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MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – Officials have issued a new order closing a large area of the Mendocino National Forest, including the entire Upper Lake Ranger District and part of the Grindstone Ranger District, due to activity from the Ranch fire.
The purpose of the closure is to provide safety for the public and for the firefighters.
“The closure of the fire area is necessary to help ensure that no one is injured within or near the fire area. We still have a lot of work to do on the Ranch fire and we need your cooperation to keep the area clear so that our firefighters can perform their job safely,” Forest Supervisor Ann Carlson reminds the public.
The boundary of the Ranch Fire Closure Area begins at the intersection of County Road No. 301 and the Mendocino National Forest Boundary (Forest Boundary), then continues west and north along the Forest Boundary to where it intersects the Covelo Ranger District boundary on Long Doe Ridge, then continues east along south side of the Covelo Ranger District boundary to its intersection with Forest Road No. M1, then continues south along the west side of Forest Road No. M1 to its intersection with Forest Road No. M61, then continues east along the south side of Forest Road No. M61 to its intersection with Forest Road No. M6, then continues east along the south side of Forest Road No. M6 to its intersection with Forest Road No. M3, then continues south along the west side of Forest Road No. M3 to its intersection with Glenn County Road No. 308, then east along the south side of Glenn County Road No. 308 to its intersection with the Forest Boundary, then south, west, and north along the entirety of the remaining Forest Boundary back to its starting point, as shown in Exhibits A and B.
The area is closed due to fire suppression and rehabilitation activities that create a hazard to the public, including the use of heavy equipment, the falling of hazard trees weakened by the fire and the construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of fuels breaks.
The closure will remain in place until hazards to the public are diminished. Forest Order No. 08-18-14 supersedes Order No. 08-18-13 dated Aug. 3, 2018.
081418 Mendocino National Forest closure order by LakeCoNews on Scribd
Lt. Shannon Barney said that on Aug. 5 the agency was advised of 15 separate fires that started north of the town of Covelo in the valley floor of Round Valley.
At the time these fires were reported, Barney said there was a heightened awareness of fire danger due to several ongoing incidents, including the Eel Fire, east of Covelo in the Mendocino National Forest, and the Mendocino Complex, composed of the River and Ranch fires, that began in Mendocino County before moving into Lake County.
Barney said that, due to the large number of fires that started in a relative short time frame – between noon and 3 p.m. – the community was naturally alarmed.
Five of these fires were started opposite the Round Valley Tribal Gas Station and Store on Highway 162, nine were started along Crawford and Refuse Roads, and one was started near the intersection of Biggar Lane and Highway 162, Barney said.
While no residences were lost, Barney said one of these fires destroyed a large amount of wooden fencing and threatened numerous homes and outbuildings.
Barney said that rumors began to circulate within the community about a possible active arsonist, and a potential suspect was named and described as having been in a vehicle in the area where two of the fires were started.
In an effort to address the community's concerns, Barney said the Mendocino County Sheriff's Patrol Division, the detectives division, Covelo Volunteer Fire Department and Cal Fire personnel initiated an investigation into the possible cause and origin of the fires.
A video surveillance system revealed the person who had been named as a possible suspect had a similar vehicle but was found to not have the same vehicle that had been seen in the immediate area, Barney said.
This person was contacted and interviewed, and denied any involvement in starting of any fires. Barney said this individual fully cooperated with law enforcement during this investigation.
In viewing surveillance tapes, authorities identified a second vehicle and contacted the owner, Barney said.
Barney said this person had been towing a recently acquired trailer and admitted to having driven the same routes in the immediate time frames as all the fires having started. An examination of the vehicle tow chains showed significant wear from "dragging" on the ground.
A Cal Fire fire investigator was consulted and agreed the starts appeared to be consistent with a chain dragging behind a trailer and did not appear to be fires that were intentionally set, according to Barney.
Barney said the case has been closed as accidental and will be handled in a noncriminal manner.
The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office reminds the public that we are facing extreme fire behavior, with firefighters on the lines of many large fires and resources stretched thin.
The public is encouraged to use all precautions to limit the potential fire threats from daily activities.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Utah officials have identified the veteran firefighter who died while fighting the Mendocino Complex’s Ranch fire on Monday evening.
During a Tuesday morning press conference in Draper City, Utah, Mayor Troy Walker said Draper City Fire Department Battalion Chief Matthew Burchett, 42, lost his life while on the fire lines of the complex.
Walker, flanked by city fire, police and administrative staff, explained that Draper – a city of about 42,000 located in Salt Lake and Utah counties – sent a team of five firefighters, including Burchett, to California on Aug. 2.
“The team has worked tirelessly to protect lives and property,” Walker said.
He added of Burchett, “The entire community of Draper is grieving his loss.”
Chief Burchett joined Draper City Fire in May of this year after having spent 20 years working for the Greater Salt Lake Unified Fire Authority. He had extensive experience with both wildland and structure fires, Walker said.
Walker said Burchett leaves behind a wife and a young son.
He said Burchett’s death is a loss for fire departments across the nation.
Walker said he did not have much information on the incident that fatally injured Burchett on Monday evening.
Cal Fire also has not released any details about the incident, which Monday evening radio reports said had involved Burchett being hit by a falling tree, as Lake County News has reported.
Cal Fire officials said during a brief Monday night press conference that Burchett had been airlifted to a local hospital, where he died.
Fellow Draper City Battalion Chief Bart Vawdrey said he had known Burchett for a long time, and noted that Burchett had jumped at the chance to go to California to assist with fighting the fires.
Complex shows no sign of slowing
On Tuesday morning, the Mendocino Complex reached 354,410 acres and 68-percent containment, growing another 10,000 acres in 24 hours, fire officials said.
All of that growth has been on the Ranch fire, the active portion of the complex where Burchett was working when he was mortally injured. The Ranch fire as of Tuesday morning was 305,490 acres and 68-percent contained.
The River fire, at 48,920 acres, was fully contained on Monday, Cal Fire said.
The complex has destroyed 265 structures, more than half of them homes, and damaged another 36 buildings.
It also has injured two other firefighters, according to Cal Fire.
Cal Fire has the complex listed as the largest wildland fire incident in state history. The Ranch fire alone is the largest single wildland fire on record, surpassing the December Thomas fire by more than 20,000 acres.
Burchett was part of a firefighting force of thousands who came not just from around California and the nation, but from other countries – including Australia and New Zealand. Some 200 active duty military firefighters from the 14th Brigade Engineer Battalion are on the fire lines, officials reported.
Walker said Tuesday that Draper officials expect to have more information in the coming days regarding services and a donation fund for Burchett’s family.
On Tuesday afternoon, Gov. Jerry Brown honored Burchett for his sacrifice.
“Firefighters from across the nation – and world – have selflessly battled California’s massive wildfires, and sadly today we mourn the loss of one of those heroes from Draper, Utah, Chief Matthew Burchett. Our hearts ache for his wife and young son, family members, loved ones, colleagues with the Draper City Fire Department and the entire state of Utah,” Brown said in a statement.
In honor of Chief Burchett, Capitol flags will be flown at half-staff, the governor said.
Gov. Brown has ordered similar honors this summer for six other firefighters and first responders who have lost their lives in the state’s wildland fires. They are listed below.
Cal Fire Heavy Equipment Operator Braden Varney, 36, of Modesto: Died Saturday, July 14, while fighting the Ferguson Fire on the Sierra National Forest. He was a second generation Cal Fire employee and 10-year veteran of Cal Fire.
Redding Fire Prevention Inspector Jeremiah "Jeremy" Stoke, 37, of Redding: Died Thursday, July 26, while working to ensure the residents of west Redding had a chance to escape the flames. He began his firefighting career 17 years ago and was a 14-year veteran of the City of Redding Fire Department.
Bulldozer operator Don Ray Smith, 81, of Pollock Pines: Died Thursday, July 26, while working to contain the Carr fire in Redding.
National Park Service Fire Captain Brian Hughes, 33, of Squaw Valley: Died Sunday, July 29, when he was struck by a tree while fighting the Ferguson Fire near Yosemite National Park. Hughes was a Fire Captain of the Arrowhead Interagency Hotshots out of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.
Pacific Gas and Electric Co. apprentice lineman Jairus Ayeta, 21, of Santa Rosa: Died Saturday, Aug. 6, in a vehicle crash while working to restore power in the Carr fire area in western Shasta County.
Cal Fire Heavy Equipment Mechanic Andrew Brake, 40 of Chico: Died Thursday, Aug. 9, in a single vehicle crash while on his way to work on the Carr fire burning in Shasta and Trinity counties. He is a six-year veteran of Cal Fire.
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LUCERNE, Calif. – Lines form early at the Local Assistance Center in Lucerne as residents affected by the Mendocino Complex fires arrive before opening.
The LAC is housed in the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center to which a mobile air conditioning unit has been attached to reduce temperatures inside the center by adding sprawling ducting connected to a truck in front of the building.
Inside the center Theresa Showen, program manager with Lake County Social Services, provided a tour of the various groups and agencies setting up shop in the center.
"We serve approximately 200 to 300 families each day, it's been way more than any Local Assistance Center we've run," Showen said. "We've done this for the last four years, it's the third LAC I've been involved in and it's a whole different animal this time around."
Showen said the center, which has been open four days, hasn't slowed, with as many new arrivals showing up as in the first days of operation. It had served 1,021 families as of the time of this writing.
During a media tour Tuesday, the scale and complexity of the operation came into stark view as Showen navigated the bustling building and fielded phone calls and questions from staff and evacuees.
Inside the main area, government agencies, county departments and nonprofits fill the room with folding tables and makeshift workstations.
Among the agencies offering support to evacuees are Verizon, which set up a mobile wifi network; the Department of Taxes and Fees, which is set up to aid business owners suffering from delays and avoid penalties; the Franchise Tax board is there for people with losses to help them reduce tax liability.
County Public Health is in place to aid people who may have lost vital records and the Employment Development Department is assisting those who may have lost wages due to the fire where they estimate they are filing 15 to 25 claims each day.
Red Cross is providing casework for people who have lost homes including financial assistance, referrals for those who have not lost homes in addition to providing meals, food and supplies for evacuees such as cleaning kits to remove ash and debris.
County departments including Environmental Health providing information on how to clean up property, Social Service for those who need CalFresh or to apply for cash aid. Behavioral Health is there for "anyone who needs to talk to someone," Showen said. Community Development is also represented.
Pacific Gas and Electric Co. is assisting and supporting other agencies and customers who billing questions or need to extending bills out.
North Coast Opportunities is on site accepting applications for the Wildfire Relief Fund to provide relief from evacuation costs, food replacement costs, partial to total losses.
Next to NCO is the Social Security department which can provide replacement social security cards among other services. Cal Vet is represented as well to provide relief support to veterans.
Child Support is present as well and among other services are providing children with things to do while their parents work their way through the room.
The DMV has set up a mobile DMV station which can provide registration, ID cares and replacement licenses for those lost in the fire.
California Department of Insurance is fielding Insurance policy-related questions and helping to resolve disputes with Insurance carriers.
The Contractors State License Board is available to help people avoid being scammed if they want to rebuild and CalPers is also represented.
Stepping over air conditioning ducting, Showen led the way to a smaller area next door where a variety of nonprofit agencies had not yet set up shop. St. John's Episcopal Church had set up and spaces were ready for California-Nevada Methodists among others who would be distributing gift cards and gas cards to those in need.
Out the back door, behind the senior center, fresh fruits, vegetables and canned foods are being provided and distributed by NCO. Gleaners will also be providing bagged foods while other groups will provide boxed food and supplies.
"If you lost your toothbrush, we've got those," Showen said.
Between giving direction to staff, answering questions for evacuees and conducting a media tour Showen, who herself was an evacuee during the Valley Fire, said she is working 12 to 14 hour days to provide services to the public.
"I've lost 10 pounds in the last five days, running around here like a crazy person," she said. "For me, this is really rewarding."
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NORTH COAST, Calif. – Fire and law enforcement officials held a brief press conference late Monday to address the death of a firefighter on the lines of the Mendocino Complex earlier in the day.
Cal Fire and the US Forest Service, which hold unified command on the complex, were joined by other officials including Mendocino County Sheriff Tom Allman and Lake County Sheriff Brian Martin at the Ukiah command center.
During the three-minute press conference, officials confirmed the death of a male firefighter from Utah while working on an active portion of the Ranch fire, the largest of the two fires in the Mendocino Complex.
The Ranch fire on Monday night reached 300,970 acres; the overall complex has burned 349,890 acres, Cal Fire reported.
Radio reports from the Ranch fire lines on Monday evening stated that a male firefighter was injured by a falling tree shortly before 5:30 p.m., as Lake County News has reported.
A medivac unit was directed to respond to Drop Point 15, located several miles southwest of Lake Pillsbury, to pick up the firefighter, who was unconscious. Other fire personnel did cardiopulmonary resuscitation in order to revive him, according to radio reports.
Fire officials on Monday night did not offer any details about the incident location or precisely what occurred.
“There’s a lot of information that’s still being learned as we go through this tragedy,” said Cal Fire spokesman Jeremy Rahn.
Chief Sean Kavanaugh of Cal Fire Incident Management Team 2 confirmed that the firefighter was airlifted to a local hospital, where he died of his injuries.
“We are extremely heartbroken for this loss,” said Kavanaugh, who added, “We are dedicated to investigating what happened.”
He said they are mourning their fellow firefighter’s loss as they continue to battle California’s largest wildland fire, which is burning in extremely steep and remote terrain.
Allman reminded community members that there are areas of the fire that are under mandatory evacuation – and are very dangerous – where some people haven’t yet left.
He urged everyone to heed those mandatory evacuation orders, adding, “If this could happen to a firefighter, it certainly could happen to citizens.”
“Today’s events are definitely a tragedy. They’re not expected, they’re not wanted, but they’re a stark reminder of how dangerous this career is,” said Martin, who thanked firefighters for their efforts.
Two other firefighters had previously been injured while working on the Mendocino Complex, according to Cal Fire.
The 2018 fire season has been a deadly one for firefighters and heavy equipment operators. The Monday death on the Mendocino Complex is added to two firefighters who died on the Ferguson fire, a firefighter and equipment operator killed by the Carr fire, and the death last week of Cal Fire mechanic Andrew Brake of Chico, assigned to the Carr fire, who died in a vehicle crash, as Lake County News has reported.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Mendocino Complex continued on its destructive path on Monday, claiming the life of a firefighter on the Ranch fire and burning structures near Lake Pillsbury.
Cal Fire said the Mendocino Complex had burned 349,890 acres and was 68 percent contained on Monday night after having burned for two and a half weeks. It is the largest wildland fire incident in state history.
While the River fire reached 100-percent containment at 48,920 acres on Monday evening, the Ranch fire remained volatile, rising to 300,970 acres with containment at 59 percent, Cal Fire said.
As of Monday morning, the Ranch fire had burned 56 percent of the Mendocino Forest in Lake County, according to forest spokeswoman Punky Moore.
The Ranch fire also claimed a life on Monday, with Cal Fire confirming the death of a male firefighter from Utah, as Lake County News has reported. The firefighter’s name has not been released.
Radio reports indicated the man was fatally injured after being struck by a falling tree while working on the Ranch fire early Monday evening.
The fire has been destructive in other ways. In property terms, the fire has destroyed 146 residences homes and 118 other structures, and damaged 13 homes and 24 other residences.
That count doesn’t appear to include additional structures that were reported destroyed in the Rice Fork area late Monday afternoon, according to radio reports.
Cal Fire said fire crews conducted successful operations on the far west side of the Ranch fire on Monday, tying in containment lines south of the Eel River.
Fire crews will continue to protect the southern areas of Lake Pillsbury along with prepping and protecting the Rice Fork summer homes, Cal Fire said.
On the northeast side of the fire, Cal Fire said crews will work to burn out fuel in order to keep the fire south of the Stonyford area.
The south side of the fire has had no significant events and remains in a suppression repair status with patrol, Cal Fire reported.
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