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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Several acres were reported burned in a late Monday night fire in Clearlake that occurred near the location of a fire that took place last week.
Just before 11:30 p.m. firefighters responded to the area of Sulphur Bank Road and North Drive in the Clearlake Park area, where callers reported seeing flames and smoke on the hillside.
Firefighters from Lake County Fire Protection District and Cal Fire who arrived on scene a short time later said the fire was burning on top of a ridge, with no structures threatened.
It also was in the area of a fire that had been reported on Friday evening at Sulphur Bank Road and North Drive, as Lake county News has reported.
Radio reports indicated the fire burned between five and 10 acres, with one of its flanks eventually moving into the area of the Friday fire.
A strike team from the nearby Jerusalem fire responded to work on the incident, according to radio reports.
Additional information will be published as it becomes available.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Firefighters increased containment on the Jerusalem fire again on Monday, reaching 90 percent.
Officials said the adjusted size of the fire – which began Aug. 9 northeast of Middletown – is 25,118 acres.
The 90-percent mark was reached by Monday morning, and held throughout the day, according to Cal Fire.
A report from Cal Fire spokesman Scott McLean said the number of destroyed structures remains at six residences and 21 outbuildings.
McLean reported that Cal Fire has continued to estimate full containment will occur by Friday.
Total personnel assigned on Monday included approximately 2,006 personnel, 121 engines, 64 hand crews, 21 dozers, 19 water tenders and 11 helicopters, Cal Fire said.
Cal Fire extended its thanks to the 74 cooperating agencies assisting with the incident as well as the communities impacted by the Jerusalem and nearby Rocky fire – which was contained on Friday – for the continued support throughout the firefighting effort.
Community members are urged to continue to be aware that firefighters are still working in the fire area to extinguish all hot spots and monitor the area inside the perimeter.
Due to the hot, dry conditions, the community also is urged to use extreme caution to avoid new wildland fire incidents.
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – A special back-to-school open house will be held at the Mendocino College Lake Center in Lakeport on Wednesday, Aug. 19.
The event takes place from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the campus, located at 2565 Parallel Drive.
The college's fall semester begins on Monday, Aug. 24.
Join the Lake County Friends of Mendocino College and the Kiwanis Club of Lakeport as they welcome students, faculty and staff to the fall semester at the Lake Center.
The Kiwanis will prepare and help serve the free hot dog barbecue, along with members of the Governing Council of the Lake County Friends.
Those who attend also can meet new and returning students and faculty, and tour the campus.
There also is still time to register for classes; a class schedule and online registration can be found at www.mendocino.edu .
For more information about the open house, contact the Mendocino College Lake Center at 707-263-4944.
Fire Situation Report gives statewide overview of incidents; Jerusalem fire nearing full containment
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Hot temperatures and dry conditions continue to lead to an increase in wildland fires around the state, according to Cal Fire.
In the Monday Fire Situation Report, Cal Fire spokesman Daniel Berlant said there has been a significant increase in fire activity in the state, with the agency responding to more than 200 new incidents last week.
On Monday more than 13,000 firefighters were battling 19 active wildland fires around California, Berlant said.
“Our goal is to contain 95-percent of all of our wildfires to 10 acres or less,” he said, noting Cal Fire is way over that percentage.
Berlant also reviewed the northern lightning complexes – including the Humboldt lightning complex, the South, the Mad River, the Route and others – that he said are responsible for the smoke across the state's northern and central portions,which is causing unhealthy air quality conditions for residents in those areas.
The Lake County Air Quality Management District also reported on Monday that air quality in the county is forecast to be in the unhealthy range through Tuesday due to the amount of smoke in the air basin from the northern fires.
Berlant also reported on the Jerusalem fire, burning since Aug. 9 in Lake County. By mid-day Monday, that fire was reported to be 25,118 acres and 90-percent contained.
He said crews remain at work on the Jerusalem fire, and are mopping up, just as they are on the Rocky fire area to the north. The Rocky fire was fully contained on Friday at 69,438 acres.
Berlant said the thank you signs and cards the community has created for firefighters really help with morale after weeks of hard work on the fire lines.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Wildland fires in far Northern California continue to be the source of smoke over Lake County that has contributed to a forecast of air quality in the “unhealthy” range.
The Lake County Quality Management District reported that air quality conditions on Monday were in the “unhealthy” range, with those conditions forecast to continue through Tuesday afternoon, when some clearing may occur.
The forecast through Tuesday afternoon is for “unhealthy” air quality, with some clearing possible.
The Lake County Quality Management District said the smoke is not from the Rocky fire – contained last Friday at 69,438 acres – or the Jerusalem fire, which on Monday morning was 90-percent contained at 25,118 acres.
Smoke production on both of those incidents has been greatly reduced, officials said.
Instead major wildland fires burning farther north are the source of the major smoke intrusion into Lake County's air basin, according to the district.
Those fires include the Humboldt Complex, 4,883 acres, 95-percent contained; the Route Complex, 28,861 acres, 30-percent contained; the South Complex, 20,978 acres, 35-percent contained; the Gasquet Complex, 4,049 acres, 26-percent contained; the River Complex, 37,165 acres, 18-percent contained; and other Northern California, Oregon, and Washington fires.
The smoke moved into Lake County starting on Saturday, the current weather pattern will keep the smoke in the Lake County Air Basin until conditions change.
All areas of Lake County are likely to be significantly impacted, the district said. Conditions can change quickly, and localized areas may experience intermittent particulate levels in the “very unhealthy” to “hazardous” ranges.
The “unhealthy” air quality forecast results from higher levels of fine particulates from the northwest fires and the possibility of increased ground-level ozone.
Ozone is generated when combustion products in the smoke combine with the high temperatures, sunlight, and humidity. Other chemical reactions reduce visibility by forming secondary particulates.
The district said 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.
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.
Dust masks are not protective against fine particulate, which is the pollutant most detrimental to health caused by wildfire smoke. Such masks are only useful in filtering out the ash and larger particles that are encountered in burn areas.
Air purifying respirators, such as N-95 filtering face pieces, may be effective in reducing harmful particulate matter, but also increase the work of breathing, can lead to physiologic stress, and are not recommended as a general protective measure.
With the potential for significant smoke from the regional fires, individuals planning to enjoy the outdoors should consider avoiding certain higher elevation areas that may be more heavily impacted, such as Mt. Konocti park, Boggs Forest, and the Mendocino National Forest.
With air quality in the “unhealthy” range, people are recommended to limit prolonged or heavy exertion and limit time spent outdoors.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Jerusalem fire moved closer to full containment on Sunday, according to fire officials.
Cal Fire said Sunday night that containment of the fire, which began Aug. 9 in the Jerusalem Valley northeast of Middletown, had reached 85 percent.
The fire's total size on Sunday evening was reported at 25,156 acres, a growth of approximately 10 acres since Saturday night, based on Cal Fire's reports.
Cal Fire said it has completed its damage assessment on the incident, and concluded that a total of six residences and 21 outbuildings have been destroyed.
Three structures that previously were recorded as residences were confirmed to be hunting cabins, and so have now been counted under other minor structures such as outbuildings, the agency said.
All evacuation orders were lifted on Saturday, with Cal Fire reporting that no structures remain threatened.
Cal Fire said approximately 2,194 firefighters remained assigned to the incident on Sunday night, along with 121 engines, 64 hand crews, 21 dozers, 19 water tenders and 11 helicopters.
No injuries have been reported among the firefighters from dozens of agencies around the state, Cal Fire said.
Fire crews are continuing the effort to fully contain the incident while extinguishing all spots and monitoring the area inside the perimeter, according to Cal Fire.
Cal Fire asked the public to maintain a sense of awareness as firefighters are still working near the roadways.
The estimated date for full containment remains Friday, Aug. 21, according to Cal Fire's Sunday report.
Email Elizabeth Larson at