How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
News
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Gov. Jerry Brown and Congressman Mike Thompson have both asked the Trump administration for a presidential major disaster declaration to assist areas hard hit by the summer’s wildland fires, including Lake County.
Officials said there are 17 major fires currently burning across the state, causing extensive damage to residences and infrastructure. More than 14,000 firefighters from California and 17 other states are working the front lines of wildfires statewide.
Those incidents include the Mendocino Complex, burning in Lake, Mendocino and Colusa counties, and headed toward Glenn County.
By Saturday night hit had topped 229,000 acres and destroyed more than 100 structures. It continues to threaten an estimated 15,300 structures and has resulted in the evacuation of thousands of residents in the three counties where it’s actively burning.
Last week, Gov. Brown declared a state of emergency in Shasta, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Riverside and Mariposa counties due to multiple fires and requested and secured federal aid to further support communities impacted by the Carr Fire.
Then, on Saturday, the governor met with local leaders and fire and emergency management officials at the Carr Fire Incident Command Post in Shasta County and officially requested a presidential major disaster declaration to bolster the ongoing emergency response and help residents recover from the devastating fires burning in Lake, Mendocino, Napa and Shasta counties.
“Battling these relentless fires requires a Herculean effort,” said Gov. Brown in the request for a presidential major disaster declaration sent Saturday to the White House. “Additional federal assistance is needed immediately to reduce the direct threat to public health and safety.”
A presidential major disaster declaration makes individuals in the impacted counties eligible for a number of programs and support, including crisis counseling, unemployment assistance, food aid and legal services.
The governor’s office said a declaration also would help state, tribal and local governments with ongoing emergency response and recovery, including the repair and replacement of disaster-damaged facilities and infrastructure, including roads, bridges and utilities.
Congressman Mike Thompson added his support to the state of California’s request for the major disaster declaration to gain individual and public assistance for Lake, Mendocino, Napa and Shasta counties in a Saturday letter to President Donald Trump.
“An Emergency Declaration under the Stafford Act will provide the essential federal resources needed to help our communities recover from these devastating fires,” Thompson said.
Later on Saturday, Brown’s office reported that the White House approved the request for the presidential major disaster declaration for the Carr fire in Shasta County.
At its peak, the Carr Fire forced more than 35,000 Shasta and Trinity county residents to seek temporary shelter – and thousands remain evacuated. To date, the fire has burned more than 140,000 acres, killed half a dozen people and is about 40-percent contained.
“This is part of a trend – a new normal – that we've got to deal with. We're dealing with it humanly, financially and governmentally,” said Brown on Saturday during a media briefing at the Carr Fire Incident Command Post in Anderson. “These kinds of horrible situations bring people together, regardless of the lesser kind of ideologies and partisan considerations.”
The Governor’s Office reported that the Federal Emergency Management Agency is reviewing the disaster declaration requests for Lake, Mendocino and Napa counties on an expedited basis as preliminary damage assessments continue.
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.
Officials said there are 17 major fires currently burning across the state, causing extensive damage to residences and infrastructure. More than 14,000 firefighters from California and 17 other states are working the front lines of wildfires statewide.
Those incidents include the Mendocino Complex, burning in Lake, Mendocino and Colusa counties, and headed toward Glenn County.
By Saturday night hit had topped 229,000 acres and destroyed more than 100 structures. It continues to threaten an estimated 15,300 structures and has resulted in the evacuation of thousands of residents in the three counties where it’s actively burning.
Last week, Gov. Brown declared a state of emergency in Shasta, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Riverside and Mariposa counties due to multiple fires and requested and secured federal aid to further support communities impacted by the Carr Fire.
Then, on Saturday, the governor met with local leaders and fire and emergency management officials at the Carr Fire Incident Command Post in Shasta County and officially requested a presidential major disaster declaration to bolster the ongoing emergency response and help residents recover from the devastating fires burning in Lake, Mendocino, Napa and Shasta counties.
“Battling these relentless fires requires a Herculean effort,” said Gov. Brown in the request for a presidential major disaster declaration sent Saturday to the White House. “Additional federal assistance is needed immediately to reduce the direct threat to public health and safety.”
A presidential major disaster declaration makes individuals in the impacted counties eligible for a number of programs and support, including crisis counseling, unemployment assistance, food aid and legal services.
The governor’s office said a declaration also would help state, tribal and local governments with ongoing emergency response and recovery, including the repair and replacement of disaster-damaged facilities and infrastructure, including roads, bridges and utilities.
Congressman Mike Thompson added his support to the state of California’s request for the major disaster declaration to gain individual and public assistance for Lake, Mendocino, Napa and Shasta counties in a Saturday letter to President Donald Trump.
“An Emergency Declaration under the Stafford Act will provide the essential federal resources needed to help our communities recover from these devastating fires,” Thompson said.
Later on Saturday, Brown’s office reported that the White House approved the request for the presidential major disaster declaration for the Carr fire in Shasta County.
At its peak, the Carr Fire forced more than 35,000 Shasta and Trinity county residents to seek temporary shelter – and thousands remain evacuated. To date, the fire has burned more than 140,000 acres, killed half a dozen people and is about 40-percent contained.
“This is part of a trend – a new normal – that we've got to deal with. We're dealing with it humanly, financially and governmentally,” said Brown on Saturday during a media briefing at the Carr Fire Incident Command Post in Anderson. “These kinds of horrible situations bring people together, regardless of the lesser kind of ideologies and partisan considerations.”
The Governor’s Office reported that the Federal Emergency Management Agency is reviewing the disaster declaration requests for Lake, Mendocino and Napa counties on an expedited basis as preliminary damage assessments continue.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – This is the Mendocino Complex general information update for Sunday, Aug. 5.
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 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
AIR QUALITY
The Lake County Air Quality Control District issued an air quality alert for Lake County due to heavy smoke that has resulted in “unhealthy” and “hazardous” conditions and the forecast for extended smoke impacts. Current particulate levels in Lake County are in the range from “moderate” to “unhealthy.”
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
• Lake Pillsbury area, north of Highway 20, east of the Lake-Mendocino County line, south of the Lake-Mendocino County line, west of the Lake-Glenn County line. This includes the areas of Lake Pillsbury, Elk Mountain Road, Bear Creek, Pine Mountain and the surrounding areas. Travel west to Potter Valley via Elk Mountain Road. Shelter is available at the Mendocino College Ukiah Campus.
• Double Eagle Ranch and Landrum Ranch off Highway 20 east of New Long Valley Road to the Lake-Colusa County line, including residents with driveway access on the south side of Highway 20.
• For the Lucerne, Pepperwood Grove, Paradise Valley, Glenhaven and Clearlake Oaks areas of Lake County, including Long Valley, High Valley and Spring Valley: All areas north of Clear Lake, south and east of Bartlett Springs Road at Highway 20, west of Bartlett Springs Road at the Indian Valley Reservoir, south to New Long Valley Road and Highway 20 at Highway 53.
• Western Lake County, north of Clear Lake and Bartlett Springs Road, east of the Lake-Mendocino County line, south of the Ranch Fire, and west of High Valley Road and Bartlett Springs Road.
• Bartlett Springs Road at Highway 20, east along the National Forest boundary to High Valley Road, southeast to the 5 Star Fish Farm, southeast to the north side of Highway 20, east to New Long Valley Road, extending north to the west side of the Indian Valley Reservoir, north to Bartlett Springs Road, east to the Lake-Colusa County line, north along the Lake-Colusa County Line extending to Forest Service Road 18N40 (west of the Lake-Colusa-Tehama County line), and west to the western National Forest boundary in Lake County.
• Scotts Valley, Blue Lakes, Upper Lake, Bachelor Valley and Nice.
• South of Bartlett Springs Road at Highway 20, west of the Forest Boundary, including Pierce Canyon and High Valley Road, west of Sulphur Bank Drive at Hwy 20 and north of Clear Lake.
• West of Highway 29 and north of Park Way.
Mendocino County
• 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.
• 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.
Colusa County
• 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
• Southeast Lakeport, north of Highway 29 at Highland Springs Road, east of Highway 29, south of Park Way, and west of Clear Lake.
• South of Hallberg Road, west of Highway 29, north of Highway 175, and east of the River fire perimeter.
• South of Highway 29 and Highway 175, west of Highland Springs Road, north and east of
the Lake-Mendocino County line, and east of the River fire perimeter.
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.
• South of the fire perimeter, east of intersection Highway 175 and Old River Road, north of Mendocino-Sonoma County line, west of Mendocino/Lake County line.
• South of Yokayo Ranch Road, east of the Russian River, west of the Lake-Mendocino County line, north of the Old River Road-Highway 175 intersection.
• East Ukiah Valley area, south of Highway 20, east of the east side of Lake Mendocino and east of the Russian River, north of Yokayo Rancheria 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
• Southwestern portion of Glenn County, south of Road 308 and west of Road 306.
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 (AT CAPACITY)
• 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.
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
• Southbound Elk Mountain to south Pillsbury Lake
• Elk Mountain Road at Middle Creek Road
• Westbound Highway 20 at Highway 29 to Ukiah is now open
• Northbound Highway 29 at Park Way
• Northbound Lakeshore Boulevard at Park Way
• Northbound Hill Road at Park Way
• Northbound Hill Road East at Park Way
• Westbound Highway 20 at Highway 53
• Hill Road at Hill Road East
• New Long Valley Road at Highway 20
• Scotts Valley Road at HIll Road
• Highway 20 at Sulphur Bank Road
• Old Long Valley Road at Highway 20
• Walker Ridge Road at Highway 20
Mendocino County
• Eastbound Highway 20 at Potter Valley Road
• Mill Creek Road, half a mile east of Old River Road
Colusa County
• Northbound Bear Valley at Highway 20
• Eastbound Leesville at Bear Valley Road
• Southbound Leesville-Lodoga Road at Sites-Lodoga Road
• Sites-Lodoga Road at Rail Canyon Road
• County Road 306, half a mile north of the county line
Glenn County
• County Road 306 at the Colusa-Glenn 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
Organizations and agencies seeking volunteers can email
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Officials have implemented new closure orders on federally managed lands in response to the Mendocino Complex, which is burning in Mendocino, Lake and Colusa counties.
The U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management reported the closures on Saturday.
On Saturday Mendocino National Forest officials issued the second forest order in a week closing 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.
Forest officials said 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. 08-18-13 and exhibits are posted at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/mendocino/alerts-notices .
Also on Saturday, the Bureau of Land Management Ukiah Field Office said it 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.
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 also are 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 more information please contact the Ukiah Field Office, Monday through Friday, at 707-468-4000.
The U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management reported the closures on Saturday.
On Saturday Mendocino National Forest officials issued the second forest order in a week closing 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.
Forest officials said 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. 08-18-13 and exhibits are posted at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/mendocino/alerts-notices .
Also on Saturday, the Bureau of Land Management Ukiah Field Office said it 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.
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 also are 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 more information please contact the Ukiah Field Office, Monday through Friday, at 707-468-4000.
NORTH COAST, Calif. – Firefighters continued to work to fully contain the Eel fire on Saturday in the midst of red flag conditions that resulted in critical fire weather.
The fire began on Tuesday 10 miles east of Covelo on the Mendocino National Forest’s Covelo Ranger District.
On Saturday firefighters continued to reinforce and cool the fireline with helicopter water drops, hoses extended from engines and shovel work, officials said.
Forest spokeswoman Punky Moore said that when firefighters need to hike into areas that are difficult to access, they will carry their own water with them in 40-pound water carriers called “bladder bags.”
For safety reasons, tree fallers will be taking down “snags,” or dead trees, especially on the north end of the fire, according to Moore.
She also reported that a portion of the Eel fire is in the fire scar of the 2012 North Pass Fire.
“Snags from the North Pass Fire make it more challenging for firefighters to mop up and cool hot spots,” said Incident Commander Dale Shippelhoute.
A half-acre fire that escaped containment lines Friday was stopped and lined, Moore said.
Moore’s Saturday report said the Eel fire at that point was 40 percent contained and 972 acres in size, with 175 personnel assigned to the incident.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Mendocino Complex continued its seemingly unstoppable march across Lake County and into neighboring counties in the valley on Saturday, as more firefighters joined the effort and erratic winds created conditions in which flames were reported shooting hundreds of feet into the air.
Cal Fire’s Saturday night report said the complex of the Ranch and River fires at 229,006 acres – a nearly 28,000-acre expansion of size since the morning – with total containment up by 5 percent during the day, for a day’s-end total of 32 percent.
Mapping shows the two fires moving closer together, but their boundaries on Saturday evening had not yet merged.
The Ranch fire alone has so far burned 181,343 acres, with its growth pushing down overall containment to 22 percent, Cal Fire said.
Cal Fire said the River fire reached 47,663 acres on Saturday evening, with its containment total remaining at 50 percent.
On Saturday Cal Fire said fire crews on the Ranch fire observed erratic winds following column collapse, which is when downdrafts can cause rapid and sometimes dangerous changes in wind direction that can drastically alter fire activity.
Fire crews reported 300-foot-tall flames in some of the southeast areas of the Ranch fire, Cal Fire said.
On the River fire, crews had some successful burn operations on the northeast side and continue to make good progress.
The complex is now threatening 15,300 structures, and has destroyed 55 homes and 49 other buildings, also damaging 10 residences and 11 other buildings.
As a result of its continued growth, more resources have been brought in to fight the complex. On Saturday night, the number of personnel had grown to 3,529, along with 420 engines, 68 water tenders, 15 helicopters, 55 hand crews and 63 dozers. Fixed wing aircraft, which are numerous in the skies above Lake County, are not reflected in the resource allocation.
Complex becomes one of largest in state history
The Mendocino Complex’s acreage total now makes it the sixth largest wildland fire incident in California’s history, according to Cal Fire information.
Beginning in Mendocino County on July 27, the fire has hit Lake County hard since crossing its boundaries, and it’s now also impacting Colusa and Glenn counties.
On Saturday, more areas in Lake County – including the Double Eagle Ranch subdivision east of Clearlake Oaks as well as the Lake Pillsbury area – were placed under mandatory evacuation.
The sheriff’s office also rebroadcast its mandatory evacuation orders for Long Valley, High Valley and Spring Valley Lake just after 5:30 p.m.
Colusa’s first advisory evacuation went into effect on Friday, followed by Glenn County on Saturday.
Then, on Saturday evening, a mandatory evacuation for Colusa County was called for 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.
A full and updated list of evacuations and road closures can be found here.
Air resources once again played a key part in the firefighting effort, with the first planes dispatched shortly before 8 a.m. and, later in the day, requests placed for more available planes, including the very large air tanker, as well as more helicopters.
Cal Fire reported on Saturday that fire activity was heightened in the Spring Valley Lakes area, parts of which burned less than two months ago in the Pawnee fire.
Just before 2 p.m., an immediate power shutoff was ordered for the Spring Valley and New Long Valley areas as the firefighting effort continued.
The Scotts Valley area also has continued to be a priority, with the fire actively burning there as firefighters work to protect structures and build containment lines. Firing operations also took place there on Saturday.
In Lucerne, where the fire had made a dramatic push on Friday night, an army of firefighters and dozens of engines were working to protect the town, staging equipment, opening hydrants and cutting scratch lines behind homes for a backfiring operation meant to cut off the fire’s advance.
Red flag conditions, marked by high winds, are forecast to continue until late Saturday night, with the winds being one of the chief challenges on the fire lines.
Despite the complex’s continued growth, Cal Fire continues to estimate it will be fully contained by Aug. 15.
The cause of both fires in the complex remain under investigation, Cal Fire said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Bolstered by red flag conditions, the Mendocino Complex overnight made another immense acreage increase, surpassing the 200,000-acre mark, with officials reporting more structures destroyed or damaged.
Early Saturday morning, Cal Fire said the incident had reached 201,471 acres, rising to 34-percent containment. That was a 44,000-acre jump since the Friday night acreage estimate was released.
Most of that new acreage was accounted for on the Ranch fire, which on Friday night made runs at the communities of Lucerne and Spring Valley Lakes.
Cal Fire said Saturday that the Ranch fire alone was up to 156,678 acres, with containment rolling backward slightly to 27 percent. That is up by more than 41,000 acres from the previous night.
The River fire is at 44,793 acres and 50-percent contained, nearly a 2,600-acre increase, based on a comparison of Cal Fire’s reports.
Cal Fire said that on Friday night and early Saturday morning there was poor relative humidity recovery from during the day on Friday, contributing to the two fires’ overnight activity. Low fuel moisture and possible increase in ridge winds are driving the fire, they said.
The northwest portion of the Ranch fire will progress further into the Mendocino National Forest and continue to establish itself in the drainages south of Lake Pillsbury and to the east of the current fire perimeter, Cal Fire said.
The River fire’s northern portion is continuing to burn towards Cow Mountain and Scotts Valley Road, according to Cal Fire.
Mapping showed that the two incidents have grown closer together as activity continued on the north edge of the River fire in the Scotts Valley area. There, overnight, firefighters continued to work on building and strengthening dozer line and protecting structures, based on radio reports.
The fire also moved further into the north Lakeport area and closer to where the Ranch fire is burning in the Upper Lake and Witter Springs areas, according to incident mapping.
On Friday, mandatory evacuations had been called for Lucerne, Glenhaven and Clearlake Oaks, which resulted in the entire Northshore being under evacuation.
In Spring Valley Lakes east of Clearlake Oaks, which suffered through the June Pawnee fire, a fire fight already was under way on Friday evening, with dozens of engines engaged, according to Cal Fire.
Elsewhere around Clearlake Oaks, the fire was reported to be near Long Valley and moving toward High Valley.
After nightfall, at about 9:30 p.m., firefighters reported over the radio that the fire was burning actively in an area in the hills above Lucerne.
About an hour later, law enforcement officers went through the streets of Lucerne, flashing lights and sirens and using public address systems in their vehicles to tell residents who remained that they needed to leave immediately, as the fire had crested the ridges above town.
The fire had, indeed, backed down the hills, fanned by winds, making its way down toward the west end of Lucerne. That resulted in the evacuation of this publication’s staff and publishing delays while operations were relocated.
Throughout the night, sheriff’s deputies and officers from allied agencies who sent assistance were dispatched to help evacuate residents who couldn’t make it out themselves, according to radio traffic.
Altogether, Cal Fire said 12,300 structures are threatened by the complex, with the newest damage assessment putting total structures destroyed at 104 – 55 residences and 49 other types – while those damaged include 10 residences and 11 other buildings.
The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for Lake County that’s in effect through Saturday night.
The warning is for a forecast of high winds that, coupled with dry conditions, could further feed the Mendocino Complex’s acreage growth.
Air resources are expected to play another key role in fighting the complex on Saturday, with air attack launching to head to the Ranch fire before 8 a.m.
Resources assigned include 3,449 personnel, 419 engines, 60 water tenders, 15 helicopters, 51 hand crews and 54 dozers, Cal Fire said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at