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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Fire-related issued knocked out power to thousands of residents on the Northshore and in Mendocino County on Saturday night.

The Mendocino Complex’s Ranch fire branch’s approach to Upper Lake had spurred a number of mandatory and advisory evacuations in the area on Saturday, as Lake County News has reported.

Shortly before 10:20 p.m. Saturday, radio reports indicated that the entire Bachelor Valley area near Upper Lake had been deenergized as part of the firefighting effort for the Mendocino Complex.

Then at approximately 10:24 p.m., power went out along a large swath of the Northshore, from Nice to Lucerne.

At about 11 p.m., State Sen. Mike McGuire reported on his Facebook page that Pacific Gas and Electric Co. was working on a “widespread outage that is impacting significant parts of Mendocino County including Willits, parts of Ukiah, a lot of the Mendocino Coast (including Fort Bragg) and parts of Lake County. We are in touch with PG&E representatives, more to report soon. “

PG&E said the Northshore outage in Lake County impacted 5,142 customers.

About an hour later, McGuire followed up by reporting that PG&E had determined the outage was caused by heavy smoke around the electrical lines in the Highway 20 area. He explained that heavy smoke is a conductor of electricity.

He said that, at that point, there continued to be significant fire activity south of Blue Lakes on Highway 20.

The company initially did not have a cause and had estimated power wouldn’t be restored until Monday afternoon.

However, just before 3 a.m., power came on in areas including Lucerne, with PG&E’s outage map showing the outage to be resolved a short time later.

At about the same time, McGuire said that PG&E had restored power in Ukiah.

Separately, PG&E reported some two outages in the mandatory evacuation zone in the unincorporated Lakeport area with more than 100 customers impacted.

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.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A community meeting in response to the Mendocino Complex will be held on Sunday evening in Kelseyville.

Supervisor Rob Brown said the meeting will take place beginning at 5 p.m. at Kelseyville High School, 5480 Main St.

Brown said he, along with Sheriff Brian Martin and State Sen. Mike McGuire, will be among the officials on hand to discuss the complex of fires with the community.

The Ranch and River fires began Friday in Mendocino County and have since pushed into Lake County’s borders, triggering both mandatory and advisory evacuations on Saturday.

On Saturday night, the River portion of the complex appeared to be continuing its push toward Lakeport, with flames cresting the ridges behind the city visible from across Clear Lake on the Northshore.

However, Brown said Saturday night that he and Martin had driven the fire area and it appeared that the fire was still several miles – and several ridges – away.

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.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County’s air quality conditions continued to worsen on Saturday primarily due to the thick smoke from the approaching Mendocino Complex, including the Ranch and River fires, and other major wildland incidents in the state.

Lake County Air Quality Pollution Control Officer Doug Gearhart issued an air quality alert for “unhealthy” to “very unhealthy” results from the heavy smoke conditions, as well as the forecast for extended smoke impacts.

Gearhart said Saturday that the particulate levels in Lake County are in the range from “unhealthy” to “very unhealthy” in the Lakeport and west county areas and “unhealthy for sensitive individuals” to “unhealthy” air quality in the eastern and southern portions of the county.

The higher levels of smoke are expected to continue through the weekend. With the expected weather conditions smoke levels are expected to degrade, Gearhart said.

All areas may experience “very unhealthy” air quality, and individuals should take precautions. The smoke is expected to remain in Lake County through the weekend, though Gearhart said the county may see periods of variable air quality as the winds shift through the next few days.

Conditions can change quickly. Smoky conditions can cause irritation of the eyes, nose and air passages. These conditions can be hazardous for sensitive individual including children, the elderly, individuals with heart conditions, and those with chronic lung disease such as asthma, bronchitis, and other respiratory conditions.

Individuals with asthma, bronchitis, emphysema and other lung or heart diseases should carefully adhere to their medical treatment plans and maintain at least a five-day supply of prescribed medications. They should limit outdoor activity and unnecessary physical exertion while smoke is present. Air conditioning that recirculates indoor air should be used, when available. Drinking plenty of water to avoid drying of the airways is recommended, unless restricted for medical reasons.

If you cannot leave the smoky area, good ways to protect your lungs from wildfire smoke include staying indoors and reducing physical activity.

Wearing an air purifying respirator can also help protect your lungs from wildfire smoke. Air purifying respirators, such as N-95 or P100 filtering face pieces, may be effective in reducing some of the harmful particulate matter, but they also increase the work of breathing, can lead to physiologic stress, and are not recommended as a general protective measure.

Dust masks are not protective against the ultra fine particulate, which is the pollutant most detrimental to health caused by wildfire smoke.

With air quality forecast to be in the “unhealthy” to “very unhealthy” range, people are recommended to use caution, avoid strenuous activity, avoid outdoor activities, and reduce other sources of air pollution (such as smoking, use of aerosol products, frying or broiling meats, burning candles, vacuuming, etc.) and be prepared for rapidly changing conditions.

Localized areas of very unhealthy or hazardous air quality, regional haze, and particulate from these fires can be expected until the regional fires are fully contained and the weather pattern shifts to clear the smoke. Take appropriate measures until the smoke clears.

This story is being updated on a rolling basis.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – With the River and Ranch fires bearing down on Lake County, local officials have issued new evacuation orders as crews on the fire lines try to stop the fires’ advance.

A new size estimate hasn’t yet been offered of the complex, which as of Saturday morning had burned 9,500 acres, with hundreds of structures threatened.

Just before 1:30 p.m., the sheriff’s office ordered mandatory evacuations for the area west of Highway 29 in and around the city of Lakeport, including all areas west of Highway 29 between Highland Springs Road and 11th Street/Scotts Valley Road, and west to the Lake/Mendocino County line.

That was followed at 4 p.m. by a mandatory evacuation order for Bachelor Valley and Witter Springs. Shortly before that order, radio traffic indicated the Ranch fire had jumped Bachelor Valley Road.

Minutes later, Incident command issued a call for an immediate need strike team of three engines to respond to Bachelor Valley for structure protection, according to radio reports.

About 20 minutes later, Scotts Valley was ordered to evacuate to the north and exit onto Highway 20.

At 4:30 p.m., Sutter Lakeside Hospital in Lakeport was reported to be under mandatory evacuation. 

Sutter Health spokesman Clayton Warren said one patient from the emergency room and 14 other patients were evacuated. He said staff are now coordinating with the Sutter Health transfer center to determine which hospitals they’ll be transported to next, with Novato a possible location.

At 4:37 p.m., the Lake County Sheriff’s Office ordered residents on Elk Mountain Road north of Rancheria Road to evacuate immediately.

Law enforcement officers of multiple agencies have been working on evacuations throughout the day.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said shelters have been set up at Mountain Vista Middle School in Kelseyville, 5081 Konocti Road, and at Twin Pine Casino, 22223 Highway 29 in Middletown.

Shortly after 5 p.m., air operations on the complex reported that all aircraft – with the exception of one plane to be used for operations – were being pulled from the incident, with no more retardant to be dropped for the day, due to a fire that had broken out in the Berryessa Highlands in Napa County on Saturday afternoon.

Throughout the afternoon and evening, Lake County Animal Care and Control staff and volunteers with the Lake Evacuation and Animal Protection group, or LEAP, were reported to be working their way through the mandatory evacuation area.

At about 5:45 p.m. teams were reported to be working along Scotts Valley Road, picking up animals including goats, a mini donkey and an ostrich.

Emergency operations centers are now in operation in both Mendocino and Lake counties in response to the complex.

On Saturday afternoon, the Mendocino County Office of Emergency Services reported that a proclamation of a local emergency had been declared due to the fires.

Caltrans reported that Highway 175 is closed from the junction of Highway 101 in Hopland to 1.4 miles west of the south junction with Highway 29 at Mathews Road due to the fire.

As of 5:30 p.m., Highway 20 and Highway 29 remain open, according to Caltrans.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the following list of mandatory and advisory evacuations just before 8 p.m.

Mandatory evacuation orders

River fire

– All areas west of Highway 29 between Highland Springs Road and 11th Street/Scotts Valley Road, and west to the Lake/Mendocino County Line. This includes all of Hendricks Road.

Ranch fire

– Witter Springs, Bachelor Valley, Saratoga Springs.
– Elk Mountain Road, north of Rancheria Road to Middle Creek Campground and west to the county line.
– East side of Elk Mountain Road, from Rancheria Road to the Middle Creek Campground.
– Blue Lakes.

Advisory evacuation orders

River fire

– South of Park Way and east of Highway 29 to Big Valley Road – basically everything east of 29 between Park Way and Big Valley.

Ranch fire

– Entire community of Upper Lake and surrounding areas.

Additional updates will be posted below.

UPDATES:

6:55 p.m.: Firefighters report that people are stopping along Highway 20 and causing a dangerous situation. They also were concerned that the Ranch fire was going to cross the highway and reach high tension power lines. The specific location was not reported. The fire also was said to be making significant runs.

7:04 p.m.: Two planes were requested to respond to the River fire.

7:05 p.m.: The spread of the Ranch fire along Highway 20 was reportedly slowing, with firefighters holding it in a creekbed, with the wind in their favor. The California Highway Patrol was clearing people off Highway 20. There were still concerns about the fire getting to power lines.

7:16 p.m.: The Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Lakeport Police Department and allied agencies – Clearlake Police, Ukiah Police and the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office – are actively patrolling for unauthorized entry into evacuation areas. Officials said 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.

7:20 p.m.: From the Lake County Sheriff’s Office: “This is a mandatory evacuation notice for the east side of Elk Mountain Road from Rancheria Road to the Middle Creek Campground. Residents are advised to evacuate immediately. A shelter has been established at the Mountain Vista Middle School in Kelseyville, and another at the Twin Pines Casino in Middletown that will open after 11 p.m.

7:38 p.m.: The Lake County Sheriff’s Office issued an evacuation advisory for the entire community of Upper Lake and the surrounding areas due to the approach of the Ranch Fire.

8:36 p.m.: A mandatory evacuation notice for the Blue Lakes area has been issued. The Lake County Sheriff's Office asks residents to please leave immediately.  

9:38 p.m.: Cal Fire reports the Ranch fire now at 5,000 acres and 5-percent contained, while the River fire is 9,000 acres, also 5-percent contained. Total structures threatened by both remains at 386. So far, two structures destroyed.

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.

This story has been updated with advisory evacuation information and a map of the mandatory evacuation area.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – With fires that began in Mendocino County on Friday continuing to grow and approach Lake County communities, on Saturday afternoon local officials expanded the advisory evacuation area to include the entire city of Lakeport and a new mandatory evacuation order for an area near the city.

The Mendocino Complex, composed of the Ranch and River fires, grew to 9,500 acres on Saturday morning.

That breaks down to 3,500 acres and 2 percent containment on the Ranch fire, which began along Highway 20 eight miles northeast of Ukiah, and 6,000 acres and 2 percent containment for the River fire, which began off of Old River Road near Hopland.

Two structures have so far been destroyed and a total of 386 are threatened, Cal Fire said.

Officials also said that seven firefighters have been injured in battling the complex.

Resources assigned on Saturday to the complex included 470 personnel and 40 engines, 20 water tenders, two helicopters, 16 hand crews and 15 dozers.

Due to the River fire portion of the complex, on Saturday the sheriff’s office issued a mandatory evacuation notice for the area west of Highway 29 in and around the city of Lakeport.

The area to be evacuated includes all areas west of Highway 29 between Highland Springs Road and 11th Street/Scotts Valley Road, and west to the Lake/Mendocino County line.

The Lake County Sheriff's Office and the Lakeport Police Department jointly issued an advisory evacuation notice to the entire city of Lakeport and the surrounding areas.

Evacuation is recommended but not required. The Lakeport Police Department and the Lake County Sheriff's Office encourage those who are able to evacuate to consider doing so now.

A shelter has been established at Mountain Vista Middle School in Kelseyville, 5081 Konocti Road, Kelseyville.

Advisory evacuations also remain in effect for Bachelor Valley, Blue Lakes, Witter Springs, north Scotts Valley Road from the 7000 block to Highway 20, and Highway 20 from the 6000 block to the Lake County line.

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.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Two wildland fires in Mendocino County continued to grow overnight, with Lake County officials prepared in the event the fires reach local communities.

The Ranch and River fires, which were first reported about an hour apart on Friday afternoon, were combined into the Mendocino Complex overnight, according to Cal Fire.

Just after midnight early Saturday, Cal Fire issued an update on the complex, which together have burned 8,300 acres, with zero containment, and two structures – one residence and one outbuilding – destroyed. Two firefighters have been injured.

Officials said at that time that there were no roadway closures but urged drivers along Highway 20 and Highway 175 to use caution and watch for emergency vehicles entering and exiting the roadway.

Available mapping shown above illustrates that both fires are close to the Lake County line, with spots on the River fire appearing to have crossed into Lake County.

The Ranch fire, located along Highway 20 near Old Lake County Highway eight miles northeast of Ukiah, was first reported at about noon on Friday.

Cal Fire said the Ranch fire was up to 2,700 acres by midnight.

The fire was reported to be moving toward Lake County, which prompted evacuation warnings Friday evening for the areas of Bachelor Valley, Blue Lakes, Witter Springs, north Scotts Valley Road from the 7000 block to Highway 20, and Highway 20 from the 6000 block to the Lake County line, according to Cal Fire.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office reported that, in the event it issues a mandatory evacuation notice due to the fire, an evacuation shelter will be opened at Mountain Vista Middle School at 5081 Konocti Road, Kelseyville.

Lake Evacuation and Animal Protection, the volunteer group working under the auspices of Lake County Animal Care and Control, also has been on standby since Friday afternoon in the event evacuations are necessary.

Lakeport Fire Chief Doug Hutchison told Lake County News on Friday afternoon that his agency was ramping up in the event that the fires reached Lake County.

The River fire, which was reported at about 1 p.m. Friday along Old River Road six miles north of Hopland, has burned the largest portion of the complex’s acreage, and was at 5,600 acres early Saturday, according to Cal Fire.

In Mendocino County, mandatory evacuations are in effect for the River fire area, from the 8000 block of River Road, south to Highway 175, and from the Russian River east to to the Lake County line, and area which the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office said includes the Hopland Band of Pomo Indians.

The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office issued an evacuation warning, or advisory, for the area south of Highway 175, east of Old River Road to Highway 101 and east to Old Toll Road and Ranch Road area.

An evacuation center for Mendocino County residents has been established at the Mendocino College Dance Room at 1000 Hensley Creek Road, Ukiah.

The J arena located at 4800 Burke Hill Road, Ukiah, is accepting animals but not horses; instead, horses will be sheltered at the Redwood Riders Arena, located at 8300 East Road in Redwood Valley. Small animals will be accepted at the Mendocino County Animal Shelter, 298 Plant Road in Ukiah.

Concerns about fire and safety also led the county of Lake to temporarily close Mt. Konocti County Park, the regional trails and the Highland Springs Recreation Area until further notice.

The Bureau of Land Management also implemented a temporary closure of the North Cow Mountain Recreation Area, rifle range and South Cow Mountain Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area due for public safety due to the proximity of both the River and Ranch fires.

Lake County Air Pollution Control Officer Doug Gearhart had reported on Friday that the Mendocino County fires – as well as the Carr fire Shasta County to the north – were sending smoke into the local air basin.

As the night wore on, Lake County’s air quality continued to degrade, with a pervasive smell of smoke and reports from residents in a number of areas of falling ash.

Gearhart said air quality could drop into the “unhealthy” range for all residents, although air quality could vary if there are wind shifts in the area.

Both Lake and Mendocino counties are under a heat advisory through Sunday night due to a forecast for temperatures that could top the century mark. Those high temperatures are expected to create more challenges for a firefighting force that’s already stretched in light of resource needs at other incidents around the state.

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.