaining at 5 percent.
Cal Fire said 96 structures – 40 residential, three commercial and 53 other – have been destroyed. Another 16 have been damaged; they include 10 homes, one commercial structure and five other types of buildings.
With an estimated 79,765 structures still threatened – including 70,425 homes, 750 commercial and 8,500 other types of structures – evacuations across a large portion of Sonoma County remain in effect, officials said.
Sonoma County Sheriff Mark Essick said an estimated 185,000 people have been evacuated as a result of the fire.
Essick said his office was meeting with Cal Fire and county emergency officials to look at the evacuation area.
On Monday afternoon, Cal Fire issued a limited repopulation notification for the communities of Bodega, Bodega Bay, Carmet, Muniz Ranch, Sebastopol, Occidental, Freestone, Camp Meeker, Forestville, Rio Nido, Hacienda, Monte Rio, Cazadero, Guerneville and Valley Ford, and all areas west of East Side Road.
Areas throughout the Russian River Valley to Bodega Bay have been reduced to an evacuation warning and are open for repopulation, Cal Fire said.
Evacuation orders remain in place for areas north of Occidental Road while areas south of Occidental Road have been reduced to an evacuation warning and also may be repopulated, according to the update.
In Lake County, Sheriff Brian Martin said Monday that an evacuation warning issued Friday for residents of Adams Springs, Anderson Springs, Cobb, Gifford Springs, Hobergs and Whispering Pines, and along the Ford Flat Road and Socrates Mine Road remains in effect.
It is not a mandatory evacuation order but Lake County officials want residents of the area to be prepared to evacuate should it become necessary.
Cal Fire Division Chief Jonathan Cox said that on Monday the focus for firefighters is perimeter control and structure protection, with the goal of taking advantage of a 24-hour period of more favorable weather conditions.
The fire began Wednesday night in The Geysers geothermal steamfield. It has since been pushed by winds toward Geyserville, Healdsburg and Windsor.
Cox said Monday that overnight most of the fire activity was just south of Windsor, along the Shiloh Ridge area.
“Firefighters made an aggressive stand in that area,” he said, bringing in significant resources to fight the fire.
Essick said Monday that had Windsor not been evacuated, firefighters couldn't have been as aggressive in working the incident.
“The northern area of Windsor was saved yesterday because of their efforts,” Essick said, thanking community members for following directions to evacuate. “That is truly a success story.”
The National Guard as well as firefighters from a number of neighboring states have joined the effort, bringing the total number of firefighters on the lines on Monday to 4,150, Cal Fire said.
Ryan Walburn of the National Weather Service said that, after the weekend red flag warning expired at 11 a.m. Monday, there was a window of opportunity for quieter weather this afternoon, overnight tonight and into Tuesday morning.
He said forecasters are starting to get ready for another red flag event, expected to should start midday Tuesday and continuing until Wednesday morning.
At the end of the week, he said the forecast calls for less wind, but still no sign of rain.
The weekend winds had battered the fire area. Pacific Gas and Electric, which implemented a public safety power shutoff beginning on Saturday, reported winds of 102 miles per hour in the Pine Flat area, located within the Kincade fire footprint.
Fire Chief Incident Commander Mike Blankenheim of Cal Fire said the priority for firefighters on Monday will be working on perimeter control in the area of Mount St. Helena, on the Kincade fire's northeastern corner, as well as Mark West and Shiloh Ridge, areas the fire reached on Sunday night.
He said they also will focus on structure defense in Healdsburg and Windsor.
In other news, Assistant Chief Tim Noyes of the California Highway Patrol in Sonoma County said that late Sunday night the CHP was able to reopen all of Highway 101, both northbound and southbound lanes.
However, Noyes said that the ramps in the evacuated areas will remain blocked.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
This story has been updated as of 1 a.m. Monday based on new information from PG&E. The Twin Pine community resource center also has been closed.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – As millions of Californians remain out of power due to a public safety power shutoff that began on Saturday, Pacific Gas and Electric said that another weather system expected to arrive on Tuesday could warrant still another shutoff.
The company cut power to Lake and 37 other counties on Saturday evening ahead of heavy winds that battered the region overnight and on Sunday.
An estimated 965,000 customer accounts were impacted, according to a report from Mark Quinlan, PG&E's senior director of emergency preparedness and response.
Another 100,000 customers are without power due to emergent conditions with the weather event, Quinlan said.
Those numbers are related to accounts, not the actual number of impacted Californians. The Oct. 9 shutoff, which impacted about 750,000 customers, was estimated to have impacted 2 million people.
The outage that began Saturday also includes 6,145 critical facilities and 28,920 miles of overhead circuits regionwide, officials said.
Quinlan said Sunday evening that PG&E had given the all-clear to begin inspections before reenergization to some parts of Northern California and as a result had already begun to restore power to some customers.
The county of Lake reported Sunday that PG&E had provided it with information indicating that Lake County could get the all-clear between 6 and 8 a.m. Monday, at which point PG&E would start inspections with the goal of restoring power within 48 hours, depending on any damage found to electrical equipment.
However, shortly before 1 a.m. Monday, PG&E issued an update that said as wind conditions improved on Sunday afternoon it had issued the all-clear for customers in Humboldt, Siskiyou, Trinity, Northern Mendocino and portions of Lake County, and had begun safety inspections before sundown.
By 10 p.m. Sunday, more than 30,000 customers had their power restored, PG&E said.
PG&E did not specify where the all-clear in Lake County had been given, but said it was continuing to monitor conditions in Lake and other counties impacted by the “historic safety shutoff” so as to give the all-clear for the remaining customers.
As forecast, high winds hit the county hard, particularly after 12 a.m. Sunday. That prompted the Clearlake Police Department to put out a Sunday morning alert reporting that, due to the high winds, it had received numerous reports of trees and power lines down across several roads in the City.
Police urged people to use caution for fallen objects on the roadway, and to report downed trees and power lines to authorities.
PG&E’s early Monday report said maximum wind gusts around the outage area ranged from 70 miles per hour at Jarbo Gap in Butte County, to 87 miles per hour on Mount St. Helena west in Sonoma County, and 102 miles per hour on Pine Flat Road, also in Sonoma County and in the Kincade fire area.
Because of those high wind speeds, the company said damage to power equipment could be significant.
New weather event could bring another shutoff
At the same time, PG&E officials said they are monitoring a new weather system that the National Weather Service has forecast will bring more fire risk through high winds and dry conditions.
That offshore wind event, expected to arrive over the region on Tuesday, is forecast to continue until Thursday.
That new system could necessitate another shutoff, PG&E said.
It's not believed that the midweek wind event will be as strong as the one that triggered the current shutoff.
During a Sunday evening briefing, PG&E Chief Meteorologist Scott Strenfel said this incoming system appears to be weaker, adding that the “sliver of good news” is that they are not looking at any other incoming weather systems past Wednesday.
Company officials said the possible new shutoff this week could be similar in size and footprint to the current one, with PG&E beginning notifications to 600,000 customers in 35 counties who could be included on Sunday.
PG&E reported that it will “make every effort” to restore power between the two events, but the ability to do that depends on the extent of wind damage.
County officials said PG&E informed them that deenergization for the next shutoff could begin at 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, ahead of the weather event expected to begin at 6 a.m.
An all-clear could come at noon on Wednesday, with the county reporting that restoration of power could take place on Friday.
On Sunday, county officials reported that they had an indication that some portions of the south county, including Hidden Valley Lake, could be excluded, but the situation could change.
A concern is whether some Lake County customers may not have their power restored between the two shutoff events.
The county of Lake said that scenario – of remaining without power over the course of both shutoffs, with no break – is a possibility.
Local governments and agencies staffed up, monitoring situation
With the outage expected to continue early into the new week, school districts around Lake County – Lakeport, Lucerne, Kelseyville, Konocti, Middletown and Upper Lake – reported that they will remain closed on Monday. If power is restored by 6 a.m. Tuesday, districts anticipate reopening. They urged people to stay tuned for followup messages.
The city of Lakeport said its Public Works and departments, and city emergency operations staff continue to monitor the situation and work to maintain all city infrastructure.
The Lakeport Police Department continues to have additional staff working to patrol and protect neighborhoods and business districts.
The city of Lakeport said it also is working in cooperation with the Lakeport Fire Protection District, which has increased staffing in the event they need to respond to emergency fire situations.
At the same time, the cities and county government are offering mutual aid to Sonoma County due to the Kincade fire. Assistance has included law enforcement personnel assisting with patrolling the vast Kincade fire evacuation area.
PG&E reported that community resource centers – where people can get water, and charge their phones and medical equipment – remain available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the current outage.
Centers in Lake County are at the Clearlake Senior Community Center, 3245 Bowers Ave.; Konocti Vista Casino, 2755 Mission Rancheria Road, Lakeport; and Upper Lake Unified School District, 725 Old Lucerne Road. The center at Twin Pine Casino & Hotel in Middletown closed Sunday.
The city of Clearlake has additionally announced that Austin Park has public wifi and restroom facilities that are available for use.
For a list of businesses that are remaining open, visit the city of Lakeport Web site.
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – As millions of Californians remain out of power due to a public safety power shutoff that began on Saturday, Pacific Gas and Electric said that another weather system expected to arrive on Tuesday could warrant still another shutoff.
The company cut power to Lake and 37 other counties on Saturday evening ahead of heavy winds that battered the region overnight and on Sunday.
An estimated 965,000 customer accounts were impacted, according to a report from Mark Quinlan, PG&E's senior director of emergency preparedness and response.
Another 100,000 customers are without power due to emergent conditions with the weather event, Quinlan said.
Those numbers are related to accounts, not the actual number of impacted Californians. The Oct. 9 shutoff, which impacted about 750,000 customers, was estimated to have impacted 2 million people.
The outage that began Saturday also includes 6,145 critical facilities and 28,920 miles of overhead circuits regionwide, officials said.
Quinlan said Sunday evening that PG&E had given the all-clear to begin inspections before reenergization to some parts of Northern California and as a result had already begun to restore power to some customers.
The county of Lake reported Sunday that PG&E had provided it with information indicating that Lake County could get the all-clear between 6 and 8 a.m. Monday, at which point PG&E would start inspections with the goal of restoring power within 48 hours, depending on any damage found to electrical equipment.
However, shortly before 1 a.m. Monday, PG&E issued an update that said as wind conditions improved on Sunday afternoon it had issued the all-clear for customers in Humboldt, Siskiyou, Trinity, Northern Mendocino and portions of Lake County, and had begun safety inspections before sundown.
By 10 p.m. Sunday, more than 30,000 customers had their power restored, PG&E said.
PG&E did not specify where the all-clear in Lake County had been given, but said it was continuing to monitor conditions in Lake and other counties impacted by the “historic safety shutoff” so as to give the all-clear for the remaining customers.
As forecast, high winds hit the county hard, particularly after 12 a.m. Sunday. That prompted the Clearlake Police Department to put out a Sunday morning alert reporting that, due to the high winds, it had received numerous reports of trees and power lines down across several roads in the City.
Police urged people to use caution for fallen objects on the roadway, and to report downed trees and power lines to authorities.
PG&E’s early Monday report said maximum wind gusts around the outage area ranged from 70 miles per hour at Jarbo Gap in Butte County, to 87 miles per hour on Mount St. Helena west in Sonoma County, and 102 miles per hour on Pine Flat Road, also in Sonoma County and in the Kincade fire area.
Because of those high wind speeds, the company said damage to power equipment could be significant.
New weather event could bring another shutoff
At the same time, PG&E officials said they are monitoring a new weather system that the National Weather Service has forecast will bring more fire risk through high winds and dry conditions.
That offshore wind event, expected to arrive over the region on Tuesday, is forecast to continue until Thursday.
That new system could necessitate another shutoff, PG&E said.
It's not believed that the midweek wind event will be as strong as the one that triggered the current shutoff.
During a Sunday evening briefing, PG&E Chief Meteorologist Scott Strenfel said this incoming system appears to be weaker, adding that the “sliver of good news” is that they are not looking at any other incoming weather systems past Wednesday.
Company officials said the possible new shutoff this week could be similar in size and footprint to the current one, with PG&E beginning notifications to 600,000 customers in 35 counties who could be included on Sunday.
PG&E reported that it will “make every effort” to restore power between the two events, but the ability to do that depends on the extent of wind damage.
County officials said PG&E informed them that deenergization for the next shutoff could begin at 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, ahead of the weather event expected to begin at 6 a.m.
An all-clear could come at noon on Wednesday, with the county reporting that restoration of power could take place on Friday.
On Sunday, county officials reported that they had an indication that some portions of the south county, including Hidden Valley Lake, could be excluded, but the situation could change.
A concern is whether some Lake County customers may not have their power restored between the two shutoff events.
The county of Lake said that scenario – of remaining without power over the course of both shutoffs, with no break – is a possibility.
Local governments and agencies staffed up, monitoring situation
With the outage expected to continue early into the new week, school districts around Lake County – Lakeport, Lucerne, Kelseyville, Konocti, Middletown and Upper Lake – reported that they will remain closed on Monday. If power is restored by 6 a.m. Tuesday, districts anticipate reopening. They urged people to stay tuned for followup messages.
The city of Lakeport said its Public Works and departments, and city emergency operations staff continue to monitor the situation and work to maintain all city infrastructure.
The Lakeport Police Department continues to have additional staff working to patrol and protect neighborhoods and business districts.
The city of Lakeport said it also is working in cooperation with the Lakeport Fire Protection District, which has increased staffing in the event they need to respond to emergency fire situations.
At the same time, the cities and county government are offering mutual aid to Sonoma County due to the Kincade fire. Assistance has included law enforcement personnel assisting with patrolling the vast Kincade fire evacuation area.
PG&E reported that community resource centers – where people can get water, and charge their phones and medical equipment – remain available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the current outage.
Centers in Lake County are at the Clearlake Senior Community Center, 3245 Bowers Ave.; Konocti Vista Casino, 2755 Mission Rancheria Road, Lakeport; and Upper Lake Unified School District, 725 Old Lucerne Road. The center at Twin Pine Casino & Hotel in Middletown closed Sunday.
The city of Clearlake has additionally announced that Austin Park has public wifi and restroom facilities that are available for use.
For a list of businesses that are remaining open, visit the city of Lakeport Web site.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A Sunday night crash on Highway 20 east of Clearlake Oaks resulted in one fatality.
The California Highway Patrol confirmed the death, which also was reported from the scene by firefighters shortly before midnight.
The solo-vehicle crash occurred shortly before 11:30 p.m. Sunday on Highway 20 near New Long Valley Road, based on CHP report.
Two people were reported to be in the vehicle, which had major damage and was blocking the highway's eastbound lane, according to the CHP.
Northshore Fire and Cal Fire responded, with units arriving at the scene requesting an air ambulance to transport an individual with major injuries, based on radio traffic.
Over the scanner firefighters also requested a ground ambulance for one person with minor to moderate injuries.
Shortly after 11:50 p.m., incident command canceled the air ambulance and reported they were working to revive the seriously injured patient, who was reported to be the passenger.
A short time later officials confirmed the person had died, with firefighters requesting the Lake County Sheriff's Office send a coroner to respond.
Information about the cause of the wreck was not immediately available early Monday.
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis 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 California Highway Patrol confirmed the death, which also was reported from the scene by firefighters shortly before midnight.
The solo-vehicle crash occurred shortly before 11:30 p.m. Sunday on Highway 20 near New Long Valley Road, based on CHP report.
Two people were reported to be in the vehicle, which had major damage and was blocking the highway's eastbound lane, according to the CHP.
Northshore Fire and Cal Fire responded, with units arriving at the scene requesting an air ambulance to transport an individual with major injuries, based on radio traffic.
Over the scanner firefighters also requested a ground ambulance for one person with minor to moderate injuries.
Shortly after 11:50 p.m., incident command canceled the air ambulance and reported they were working to revive the seriously injured patient, who was reported to be the passenger.
A short time later officials confirmed the person had died, with firefighters requesting the Lake County Sheriff's Office send a coroner to respond.
Information about the cause of the wreck was not immediately available early Monday.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
NORTH COAST, Calif. – Firefighters are gaining ground on a wildland fire that began on Sunday in Mendocino County, leading to evacuations and a temporary closure of a portion of Highway 20 from Upper Lake to Ukiah.
Cal Fire said Sunday night that the Burris fire had burned 350 acres and was 20-percent contained.
It began on Sunday afternoon on Potter Valley Road and Highway 20, east of Calpella, in Mendocino County.
In response to the fire's rapid spread, Sheriff Tom Allman called for mandatory evacuations along Highway 20 east from Potter Valley Road to the Lake County line.
Evacuations warnings also are in effect for Vista Del Lago, Elledge Ranch Road, King Ranch Road, Horseshoe Circle and all of northeast Lake Mendocino in the Cold Creek Ranch area, as well as Highway 20 south to Highway 175, east of the Russian River and west of the Lake County line.
An evacuation center was opened at the Ukiah Veteran’s Hall, 2937 Seminary. A large animal evacuation center is located at the Redwood Empire Fairgrounds, 1055 N. State Street, Ukiah.
For several hours on Sunday, the fire resulted in a closure of a portion of Highway 20 between Upper Lake and Ukiah.
On Sunday night the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office said Highway 20 had reopened to one lane of controlled traffic in the immediate fire area. Drivers are asked to avoid Highway 20 unless it is absolutely necessary.
Assigned resources on Sunday night included 229 personnel, 21 engines, two water tenders, one helicopter, nine hand crews and four dozers, Cal Fire said.
Cal Fire said the fire's cause is under investigation.
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
Cal Fire said Sunday night that the Burris fire had burned 350 acres and was 20-percent contained.
It began on Sunday afternoon on Potter Valley Road and Highway 20, east of Calpella, in Mendocino County.
In response to the fire's rapid spread, Sheriff Tom Allman called for mandatory evacuations along Highway 20 east from Potter Valley Road to the Lake County line.
Evacuations warnings also are in effect for Vista Del Lago, Elledge Ranch Road, King Ranch Road, Horseshoe Circle and all of northeast Lake Mendocino in the Cold Creek Ranch area, as well as Highway 20 south to Highway 175, east of the Russian River and west of the Lake County line.
An evacuation center was opened at the Ukiah Veteran’s Hall, 2937 Seminary. A large animal evacuation center is located at the Redwood Empire Fairgrounds, 1055 N. State Street, Ukiah.
For several hours on Sunday, the fire resulted in a closure of a portion of Highway 20 between Upper Lake and Ukiah.
On Sunday night the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office said Highway 20 had reopened to one lane of controlled traffic in the immediate fire area. Drivers are asked to avoid Highway 20 unless it is absolutely necessary.
Assigned resources on Sunday night included 229 personnel, 21 engines, two water tenders, one helicopter, nine hand crews and four dozers, Cal Fire said.
Cal Fire said the fire's cause is under investigation.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
On Sunday, Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a statewide emergency due to the effects of unprecedented high-wind events which have resulted in fires and evacuations across California.
The Kincade Fire in Sonoma county has burned more than 54,000 acres to date, and has led to the evacuation of almost 200,000 people and threatened hundreds of structures.
The Tick fire in Southern California has also destroyed structures, threatened homes and critical infrastructure, and caused the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents.
As of today, there are over 3,000 local, state and federal personnel, including first responders, assisting with the Kincade fire alone.
“We are deploying every resource available, and are coordinating with numerous agencies as we continue to respond to these fires. It is critical that people in evacuation zones heed the warnings from officials and first responders, and have the local and state resources they need as we fight these fires,” said Gov. Newsom.
Earlier this week, the governor secured Fire Management Assistance Grants to help ensure the availability of resources to fight the Kincade and Tick fires and enable local, state and tribal agencies to recover eligible costs.
The governor has also met with first responders, health officials, and residents of Napa, Geyserville and Los Angeles this week, and held public briefings regarding the ongoing fire threats and the need to hold utilities accountable for the consequences of their decisions to shut off power for large portions of the state.
The governor announced a $75 million program for state and local governments to mitigate impacts of power shutoffs and unveil a series of new partnerships and new tools to help secure medically vulnerable populations during these events.
A copy of Sunday's proclamation can be read below.
102719 California governor's state of emergency declaration by LakeCoNews on Scribd
The Kincade Fire in Sonoma county has burned more than 54,000 acres to date, and has led to the evacuation of almost 200,000 people and threatened hundreds of structures.
The Tick fire in Southern California has also destroyed structures, threatened homes and critical infrastructure, and caused the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents.
As of today, there are over 3,000 local, state and federal personnel, including first responders, assisting with the Kincade fire alone.
“We are deploying every resource available, and are coordinating with numerous agencies as we continue to respond to these fires. It is critical that people in evacuation zones heed the warnings from officials and first responders, and have the local and state resources they need as we fight these fires,” said Gov. Newsom.
Earlier this week, the governor secured Fire Management Assistance Grants to help ensure the availability of resources to fight the Kincade and Tick fires and enable local, state and tribal agencies to recover eligible costs.
The governor has also met with first responders, health officials, and residents of Napa, Geyserville and Los Angeles this week, and held public briefings regarding the ongoing fire threats and the need to hold utilities accountable for the consequences of their decisions to shut off power for large portions of the state.
The governor announced a $75 million program for state and local governments to mitigate impacts of power shutoffs and unveil a series of new partnerships and new tools to help secure medically vulnerable populations during these events.
A copy of Sunday's proclamation can be read below.
102719 California governor's state of emergency declaration by LakeCoNews on Scribd