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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Firefighters had another successful day on the Jerusalem fire's lines on Saturday, holding the fire to no new growth and pushing containment up once more.
The fire, burning since last Sunday in the Jerusalem Valley northeast of Middletown, remained at 25,146 acres on Saturday evening, with containment ticking slightly upward to 80 percent, based on Cal Fire's latest report.
As fire officials have been able to safely access the fire area, they have continued damage assessments, which led to Cal Fire increasing the number of destroyed homes to nine and outbuildings to 18. The fire has threatened a total of 50 structures.
On Saturday afternoon, improving conditions led Cal Fire and the Lake County Sheriff's Office to announce that mandatory evacuations prompted earlier in the week by the fire had been lifted, as Lake County News has reported.
Officials have urged fire area residents to exercise extreme caution as they return home and begin evaluating the damage, and to be aware that potential hazards may exist.
Cal Fire also reminded the public to be aware of fire crews and emergency vehicles that continue to work in the area.
Approximately 2,451 firefighting personnel remain assigned to the Jerusalem fire, Cal Fire reported, along with 125 engines, 64 hand crews, 22 water tenders, 21 dozers and 11 helicopters.
Altogether, some 74 law enforcement and fire agencies from across the state are participating in the effort to control the Jerusalem fire, Cal Fire said.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, according to Cal Fire spokesman Scott McLean.
He said Cal Fire expects the incident to be fully contained on Friday, Aug. 21.
Fire officials also reported earlier on Saturday that smoke in the county's skies was not a result of either the Jerusalem fire or the now-contained Rocky fire, but wildland fires farther north: www.bit.ly/1DTzHmq .
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Cal Fire reported Saturday that smoke that is shrouding the skies in both Lake and Napa counties isn't coming from nearby wildland fires, but from incidents farther north.
In a report from Cal Fire spokesman Scott McLean, the agency said the smoky conditions are not associated either with the Rocky fire east of Lower Lake or the Jerusalem fire northeast of Middletown.
The Rocky fire was fully contained at 69,438 acres on Friday; the Jerusalem fire is 78-percent contained at 25,146 acres, Cal Fire reported.
Rather, Cal Fire said the smoke is drifting in from fires in the state's far northern region.
The Lake County Air Quality Management District also attributed smoke to fires including the lightning-caused Humboldt Complex, which has burned nearly 4,900 acres in Humboldt County and is 80-percent contained, according to Cal Fire.
Based on fire maps and satellite images, other fires sending smoke south include the following, with size estimates from Cal Fire: Mad River Complex in Trinity County, 22,415 acres and 55-percent contained; the Route Complex in Humboldt and Trinity counties, 26,960 acres, 28-percent contained; the Fork Complex in Trinity County, 32,009 acres, 39-percent contained; the South Complex in Trinity County, 17,653 acres, 20-percent contained; and the River Complex, 35,794 acres, 18-percent contained.
Lake County Air Quality Management District officials said smoke from wildland fires in Oregon and Washington also are contributing to the smoky conditions.
With the forecast for north winds, the district said the county may experience more smoke from these northern fires.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – With the Jerusalem fire making a small overnight gain in acreage and firefighters pushing up the containment, Cal Fire announced on Saturday afternoon that it was lifting mandatory evacuations in the fire area.
Cal Fire said Saturday that the Jerusalem fire, burning since Aug. 9 in the Jerusalem Valley area northeast of Middletown, had burned approximately 25,146 acres overnight – growing by just 92 acres – with containment at 78 percent.
It has threatened 50 structures, with damage estimates to date including four destroyed homes and 13 outbuildings, according to Cal Fire.
To the north, the Rocky fire was fully contained on Friday at 69,438 acres, as Lake County News has reported.
But with firefighters continuing to gain on the Jerusalem fire, officials reported that they were allowing residents to return home after many of them were displaced for much of the past week.
Beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday, Cal Fire and the Lake County Sheriff's Office said evacuations and road closures were lifted including:
– Jerusalem Valley Road starting at Spruce Grove Road (east);
– Morgan Valley Road from Reiff Road southeast to Napa County line;
– Reiff Road from Morgan Valley east to Yolo County line;
– Berryessa Knoxville Road from Lake Berryessa north ;
– Road 40 at Highway 16 to the west.
“It is our responsibility to make the area safe,” officials said in the joint repopulation statement.
County roads and utility companies are working to make the area safe as well, and Cal Fire said it is doing doing everything it can to accommodate civilians and assist them back into their homes as soon possible.
Residents returning to their homes are told to stay clear of any electrical wires they see on the ground and to call Pacific Gas and Electric Co. immediately. Trees and poles with deep charring, particularly if still smoking, should be considered hazardous.
Officials urge people to drive slowly when returning to the evacuated areas as emergency personnel are in the area.
When reentering property and evaluating damage, be aware that hazardous conditions may exist, particularly if a residence or out-building has burned, official said. Hazards may include asbestos, heavy metals, byproducts or plastic combustion and various other chemicals.
Various agencies will also be involved with the Jerusalem Fire recovery effort and may provide additional assistance to property owners. Further details are forthcoming, officials said.
Residents with destroyed or damaged structures from the fires are asked to please call the Fire Help Line at 800-325-9604 and give information for the completion of a damage assessment.
The Fire Help Line is staffed 24/7 thanks to a partnership with the Volunteer Center of Sonoma County, and also provides referrals for services and information about current fire status.
A virtual recovery assistance center is available online at www.LakeCountyLAC.com .
If you do not have Internet access, you may access the Web site from any computer at the Lake County Libraries for free.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LOWER LAKE, Calif. – After an initial delay, the annual Quilt and Fiber Art Exhibition at Lower Lake Historic Schoolhouse Museum will open on Saturday afternoon.
The exhibition opens with an artists' reception from noon to 2 p.m. in the Weaver Auditorium.
The show, which was postponed a week as result of the Rocky fire, will run through Sept. 5.
“I'm excited to see the different techniques the artists themselves will be demonstrating during the opening reception,” said Tony Pierucci, the museum's curator.
This year's exhibition has been expanded to include a number of fiber artists as well as Alana Tanner, whose works are designed in felt.
“This year, we've added several new artists and expanded the scope of the show and guests will see a wider variety of artwork, from felting to basket making, and quilting and weaving,” Pierucci said, recognizing the use of natural fibers used by the artists.
“It's amazing. You'll see traditional quilting and on the other side of the spectrum, you'll see sculptural form felting. All of it, from one end to the other, they use similar materials and in some cases similar techniques,” Pierucci said.
To create her pieces, 40-year basket maker Sherry Harris said she uses local plant material, such as yucca leaves, dracaena leaves and mulberry branches.
“I like to use locally found plant materials because the materials are beautiful and children are fascinated by the materials they find. Most people who take my class” – at The Art House Gallery in Clearlake – “are interested in nature,” she said.
Harris and her students, as well as other fiber artists from throughout Lake County, will be participating in this year's exhibition.
Sheila O'Hara and her weaving students also will be displaying their works.
Among the works being shown by O'Hara is a piece resurrected from 2000, entitled, “Brainstorm.”
The three-dimensional exhibit is a tribute to her mother, who died of a brain tumor four years prior. The pieces features clouds illustrated in MRI film and rain to represent the tears she cried for her mother.
“The idea is that as the colors lighten, so does the sorrow,” O'Hara said.
The exhibition also will feature antique quilts, an 1807 spinning wheel and textiles from Peru and Guatemala including the works of Rachel Wolynicc, who learned the art of backstrap weaving living in the latter.
The Lower Lake Historic Schoolhouse Museum is located at 16435 Main St.
Regular hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday.
Email reporter Denise Rockenstein at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Rocky Fire Relief Fund, created last week by North Coast Opportunities, Mendo Lake Credit Union and the Lake County Department of Social Services, has generated incredible community response, officials reported.
Formally retitled the “Rocky-Jerusalem Fire Relief Fund,” it has raised more than $15,000 in just one week.
With Mendo Lake Credit Union matching $5,000, the total raised is more than $20,000.
“Our goal is to reach $50,000, and with such generous community support we are confident we can get there,” said North Coast Opportunities Chief Financial Officer Carolyn Welch. “No donation is too small, and we are grateful to everyone who has given any amount.”
With the Rocky fire only just fully contained on Friday and the Jerusalem fire getting closer to full containment, it's still too early to assess the full extent of damages.
However, those working on the fund said they are committed to moving forward rapidly to ensure that people can apply for and receive assistance quickly.
Anyone wishing to donate to the fire relief fund can go in person to any Mendo Lake Credit Union branch, or send a check made out to North Coast Opportunities to Mendo Lake Credit Union with “Rocky Fire” in the notes field.
There is also a PayPal account set up to accept online donations, which can be found on the front pages of both the North Coast Opportunities and Mendo Lake Credit Union Web sites.
The next important step is forming the management committee to manage and disburse funds.
This seven-person committee will comprise two representatives from North Coast Opportunities – including Welch – along with one each from Mendo Lake Credit Union and Lake County Department of Social Services, and three Lake County representatives from other organizations and the general community.
To fill out the three community seats, interested individuals are asked to fill out a short application by Monday, Aug. 24. Selected committee members will be informed that same week.
This application can be downloaded below, found on North Coast Opportunities’ Web site, www.ncoinc.org , or can be picked up from any Mendo Lake Credit Union branch.
Those affected by the fire can apply for assistance starting on Wednesday, Aug. 26, and the committee will determine how to distribute the funds once the fire has been fully contained and all impacts can be assessed.
More details will be available about how to apply for the fund on both North Coast Opportunities and Mendo Lake Credit Union’s Web sites and Facebook accounts.
For more information on how to donate, how to apply for funds, or how to apply to serve on the management committee, contact North Coast Opportunities Executive Assistant Elizabeth Archer at
NORTH COAST, Calif. – College of the Redwoods and the Mendocino Lake Community College District have finalized an agreement to have the Mendocino Lake Community College District provide educational and student support services at the Mendocino Coast campus through June 30, 2017.
College of the Redwoods and the Mendocino Lake Community College District have been working on this project for two years.
The coast campus has been under the oversight of Mendocino College for the last two semesters.
“I believe this memorandum of understanding is in the best interest of the students in Mendocino County,” said College of the Redwoods Interim President Keith Snow-Flamer. “Mendocino College, by virtue of its proximity to the Ft. Bragg campus, can better serve students. I want to thank Arturo Reyes and his administrative team for working with us to finalize this MOU.”
The memorandum of understanding, or MOU, also states that Mendocino College shall provide for instructional and student services in the Service Area for fiscal years 2015-16 and 2016-17.
“Mendocino Coast students will be well served by our caring, competent and dedicated faculty and staff. We look forward to increasing our presence on the Coast and providing excellent instruction and exceptional educational opportunities to the entire region,” said Mendocino College Superintendent/President Arturo Reyes.
During the term of this MOU, the Mendocino Lake Community College District will provide exclusive instructional and student services in the service area.
Programs and services may include but are not limited to: for-credit instruction, non-credit instruction, not-for-credit instruction, dual enrollment programs, distance education, adult education, high school equivalency and other testing services.
In addition, College of the Redwoods will transfer the Fine Woodworking Program to Mendocino College after necessary regulatory approvals are completed.
The two colleges also are working together to initiate a transfer of territory process that will, if approved, permanently transfer the College of the Redwoods’ Mendocino Coast service area to Mendocino College.
“We’re now going to turn our attention to working collaboratively in the process of permanently transferring the service area to Mendocino College in 2017,” Interim President Snow-Flamer said.