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SOUTH LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Firefighters continue to close in on the goal of fully containing the Valley fire, bringing containment up again on Monday as damage assessment teams reported a significant increase in the number of structures the incident has destroyed.
The fire showed no growth in acreage by day's end, remaining at the 75,781-acre size Cal Fire reported early in the day, while containment grew to 75 percent.
While the containment number was good news, the latest tally of destroyed homes and structures was not.
The latest damage assessment tally put the number of destroyed structures at 1,910, which Cal Fire said included 1,238 single-family homes, 23 multi-family homes, 64 commercial structures, and 585 other structures such as sheds and smaller outbuildings.
Cal Fire said its damage Inspection teams have nearly completed surveys of the fire area to determine how many structures have been destroyed, and have begun a second survey to confirm the teams' initial findings.
The numbers to date make the Valley fire the third most damaging in California's history, Cal Fire said.
Cal Fire said firefighters on Monday continued to mop up and secure more of the fire's perimeter, with radio reports indicating that damaged trees and snags also are creating ongoing issues.
As the fire nears full containment, the number of personnel and resources assigned to the incident has begun to to be reduced.
Personnel totaled 3,887 on Monday evening, along with 372 engines, 93 hand crews, 67 water tenders, 36 dozers and 15 helicopters.
More evacuees were allowed to return home on Monday to the areas of north Loch Lomond, Seigler Springs and Bonanza Springs.
That leaves only the Cobb area under mandatory evacuation, with 3,103 structures in that area reported to still be under threat from the incident.
Authorities have not yet indicated when Cobb residents can go home.
At a Monday afternoon press briefing, Supervisor Rob Brown said there was no timeline being given for when Cobb could repopulate. He said that decision hinges on Cal Fire and utility companies finishing repairs and ensuring the the area is safe.
In related news, officials said that the Napa County Fairgrounds in Calistoga, which has been an evacuation center for displaced residents, is set to close on Thursday.
Fire area residents still needing shelter will be transitioned from the Calistoga center to the shelters at Grace Church, 6716 Live Oak Drive in Kelseyville; Highlands Senior Center, 3245 Bowers Ave. in Clearlake, where medical services are available; Twin Pine Casino, 22223 Highway 29 in Middletown; or Hidden Valley Lake Golf Course, 19234 Hartmann Road, Hidden Valley Lake.
Road closures remaining in effect include Big Canyon Road, south of Perini Cut-off; Highway 175 south of Rockys Road; Harrington Flat Road at Sulphur Creek Road; Bottle Rock Road at Sulphur Creek Road; and Big Canyon Road at Knowles Lane, Cal Fire said.
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Hidden Valley Lake, Calif -- Monday Valley Fire press conference held at Hidden Valley Lake.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Congressman Mike Thompson on Monday sent a letter to the White House urging it to approve Individual Assistance for victims of the Valley fire.
Earlier on Monday, the state of California submitted its request to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for Individual Assistance.
The FEMA disaster funds for Individual Assistance can be used to help individuals rebuild, repair and replace housing and other personal property.
“The Valley fire is one of the worst in our state’s history. It has forced thousands of people to evacuate their communities, destroyed more than a thousand homes, and left many families with nothing,” said Thompson. “I urge the White House to quickly act so that we can begin working to help folks get back on their feet. I stand ready to help expedite and support any requests. The faster these funds are approved, the faster families can begin the recovery process.”
The state and local governments have conducted damage assessments and determined that the extent of the damage is beyond its capacity to repair without federal assistance.
Because of this determination the state has formally requested Individual Assistance, a request that must be approved by President Barack Obama.
The Valley fire, which started on Sept. 12 has burned nearly 76,000 acres, with containment n Monday morning at 70 percent.
Thompson's office said 1,238 homes have been destroyed, along with 68 commercial properties and 642 outbuildings. Thousands of people have been displaced.
FEMA previously approved the state of California’s request for a Fire Management Assistance Grant declaration for the Valley fire.
The Fire Management Assistance Grant Program (FMAGP) allows for the “mitigation, management, and control” of fires burning on publicly or privately owned forest or grasslands which threaten such destruction as would constitute a major disaster.
The FEMA grant will cover 75 percent of the costs for various fire suppression, safety and recovery needs. Eligible costs include:
· Costs for equipment and supplies;
· Costs for emergency work such as evacuations and sheltering, police barricading and traffic control, arson investigation);
· Costs for state emergency operations center;
· Costs for the pre-positioning of federal, out-of-state, and international resources for up to 21 days;
· Cost of personal comfort and safety items for firefighter health and safety;
· Costs for field camps and meals;
· Costs for mobilization and demobilization costs;
· Costs for the temporary repair of damage cause by firefighting activities;
· Costs for the mitigation, management and control of declared fires burning on co-mingled federal land, when such costs are not reimbursable by another federal agency.
Thompson represents California’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – In letters to President Barack Obama, California Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. on Monday requested presidential major disaster declarations for the state following the Valley and Butte fires, which have scorched more than 145,000 acres, taken lives and destroyed thousands of homes and structures.
A presidential major disaster declaration triggers the release of federal funds to support fire victims and supplement ongoing state and local disaster recovery efforts.
The Butte fire has burned nearly 71,000 acres and is already considered the 12th most destructive wildfire in California history.
The state has already verified the destruction of 475 homes and 343 nonresidential properties. More than 12,000 residents were ordered to evacuate and nearly 100 survivors remain in three shelters.
The Butte fire has taken two lives and several residents are missing. Since the fire is still burning and given the remoteness of the area, the number of fatalities could grow.
The Valley fire has burned nearly 76,000 acres and is already considered the fourth most destructive wildfire in California history.
The state has already verified the destruction of 1,238 homes. More than 19,300 residents were ordered to evacuate and several hundred survivors remain in eight shelters.
The fire has taken three lives and seriously injured four firefighters. Several residents remain missing and emergency responders anticipate the number of fatalities could grow.
The state of California, local governments, community-based organizations and volunteers have taken extraordinary steps to respond to the Valley and Butte fires.
Gov. Brown declared a state of emergency as a result of the Butte fire on Sept. 11 and on Sept. 13 for the Valley fire.
Collectively, approximately 9,500 firefighters were deployed to fight the fires, including members of the California National Guard.
In addition, more than 100 law enforcement agencies and more than a dozen emergency managers from neighboring counties have been deployed to assist with the response.
The California Department of Social Services is assisting with shelter operations and coordinating with local counties to identify long-term solutions for displaced residents.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – The Calistoga Fairgrounds temporary shelter for Valley fire evacuees is scheduled to close Thursday morning, officials said.
For those needing additional services, shelters are open at the following Lake County locations:
· Grace Church, 6716 Live Oak Dr., Kelseyville;
· Highlands Senior Center, 3245 Bowers Ave., Clearlake;
· Twin Pine Casino, 22223 Highway 29, Middletown;
· Hidden Valley Lake Golf Course, 19234 Hartmann Road, Hidden Valley Lake.
Lake County officials have opened a Local Assistance Center, located at the Middletown Senior Center, 21256 Washington St., to help residents access resources. For more information, visit www.lakecountylac.com or call 1-800-325-9604.
As of Monday morning, Cal Fire said the Valley fire – which broke out on the afternoon of Sept. 12 – had burned approximately 75,781 acres and was 70-percent contained.
For those seeking additional services, contact the American Red Cross at 855-224-2490.
The Calistoga shelter is inundated with generous donations from the community and cannot accept any more drop-off items at this time.
For those who want to donate to Valley fire evacuees as they transition back to Lake County here are the following locations:
· Church of Christ, 3760 Main St., Kelseyville;
· Seventh Day Adventist Church, 1111 Park Way, Lakeport;
· United Methodist Church, 745 N. Brush St., Lakeport;
· United Methodist Church, 74521 Pearl Ave., Clearlake.
For larger donations, please call 707-263-3511, Extension 4611, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., seven days a week.
For financial donations, please donate at www.ncoinc.org/give .
SOUTH LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – As more south county residents made their way home on Sunday, firefighters on the front lines of the Valley fire achieved a significant increase in containment on the weeklong incident.
Cal Fire said Sunday night that the fire had burned 75,711 acres with containment at 69 percent. That was an increase of only 611 acres while, at the same time, a 16-percent jump in containment.
Residents of Hidden Valley Lake, Jerusalem Grade, Grange and Butts Canyon roads returned home starting on Sunday afternoon.
With those mandatory evacuations lifted, the number of threatened structures dropped by nearly 4,000 to a total of 3,503, Cal Fire said.
With Cal Fire's damage assessments continuing, the number of burned structures inspection teams have recorded rose to 1,050. Those numbers were not broken out into residences and other types of buildings.
In addition to building containment lines, Cal Fire said firefighters on Sunday were repairing changes to the landscape that have resulted from the firefighting efforts.
The red areas on the fire perimeter in the map above show uncontrolled fire edge, Cal Fire said.
Radio reports during the day indicated firefighters were working on a lot of smoldering stump holes and hazard trees in various parts of the fire area.
Anthony Brown, a Cal Fire public information officer stationed at the incident command post at the Lake County Fairgrounds, told Lake County News that firefighters had been dealing with hot spots in the fire area south of Butts Canyon Road and west of Hoberg's on Cobb.
Shortly before 11:30 p.m., a fire that was reported near A Street south of Lower Lake was found to be a hot spot within the burn and was mopped up, according to scanner reports.
On Monday, authorities plan to lift the mandatory evacuation order for the communities of north Loch Lomond, Seigler Springs and Bonanza Springs at 5 p.m.
Brown and other Cal Fire personnel at the command post said they've worked to explain to community members that the delays in letting them go home stemmed from the need to make sure the fire has been fully mitigated, and that hazards – including downed power lines and snags – are addressed.
Once it's explained, Brown said people tend to understand.
He and another colleague at the command post said they encountered many happy Hidden Valley Lake residents on their way home on Sunday, with some of those former evacuees coming back to thank them for their efforts to put out the fire.
At day's end, personnel assigned to the incident totaled 4,289, accompanied by 442 engines, 94 hand crews, 75 water tenders, 55 dozers, 22 helicopters and two air tankers, Cal Fire said.
The firefighting force is so large that officials have had to find additional places for resources to stage, as the fairgrounds is at capacity.
Email Elizabeth Larson at