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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – As fires continue to burn around the region, on Friday Napa County Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Relucio declared a local health emergency throughout the county due to the hazardous waste and materials created by the 2017 Napa Fire Complex.
Relucio also has ordered the removal of the hazardous materials.
Officials said the declaration of a local health emergency establishes access to necessary resources to remove materials that create an imminent threat to public health and safety.
The Napa County Board of Supervisors must review and ratify this declaration within seven days.
On Friday night Cal Fire said the Atlas fire, or the Southern LNU Complex, had burned 48,228 acres in Napa and Solano counties since Sunday night and is 45-percent contained. More than 1,700 firefighters are assigned to the incident.
Evacuations remain in place in Napa and Solano counties due to the fire, which has so far destroyed 234 structures and is threatening 5,000 more, Cal Fire said.
Burning within Napa and Sonoma counties is the 92,370-acre Central LNU Complex, which includes the Tubbs fire, at 35,270 aces and 44-percent containment; the Nuns fire, 46,104 acres and 10-percent containment; and the Pocket fire, 10,996 acres and 5-percent contained.
On Friday, the Napa County Sheriff’s Office said the death toll in the county due fires has risen to four.
On Thursday morning, two bodies were found at a residence in the 2300 block of Atlas Peak Road. The home belonged to 89-year-old Dr. George Chaney and 79-year-old Edward Stone. Chaney has been positively identified, and Stone is believed to be the second victim, authorities said.
Earlier this week, officials confirmed the deaths of a Napa couple, 100-year-old Charles Rippey and his wife, Sara, 98, in the Atlas fire.
The Napa County Sheriff’s Office said it is continuing the search for possible victims in the fires.
On Friday, Congressman Mike Thompson – who represents Napa County as well as southern Lake County – said Napa and Sonoma County residents who suffered damage or losses from the fires can now register for disaster assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency as a result of the presidential disaster declaration issued on Tuesday.
To apply for assistance visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4344.
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.
Relucio also has ordered the removal of the hazardous materials.
Officials said the declaration of a local health emergency establishes access to necessary resources to remove materials that create an imminent threat to public health and safety.
The Napa County Board of Supervisors must review and ratify this declaration within seven days.
On Friday night Cal Fire said the Atlas fire, or the Southern LNU Complex, had burned 48,228 acres in Napa and Solano counties since Sunday night and is 45-percent contained. More than 1,700 firefighters are assigned to the incident.
Evacuations remain in place in Napa and Solano counties due to the fire, which has so far destroyed 234 structures and is threatening 5,000 more, Cal Fire said.
Burning within Napa and Sonoma counties is the 92,370-acre Central LNU Complex, which includes the Tubbs fire, at 35,270 aces and 44-percent containment; the Nuns fire, 46,104 acres and 10-percent containment; and the Pocket fire, 10,996 acres and 5-percent contained.
On Friday, the Napa County Sheriff’s Office said the death toll in the county due fires has risen to four.
On Thursday morning, two bodies were found at a residence in the 2300 block of Atlas Peak Road. The home belonged to 89-year-old Dr. George Chaney and 79-year-old Edward Stone. Chaney has been positively identified, and Stone is believed to be the second victim, authorities said.
Earlier this week, officials confirmed the deaths of a Napa couple, 100-year-old Charles Rippey and his wife, Sara, 98, in the Atlas fire.
The Napa County Sheriff’s Office said it is continuing the search for possible victims in the fires.
On Friday, Congressman Mike Thompson – who represents Napa County as well as southern Lake County – said Napa and Sonoma County residents who suffered damage or losses from the fires can now register for disaster assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency as a result of the presidential disaster declaration issued on Tuesday.
To apply for assistance visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4344.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – As firefighters raise containment on the Sulphur fire in Lake County and other major incidents around the region, air quality officials are continuing to issue alerts due to degraded air quality.
The Lake County Air Quality Management District said air quality moved into the “moderate” to “unhealthy for everyone” range, a slight improvement over conditions earlier this week.
Air Pollution Control Officer Doug Gearhart said the smoke and haze currently visible through areas of Lake County are primarily the result of the Tubbs fire in Napa and Sonoma counties, the Pocket fire in Sonoma County and the Redwood Complex fire in Mendocino County. Other active fires in Northern California may add to the smoke impacts in Lake County.
The “moderate” to “unhealthy for everyone” air quality alert results from the variable weather conditions experienced in Lake County and the forecast for extended smoke impacts, and impacts from other air pollutants in the smoke lingering in Lake County until conditions change, Gearhart said.
Gearhart said the district is actively monitoring the smoke impacts.
Current particulate levels in Lake County are in the range from “moderate” in the Middletown and Hidden Valley Lake areas to “unhealthy for sensitive individuals” range in the northern portions of the county, according to Gearhart's report.
He said the highest levels of smoke are expected to continue through the weekend, though the models indicate the county will continue to see some winds today which could significantly improve air quality in Lake County. With the expected winds, fire activity may increase, increasing smoke levels in the county.
All areas may experience “unhealthy” air quality, and individuals should take precautions. Gearhart said the smoke is expected to remain in Lake County through the weekend, though there may be improved or degraded 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 individuals 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.
Officials said such individuals should limit outdoor activity and unnecessary physical exertion. 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 ultrafine particulate, which is the pollutant most detrimental to health caused by wildfire smoke.
With air quality forecast to be in the “moderate” to “unhealthy” range, people are recommended to use caution, avoid strenuous activity, avoid outdoor activities when possible, 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.
NORTH COAST, Calif. – The Bureau of Land Management Ukiah Field Office has issued a temporary emergency closure for the Cow Mountain Recreation Area in Mendocino and Lake counties due to fire danger.
The closure began on Thursday and remains in effect until further notice.
The Redwood and Sulphur fires, which form the Mendocino Lake Complex Incident, are in close proximity to the Cow Mountain Recreation Area.
As of Friday night, the complex has burned a total of 36,500 acres and is 22-percent contained. That includes 34,000 and 20-percent containment for the Redwood fire and 2,500 acres and 60-percent containment in the Sulphur fire.
Adverse weather conditions forecasted for this weekend are expected to hamper wildland fighting efforts.
The fire continues to burn in multiple directions, threatening numerous communities and infrastructure. Steep inaccessible terrain, coupled with critical fuel moistures, and northwest winds will provide challenges for crews working on the fire.
The public is reminded to exercise caution and be prepared to evacuate if asked to do so.
The BLM is committed to keeping the public safe, while protecting natural resources.
For more information on the Cow Mountain Recreation Area, please call the Ukiah Field Office at 707-468-4000.
The closure began on Thursday and remains in effect until further notice.
The Redwood and Sulphur fires, which form the Mendocino Lake Complex Incident, are in close proximity to the Cow Mountain Recreation Area.
As of Friday night, the complex has burned a total of 36,500 acres and is 22-percent contained. That includes 34,000 and 20-percent containment for the Redwood fire and 2,500 acres and 60-percent containment in the Sulphur fire.
Adverse weather conditions forecasted for this weekend are expected to hamper wildland fighting efforts.
The fire continues to burn in multiple directions, threatening numerous communities and infrastructure. Steep inaccessible terrain, coupled with critical fuel moistures, and northwest winds will provide challenges for crews working on the fire.
The public is reminded to exercise caution and be prepared to evacuate if asked to do so.
The BLM is committed to keeping the public safe, while protecting natural resources.
For more information on the Cow Mountain Recreation Area, please call the Ukiah Field Office at 707-468-4000.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Due to the current fire conditions and the amount of fire suppression resources committed to the fires in Northern California, Cal Fire has suspended all outdoor open burning within the State Responsibility Areas.
The suspension became effective at 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13, within the State Responsibility Areas and any Local Responsibility Areas under Cal Fire contract in the following Cal Fire units or contract county:
- Marin: Marin County;
- San Mateo: Santa Cruz serving San Mateo, Santa Cruz counties;
- Santa Clara: Serving Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara and areas west of I-5 in Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties;
- Sonoma-Lake-Napa - serving Sonoma, Lake, Napa and portions of Solano, Yolo, and Colusa counties.
This burn suspension bans all outdoor burning including campfires, warming fires and ceremonial fires.
This order is made under the authority vested by the director of the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection as per section 4423.1 of the Public Resources Code.
This suspension of burning will be reassessed when critical fire conditions decline and or the amount of fire suppression resources committed to the large fires become locally available.
Cal Fire is asking residents to ensure that they are prepared for wildfires including maintaining a minimum of 100 feet of defensible space around every home.
In specific locations, campfires within organized campgrounds or on private property that are otherwise permitted by the landowner may be allowed if the campfire is maintained in a facility designed to hold a campfire and in such a manner as to prevent the fire from spreading to the wildland.
The public is cautioned that they are liable for any fire they lose control over.
For additional information on preparing for and preventing wildfires visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org.
The suspension became effective at 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13, within the State Responsibility Areas and any Local Responsibility Areas under Cal Fire contract in the following Cal Fire units or contract county:
- Marin: Marin County;
- San Mateo: Santa Cruz serving San Mateo, Santa Cruz counties;
- Santa Clara: Serving Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara and areas west of I-5 in Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties;
- Sonoma-Lake-Napa - serving Sonoma, Lake, Napa and portions of Solano, Yolo, and Colusa counties.
This burn suspension bans all outdoor burning including campfires, warming fires and ceremonial fires.
This order is made under the authority vested by the director of the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection as per section 4423.1 of the Public Resources Code.
This suspension of burning will be reassessed when critical fire conditions decline and or the amount of fire suppression resources committed to the large fires become locally available.
Cal Fire is asking residents to ensure that they are prepared for wildfires including maintaining a minimum of 100 feet of defensible space around every home.
In specific locations, campfires within organized campgrounds or on private property that are otherwise permitted by the landowner may be allowed if the campfire is maintained in a facility designed to hold a campfire and in such a manner as to prevent the fire from spreading to the wildland.
The public is cautioned that they are liable for any fire they lose control over.
For additional information on preparing for and preventing wildfires visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A red flag warning is in effect for most parts of California. The red flag warning is now in effect from 11 p.m. Friday 8 a.m. Sunday.
Conditions including high winds, low relative humidity and dry brush contribute to extreme fire danger.Fire and public safety officials strongly suggest against risky, heat generating behavior during red flag conditions.
Those behaviors include, among other things, mowing, driving in brush, chain saws, BBQ, open fire, flicking cigarettes or anything that generates heat.
Please share this public service message and avoid risking another fire.
CLEARLAKE, Calif., -- The Sulphur Fire is estimated to be at approximately 55% containment and fire personnel continue to make progress in suppressing the fire. Power is in the process of being restored, the roads are being cleared of debris, and emergency personnel.
The mandatory evacuation order for the Sulphur Fire has been lifted allowing for the repopulation of the affected areas. The area will remain under an evacuation advisory. An advisory status means returning residents should stay vigilant, and be prepared to evacuate again on short notice.
Due to ongoing power restoration efforts by PG&E access to all areas west of Mendocino Avenue will be via North Road.
There will be a 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew in effect in areas that are still without power. Anyone caught roaming within that area will be subject to possible arrest. Anyone seeing suspicious activity should report it to authorities immediately.
Drones are prohibited as they may interfere with ongoing aerial fire suppression operations.
Fire personnel request that all residents be alert to fire crews and other emergency staff that will be assessing damage throughout the region. Please use caution around any fire impacted areas and report any hazards or hazardous
conditions.
PG&E is working to return power to those areas that are no longer under mandatory evacuation. Spoiled food should be disposed of appropriately. Additional details will be forthcoming via Nixle.
Cooperating Agencies: Lake County; Lake County Sheriff’s Office; Mendocino County; Lake County Fire Protection District; City of Clearlake; CAL OES; California Highway Patrol; CALTRANS; California Dept. of Corrections and Rehabilitation; American Red Cross; PG&E; United States Forest Service; California National Guard; National Weather Service; California Conservation Corps.