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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Firefighters kept the growth of the Mendocino Complex to well under 1,000 acres during the course of Thursday, as more Lake County residents were allowed to return home.

Cal Fire said Thursday night that the complex had reached 305,152 acres, a size increase of approximately 750 acres, with containment edging up by 1 percent to total 52 percent .

All of that growth occurred on the Ranch fire, which increased to 256,232 acres and 49-percent containment, while the River fire continued to be held to 48,920 acres and 87-percent containment.

The damage assessment totals released by Cal Fire remain unchanged from Wednesday: 229 structures have been destroyed, including 119 homes; and 27 structures, among them 12 homes, have been damaged.

Cal Fire said 9,200 structures remain threatened by the fire’s activity.

On Thursday afternoon, officials allowed residents of Spring Valley, High Valley, Landrum Ranch and the Double Eagle Ranch east of Clearlake Oaks to return home, changing the mandatory evacuation to an advisory evacuation.

However, as of Thursday night, a mandatory evacuation remained in effect for areas in Lake County east of the Lake-Mendocino County line, south of the Lake-Mendocino-Glenn County Line, west of the Lake-Colusa County Line, and north of the fire perimeter and the Mendocino National Forest boundary, including Lake Pillsbury. The Northshore also remains under evacuation advisory.

Aircraft, 3,800 firefighters and more than 350 engines continue to work the Ranch fire, where on Thursday radio traffic indicated the fire remained active, with firefighters trying to address unburned vegetation within the fire perimeter as well as flare ups.

Cal Fire said crews are beginning suppression repair and mop up in the southern section of the fire. The fire crews worked to hold existing dozer lines and continued to add new dozer lines as a contingency plan.

The Mendocino National Forest reported that firefighters worked around structures in the Lake Pillsbury area in the fire’s northern section on Thursday, clearing and improving lines around the residences. Reinforcing the dozer line running from the Eel river northeast to south also continued Thursday.

Forest officials estimated the Ranch Fire to be approximately three miles from the southern border of Lake Pillsbury on Thursday.

Improved conditions also allowed the Mendocino National Forest to reopen its Upper Lake Ranger District office on Thursday. It had closed July 29 due to fire activity.

In the Berryessa Snow Mountain Wilderness, Cal Fire said very smoky conditions and steep topography have made it challenging to attack the fire front directly.

Cal Fire said crews on Thursday night will continue to look for ways to safely engage the fire.

On the Colusa County side, the Ranch fire has reached the outskirts of the community of Lodoga, but has not progressed closer to Stonyford to the north, and still remains about five miles from the Glenn County line, according to state mapping.

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

An advisory evacuation for Glenn County also continues for the area north of the Glenn County-Colusa County Line, west of County Road 306, south of County Road 308 and east of the Mendocino National Forest Boundary.

On the River fire, crews continue to monitor the area. Cal Fire said containment lines are still holding, and crews are patrolling the area for any hot spots as well as beginning suppression repair and continuing mop up.

The estimated date for full containment remains Sept. 1, Cal Fire said.

In other fire-related news, the Lake County Public Works Department reported Thursday that Elk Mountain Road from the California Conservation Camp to Lake Pillsbury and Bartlett Springs Road from Highway 20 to the Lake County line will be closed to the public due to all the fire debris and danger of falling trees.

The department said the closure, which is in immediate effect, it will be long-term.

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.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – The Mendocino National Forest reported Thursday evening that the Eel fire is 100-percent contained at 972 acres.

Forest spokeswoman Punky Moore said all areas and roads in the fire area are open.

The fire, which started July 31, is located 10 miles east of Covelo. Moore said the cause is under investigation.

After the fire is contained, there is still work to do to improve the fireline and patrol the area to ensure embers from smoldering vegetation do not spread outside the containment line, Moore said.

Seventy personnel remain on the incident including two crews, three engines, one dozer and two water tenders.

Forest officials ask the people use caution while traveling through the area as personnel and equipment are still working on the fire.

LUCERNE, Calif. – Food for dogs and cats is available in the First Lutheran Church parking lot in Luerne after being delivered by Orphan Dog animal rescue.

In addition to pet food, cat litter and blankets for dogs as well snacks and water are being provided.

Orphan Dog requires ID for the animal supplies which are provided for Northshore residents affected by the fires.

Friday a Local Assistance Center will open at the Lucerne Senior Center across the street from the church on Friday.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. -- Noon Thursday Cal Fire reported additional areas on the Northshore have been reduced to advisory evacuation.

Those communities include Spring Valley, High Valley, Landrum Ranch, and the Double Eagle Community, the report stated.

Resources for evacuees began appearing on the Northshore Wednesday afternoon after mandatory evacuations for many areas were reduced to advisory.

The northern side of the Ranch fire had moderate fire activity Wednesday night growing 2,316 acres with containment remaining at 48%.

According to the Thursday a.m. Mendocino Complex update the following areas were still under mandatory or advisory evacuation status:

Mandatory evacuations in Lake County include East of the Lake-Mendocino County
Line, south of the Lake-Mendocino Glenn County Line, west of the LakeColusa
County Line, north of SR 20 and the Mendocino National Forest boundary.

Advisory evacuations in Lake County include North of Clear Lake Water’s Edge, North of 11th Street, East of Highway 29, South of the fire perimeter, and west of New Long Valley Road.

Fire crews continued to improve conditions around the Pine Mountain Project with firing operations overnight.

Throughout the day crews will continue to patrol the south-west boundaries of the Ranch Fire, and support dozer lines in the north.

The River Fire, 48,920 acres 84% contained, had no movement overnight, and today fire crews will focus on patrolling and mopping up.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Thousands of Northshore residents were allowed to return home on Wednesday as firefighters raised containment on the Mendocino Complex.

The complex’s acreage went up modestly during the day on Wednesday, increasing by 2,000 acres for a day’s-end total of 302,086 acres, Cal Fire said. Containment remained at 47 percent.

All of the growth occurred on the Ranch fire, now at 253,166 acres and 46-percent containment, while Cal Fire said firefighters continued to hold the River fire at 48,920 acres and 81-percent containment.

The Ranch fire portion of the fire is burning in the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, according to Mendocino National Forest spokeswoman Punky Moore.

There are 4,019 firefighters assigned to the incident, as well as 404 engines, 93 water tenders, 19 helicopters, 64 hand crews and 84 dozers, according to Cal Fire. Those firefighters include 41 from Australia and New Zealand.

Cal Fire has so far reported two firefighter injuries.

The count of destroyed and damaged structures increased on Wednesday morning as the result of an updated damage assessment.

Cal Fire said the count of destroyed structures is now 229, which breaks down to 119 residences and 110 other buildings. Structures damaged include 12 residences and 15 other types of buildings.

Because the fire continues to actively burn, 9,200 structures remain threatened, Cal Fire reported.

Cal Fire said the containment line holding north of Highway 20 allowed evacuation orders to be reduced on Wednesday.

As of Wednesday night, almost the entire Highway 20 corridor from Upper Lake east to Clearlake Oaks was repopulated and the highway was reopened, according to Cal Fire Incident Management Team 2 Operations Section Chief Charlie Blankenheim.

However, Blankenheim said a portion of Elk Mountain Road, along with Bartlett Springs Road, Mid Mountain Road and Long Valley Road remained closed because of still being in the burn area.

Spring Valley also remained under mandatory evacuation on Wednesday night. Blankenheim said they hope to reopen it within the next 24 to 48 hours.

The fire situation remains dynamic across the complex’s vast acreage. Throughout the night there were radio reports of small flare ups in areas including the west side of Elk Mountain Road at White Rock Canyon and in Scotts Valley, with indications that both were dealt with quickly.

Smoke from the fires continues to be an issue in Lake County, where conditions have been ranked as “unhealthy” to “very unhealthy,” according to the Lake County Air Quality Management District.

The smoke, which has entered the Sacramento Valley, also is causing health concerns there, with officials in neighboring Glenn County’ issuing an alert on Wednesday because of continued poor air quality conditions.

Reining in the Ranch and River fires

During a Wednesday evening virtual meeting, Blankenheim said it was another good day on the River fire, where all containment lines held and all interior islands of unburned vegetation on Cow Mountain – that had caused concerns for firefighters – didn’t burn.

Blankenheim anticipated containment on the River fire will rise to between 90 and 95 percent Wednesday night.

Wednesday also saw progress on the Ranch fire, where fire crews were able to strengthen lines above Upper Lake and Lucerne along Highway 20. Blankenheim said they did a lot of direct line cutting in that area, with that line expected to be completed by Thursday morning.

He said there were a few hot spots in that area which were worked with helicopters, and there was no fire movement.

Helicopters and planes continued to work the ridges in Lucerne on Wednesday evening as residents returned home.

Blankenheim said the Highway 20 corridor and the area above Potter Valley look very good.

In Colusa County, south of the community of Stonyford, Blankenheim said firefighters have put in direct line all the way back to Leesville.

He said there is one big area of slopover burning actively in Indian Valley, but there is dozer line around it and a burning operation under way, so he was optimistic that the fire there will be tied into the containment lines on Wednesday night.

In Long Valley, the fire has held without additional movement. Blankenheim said there is direct line around all of the fire there and they are mopping up hotspots.

In the Mendocino National Forest, Blankenheim said firefighters made good progress by using Goat Mountain Road to contain the fire. He said the Ranch fire has now moved into the scar of the 2012 Mill fire, where fuels are lighter.

Firefighters are now cutting line across Goat Mountain ridge and will do a firing operation overnight if necessary, he said.

Up on the Pine Mountain Project, Blankenheim said firefighters conducted a 1.5-mile firing operation Tuesday night, and expect to do another one Wednesday night. They also have line all the way down to the Eel River.

At the Wednesday evening meeting, Sheriff Brian Martin also reported making progress during the day.

“The repopulation effort, like many things on this fire, is a long series of monumental tasks to accomplish,” he said, noting his agency works closely with the incident management team.

He said they were working to get people home as quickly and safely as possible, with plans to continue making patrols in the fire area. Deputies spotlighting along Country Club Drive in Lucerne were seen by Lake County News staff Wednesday night.

Martin said an evacuated neighborhood is not nearly as safe as one where people are home and can look out for their neighbors.

He asked for the public’s continued understanding as the response to the incident continues.

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.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council is set to consider appointing a new city planning commissioner and will discuss several development agreements with cannabis operators.

The council will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 9, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.

On the agenda is the appointment of a new planning commissioner to succeed longtime Commissioner Carl Webb, who announced his departure in June.

Applying for the seat are business owner Robert Coker and Realtor Janie Ultsch-Frizell.

The council also will consider separate development agreements with Chris Jennings for commercial cannabis operations, with Clearlake Hydrogarden for a cannabis nursery and Gold Country Growers Clearlake for distribution and a delivery-only dispensary.

The council also will discuss resolutions for the 2018 League of California Cities annual conference.

Items on the consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are warrant registers; minutes of the meetings on July 12, 18 and 26; and consideration of continuing the declaration of local emergency issued on Oct. 9, 2017, and ratified by council action on Oct. 12, 2017.

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.

080918 Clearlake City Council Agenda Packet by LakeCoNews on Scribd