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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The acreage of the Jerusalem fire doubled overnight as it continued to burn through remote and difficult terrain, while firefighters pushed the nearby Rocky fire closer to full containment.
The Jerusalem fire, which began burning Sunday afternoon in the Jerusalem Valley area northeast of Middletown, had reached 12,000 acres by Tuesday morning, with no containment yet achieved, according to Cal Fire.
Fifty structures remain threatened, with none destroyed or damaged so far, Cal Fire said.
Authorities have implemented some mandatory and advisory evacuations, and an evacuation shelter at Middletown High School remains open. The full list of evacuation orders and advisories is at http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_details_info?incident_id=1193 .
On the Rocky fire, located to the north and burning since July 29, firefighters edged containment up on that 69,636-acre blaze to 88 percent overnight, Cal Fire said.
Approximately 1,344 personnel continue to work in the footprint of the massive Rocky incident, with crews dealing overnight with flare ups and continuing to try to gain access to some parts of the fire located in rugged country, Cal Fire said.
Still committed to the Rocky fire are 45 engines, 36 hand crews, 10 helicopters, six dozers and two helicopters, Cal Fire said Tuesday morning, with numerous resources from the incident having already been deployed to the Jerusalem fire or one of the other wildland fires burning elsewhere in the state.
While the Jerusalem fire saw 6,000 acres of growth since Monday evening, Cal Fire said burning conditions actually slowed overnight due to an increase in relative humidity – which radio reports indicated was in the mid 50-percent range – and cooler temperatures.
At the same time, however, crews have had to deal with the same kinds of erratic winds that fanned the Rocky fire, and which are promoting what Cal Fire said are high intensity runs on the Jerusalem incident, with short range spotting.
Resources committed to the Jerusalem fire on Tuesday morning included 1,1,22 personnel, 32 engines, 32 hand crews, 23 dozers, 18 water tenders and 17 helicopters, Cal Fire said.
Firefighters on the lines of both incidents Tuesday should be aided by slightly cooler temperatures, with the National Weather Service forecasting highs in the mid-80s and milder conditions overall through mid-week thanks to a low pressure system moving through the region. However, north northwest winds of up to 9 miles per hour are predicted.
Cal Fire estimates the Rocky fire will be fully contained on Thursday, and the Jerusalem fire will be fully contained on Aug. 17.
The causes of both fires remain under investigation, authorities said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Firefighters continued their efforts overnight to fully contain both the Rocky and Jerusalem fires.
As of Monday night, the Rocky fire remained at 69,636 acres and 85-percent containment, with the Jerusalem fire at 6,000 acres with no estimated containment, according to Cal Fire.
Cal Fire said it anticipates having the Rocky fire – which began on July 29 – fully contained on Thursday.
Estimated containment on the Jerusalem fire, which began on Sunday afternoon in the Jerusalem Valley area northeast of Middletown, is expected on Aug. 17, Cal Fire said.
Still assigned to the Rocky fire on Monday night were resources including 1,344 personnel, 45 engines, 36 fire crews, 10 water tenders, six dozers and two helicopters, according to Cal Fire.
The agency said firefighters were quickly demobilized from the Rocky fire to the new Jerusalem fire, which is burning south of the Rocky fire perimeter.
The Jerusalem fire's quick growth resulted in mandatory evacuations for the Jerusalem Valley area east of Spruce Grove beginning on Sunday, with advisory evacuations issued on Monday, as Lake County News has reported. The full list of evacuations and advisories is at http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_details_info?incident_id=1193 .
Altogether, the fire is threatening 50 structures, Cal Fire said. An evacuation shelter remains open at Middletown High School.
By Monday night, the Jerusalem fire had nearly as many resources committed to it, with Cal Fire reporting that 1,122 personnel, 83 fire engines, 32 fire crews, 23 dozers, 18 water tenders and 17 helicopters were assigned.
Radio reports indicated that throughout the night new fire crews and resources were continuing to arrive to work on the Jerusalem fire.
Firefighters were reported to be working on structure defense in areas along Morgan Valley Road and in Jericho Valley, according to reports from the scene.
Erratic winds were proving a challenge for firefighters overnight. Cal Fire said the winds were contributing to the increased fire activity and promoting high intensity runs with short range spotting.
Overnight, firefighters were reporting wind speeds of about 10 to 15 miles per hour on ridge tops, with winds coming from the west northwest. Scanner reports early Tuesday morning indicated higher humidity and dropping wind speeds, which later were anticipated to pick up again, with a change in wind direction to north northwest.
While the Rocky incident is nearing full containment, Cal Fire warned that several small flare ups may still be seen within the fire's interior.
That was the case late Monday and early Tuesday, when firefighters received reports of a flare up along Highway 16, based on radio reports.
Firefighters investigating the reports stated over the air that they found a burning log about six miles from the Cal Fire Wilbur Springs fire station on Highway 16.
At one point on Monday evening, radio reports indicated that a search was on for four hunters near the fire areas. The hunters later were safely found.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Work on Habitat for Humanity Lake County’s 19th home, located in Clearlake, is under way.
Joe and Amber O'Keefe and their children are looking forward to taking up residence in the home when it's completed.
The O’Keefe family had not dared to dream that owning a home would be possible in Lake County’s depressed economy, but the desire for a safe, stable, affordable place to raise their three children – Jordan, Judah and Zoey – has always been foremost in their minds.
When the opportunity to apply for Habitat’s Homeownership program arose, they decided to take a shot.
“There are so many in Lake County who cannot afford to buy a home,” Joe O'Keefe said. “Habitat’s program is the chance of a lifetime and I’m super excited about this opportunity for my family.”
“We are blessed and lucky to have this chance,” added Amber O'Keefe. “It’s amazing that such an opportunity exists for families in Lake County.”
Construction on house number 20 is expected to begin soon, and the organization said the community's assistance is needed.
In order to provide homeownership opportunities to low-income county residents, Habitat for Humanity Lake County relies on donations and volunteers.
If you would like to volunteer at the build site and help provide this family and their children with a new home, would like to volunteer in some other capacity or if you are interested in providing lunches for the volunteers, call the Habitat for Humanity office at 707-994-1100 or stop by the office at 16285 A Main St. in Lower Lake.
If you have lived in Lake County for at least one year and are interested in the homeownership program, you are encouraged to contact the office for further information.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Redwood Credit Union is assisting with relief efforts for the recent major fires causing damage in Lake County.
RCU is now accepting contributions to assist the Lake County community with relief efforts for those impacted by the Rocky fire and the Jerusalem fire.
Anyone is welcome to make a donation at any of the credit union’s 16 Bay Area branch locations, or by calling RCU’s Member Service Center at 800-479-7928, option 5, ext. 65491. Details are available at www.redwoodcu.org/firerelief .
Contributions to the fund may be made at any RCU location via cash deposit, direct funds transfer or check payable to Redwood Credit Union.
All contributions will be distributed to nonprofit agencies and first-responders in the Lake County community to assist with Lake County fire relief efforts.
“Our hearts go out to everyone affected by the fires in Lake County,” said Brett Martinez, RCU’s president and chief executive officer. “Accepting contributions for fire relief efforts is our way of offering assistance, and responding to the requests of our Members and others in our community who would like to help.”
To find the nearest RCU branch, visit http://www.redwoodcu.org/locations or call 800-479-7928.
Mendo Lake Credit Union and North Coast Opportunities also are accepting fire relief donations.
Information and links on where to donate online is available on their respective Web sites, www.mlcu.org and www.ncoinc.org/ .
Moonlight is ethereal, enchanting, romantic. For many sky watchers, nothing beats the luminous beauty of a full Moon.
It’s great … except during a meteor shower. When Earth passes through a stream of comet dust, all that romantic moonlight turns into a nuisance, overwhelming the fainter display of shooting stars.
Now for the good news: The 2015 Perseid meteor shower is here, and the Moon will be dark when it peaks.
This week, Earth passes through a stream of debris from Comet Swift-Tuttle, source of the annual Perseid meteor shower. Forecasters say the show could be especially good this year because the Moon is nearly new when the shower peaks on Aug. 12 to 13.
“This year’s Perseid meteor shower peaks on Aug. 12 and 13,” said Bill Cooke of NASA’s Meteoroid Environment Office. “The Moon will be nearly new, setting the stage for a great display.”
The Perseid meteor shower is caused by debris from Comet Swift-Tuttle. Every 133 years the huge comet swings through the inner solar system and ejects a trail of dust and gravel along its orbit.
When Earth passes through the debris, specks of comet-stuff hit the atmosphere at 140,000 miles per hour and disintegrate in flashes of light.
Swift-Tuttle's debris zone is so wide that Earth spends weeks inside it. Indeed, it is not unusual for sky watchers to see a few Perseids streaking across the midnight sky as early as July.
Rates are highest, however, in August when Earth passes through the heart of the debris zone.
Last year, the Perseid meteor shower peaked during the nights around a bright “supermoon.”
Lunar glare reduced the visibility of the Perseids as much as fivefold to as few as 20 per hour. This year however, is different.
Under a clear, dark sky far from city lights, “We expect meteor rates as high as 100 per hour on peak night,” said Cooke.
Meteors from Comet Swift-Tuttle are called Perseids because they seem to fly out of the constellation Perseus.
This arrangement of stars, which represents an ancient hero from Greek mythology, rises in the northeast around 10 p.m. local time. As Perseus rises and the night deepens, meteor rates will increase.
The best time to look starts around midnight. Meteors will be seen until dawn brightens the sky on Thursday morning, Aug. 13, when Perseus is near its highest point in the sky.
For best results, get away from city lights. The darkness of the countryside multiplies the visible meteor rate three- to 10-fold compared to city views. Many families plan camping trips to coincide with the Perseids.
The Milky Way arching over a mountain campground provides the perfect backdrop for a meteor shower.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – On Monday afternoon Cal Fire reported that the size of the Jerusalem fire remains unchanged.
"We're still calling it 5,000 acres," said Cal Fire spokesman Steve Swindle.
About 50 homes are threatened, he said, but so far none have been destroyed as the fire moves in an erratic easterly direction.
The fire is straying north toward the footprint of the Rocky fire and as far as approximately one mile south of Jerusalem Grade.
The fire is "blowing up quite a bit of smoke," resulting in a high volume of phone calls from Hidden Valley Lake, Swindle said. But, he added, "The fire has moved away from them," and "there is no evacuation advisory" for Hidden Valley Lake.
According to Cal Fire, mandatory evacuations remain in place for the Jerusalem Valley area east of Spruce Grove.
Jerusalem Valley Road is closed to all traffic at Spruce Grove Road due to Fire personnel and emergency vehicles working in the area.
Swindle cautioned that having an escape plan in place is the appropriate course of action due to the erratic nature of the wind. "Be prepared; don't sit and wait, have a plan."
Swindle recommended residents visit http://www.readyforwildfire.org/ and view the youtube video “Ready Set Go” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcf8FRAqUww to aid in preparations should conditions change.
An evacuation center is located at the Middletown High School and it can be contacted by telephone at 415-307-4503.
Crews are working aggressively to construct fire line and sustain perimeter control. Expect fire behavior to increase when prime burning conditions are present in the afternoon. Residents are urged to remain vigilant and and adhere to any changes in evacuation and road closures, Cal Fire advised.
Cal Fire has "pulled a lot of assets off Rocky to combat" the Jerusalem fire, Swindle said, which now has approximately 550 personnel on it.
Cooperating agencies on the Jerusalem fire include Cal Fire, Lake County Sheriff, Lake County Fire Resources, California National Guard, CDCR, CHP, USFSand BLM.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Email John Jensen at