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Lakeport, Calif. -- The LCSO has issued the phase III repopulation notice which included more areas with evacuation lifted. Cal Fire reports that evacuation orders have been listed for all areas.
Phase III: Evacuations lifted in the following areas:
Morgan Valley Road east of Oak Haven road to Reiff Road/Berryessa-Knoxville Road. Including Sky High Ridge Rd, Sloan Ranch Rd, Rocky Creek Rd, Butte Rock Ranch Rd, Staehle Lane and Miantenio Ranch Rd. (Reiff Road will continue to be closed)
Double Eagle Area, including Long Branch Rd, Lance Rd, Mule Skinner Rd, Buckskin Way, Flintlock Place, Cougar Road, Meridian Road, No Guns Rd, Antelope Road, Watertrough Road, Round Ball Road and Moccasin Road.
Safety Message:
If you see electrical wires on the ground, stay clear and contact PG&E immediately.
Trees and poles with deep charring, particularly if still smoking, should be considered hazardous.
Please drive slowly as emergency personnel are in the area which is subject to change based on operational conditions
As you re-enter your property and evaluate damage, be aware that hazardous conditions may exist, particularly if a residence or out-building has burned.
Hazards may include asbestos, heavy metals, byproducts or plastic combustion and various other chemicals.
Various agencies will also be involved with the Rocky Fire recovery effort and may provide additional assistance to property owners. Further details are forthcoming. In the meantime, it is recommended that you bring your questions and coordinate your clean-up efforts with the Lake County Residents Help Line at: 1.800.325.9604
Additional information regarding the Rocky Fire can be obtained by contacting the Public Information Line at (707) 967-4207.
Once a wildfire has burned through an area, many dangers may remain. The following is a list of precautions when returning home, which has been provided by CAL Fire and PG&E.
When driving to your property check for:
Trees, brush and rocks which may be weakened or loosened by fire.
Trees and brush weakened by fire may lose limbs or fall. Rocks loosened by fire may roll and crumble.
If rocks have rolled down a slope expect more to follow.
Debris or damage from fire on roads and driveways.
Debris on the road near your home and in your driveway. Clearing the debris to the edge of your driveway and removing it later will help keep your home safe from fire.
Utility poles weakened by fire.
At your property, check for fire or fire damage:
Hot embers in rain gutters, on the roof and under overhangs.
Hot embers under decks and in crawl spaces.
Hot embers in wood piles, debris piles and lawn.
Ensure well or pump-house is in working order.
If your electrical service has not been interrupted you may continue to use your power for such things as pumping water, etc.
If your services are off, check for burned service equipment and facilities:
Is there damage to the gas meter, gas lines or propane tank? If there is any visible damage, do not attempt to repair or turn on these services.
Call your local propane company or utility.
Look at the electric meter. If there is any visible damage, do not attempt to turn the breaker on.
If there are electrical wires on the ground, stay clear and contact your local utility immediately.
When you have secured safety outside your home, check inside for fire or fire damage.
Embers in the attic, which may have entered through vents.
If electricity is off, before turning it on, make sure all appliances are turned off.
Once you are sure all appliances are turned off, there is no fire damage to your building and the meter does not have any visible damage you may turn on the main circuit breaker.
Check if the phone is working.
Check if security system and alarms are working.
Use flashlights to help inspect your home and surrounding area.
After checking your property, continue to use caution and note outdoor conditions:
Trees and poles with deep charring, particularly if still smoking should be considered hazardous.
Smoldering holes on the ground can be full of hot coals.
White ash is evidence of hot material.
If you find any of these conditions:
Fire and other emergencies – Stay away and report condition to a local fire or law
enforcement official in the area and call 911.
Damaged utility equipment – Report electrical problems and damaged equipment to your local utility.
Gas Leaks – Report electrical problems and damaged equipment to your local utility.
UPPER LAKE, Calif. – A Sacramento man who led authorities on an early Saturday morning pursuit was involved in a vehicle crash that sparked a vegetation fire near Blue Lakes.
Lenard Harvey Jr., 26, sustained moderate to major injuries in the crash and was placed under arrest for suspicion of driving under the influence and felony evading, according to a Saturday morning report from the California Highway Patrol's Clear Lake Area office.
At 12:30 a.m. Saturday the Ukiah CHP requested assistance from the Clear Lake Area CHP for a pursuit heading eastbound on Highway 20 toward Lake County, the CHP reported.
The Ukiah CHP terminated the pursuit upon approaching Lake County and advised the Clear Lake Area CHP that the suspect vehicle – described as a black Honda with dark-tinted windows – had reached speeds of more than 100 miles per hour and crossed over into opposite lanes, according to the report.
Clear Lake CHP officers arrived in the Blue Lakes area and conducted a search based on the descriptions of the vehicle and driver, finding the 2014 Honda parked on Blue Lakes Road, officials said.
The CHP said that when officers attempted to make contact with the driver – identified as Harvey – the vehicle sped off at a high rate of speed. Officers followed the car, beginning a pursuit on eastbound Highway 20.
Harvey's Honda again crossed the double yellow lines into the opposite lanes, and reached speeds of nearly 100 miles per hour, the CHP said.
The CHP said Harvey lost control of the Honda, went off the north side of the highway and hit a dirt embankment. The crash left him partially trapped inside the vehicle.
As officers were attempting to take Harvey into custody, the vehicle caught fire, which subsequently caused a small wildland fire, the CHP said.
CHP officers on scene extricated Harvey from the vehicle and gave him medical aid while Northshore Fire and Cal Fire personnel arrived on scene and contained the fire, according to the report.
Harvey was transported via REACH air ambulance to Vacaville Medical Center for treatment of his injuries, the CHP said.
The CHP said Harvey complained of pain to his back and chest. He was not wearing his seat belt at the time of the wreck.
The incident remains under investigation by CHP Officer Glen Thomas.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Early Saturday the acreage on the Rocky fire had a slight uptick while firefighters achieved another significant gain in containment.
Cal Fire estimated the size of the fire, which began July 29 east of Lower Lake, to be up by 36 acres, to 69,636 acres, with containment rising 12 percent overnight to reach 62 percent.
Resources committed to the incident as Saturday begins include 2,913 firefighters, 187 fire engines, 84 fire crews, 30 water tenders, 16 dozers and 11 helicopters, Cal Fire reported.
A mandatory evacuation order remains in place for the Double Eagle Ranch subdivision east of Clearlake Oaks and Morgan Valley Road at Butte Creek Road near Lower Lake, according to Cal Fire.
Cal Fire said full containment is still expected on Aug. 13.
The skies over much of Lake County were filled with smoke from the fire on Friday night, with Saturday beginning with a smoky haze as well.
The Lake County Air Quality Management District said that the smoke is coming not just from the Rocky fire but from several other major wildland fires burning around Northern California, including the Humboldt Complex, Mad River Complex, Gasquet Complex, River Complex and Route Complex. Winds are blowing the smoke south and out over the ocean.
With the forecast for westerly winds, the county may experience significant levels of smoke from these fires, the district reported.
The air district said areas impacted by smoke from any of the fires are forecast to have “moderate” to “unhealthy” air quality through the weekend.
With the opening of many evacuation areas and Mt. Konocti Park, the district is recommending caution to area residents and visitors. Air quality near and within the burn area may be moderate to unhealthy should winds or activity transport some of the fine particulate matter.
Additionally, if hiking in Mt. Konocti Park, caution is urged, as smoke from the multiple fires may impact the higher elevations on Mt. Konocti while missing the lower elevations, officials said.
The district also recommended being prepared for changing air conditions.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Donations to support efforts battling and surviving the Rocky fire are pouring into the county.
On Wednesday, the American Red Cross received a truckload of items at its evacuation shelter at Kelseyville High School from contributors representing AT&T.
“The disaster bags items were donated by AT&T employees, mostly from the Sacramento area and some from the Lake County area,” relief volunteer Mike Holland said. “They were driven to Kelseyville all the way from Sacramento (Wednesday) morning by AT&T Pioneers Donna Doty Wolf and Darcy Sheehan.”
Holland said he and his family met the women in Lower Lake and together they went on to Kelseyville to make the delivery to what he said were very appreciative American Red Cross members.
“They will make sure the donations reach those people in need and that some of the hygiene products make it to the many firefighters that may need them,” he said.
The disaster bags, packed by the AT&T Pioneers, included toothpaste, toothbrushes, body soap, shampoo, nail clippers, combs, Band-Aids, facial tissues, hand towels, socks, stuffed animals and small games for children and more.
Holland said he also received word from the wife of a firefighter from El Dorado Hill.
“She said she wanted to keep occupied while her husband is here battling the fire,” Holland said. “She went shopping at her local Costco and Safeway and is currently stuffing bags for us.”
Email reporter Denise Rockenstein at
LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Ground and air resources were called in from the Rocky fire to fight a small wildland fire that burned near Lower Lake on Friday evening.
The fire, in the area of Seigler Canyon Road and Highway 29, was dispatched shortly after 5:30 p.m., according to radio reports.
Cal Fire air tankers and helicopters quickly arrived at the scene of the fire, which was burning in grass and brush, under high tension power lines which were said to be arcing, radio reports indicated.
Cal Fire spokesman Dominic Polito said the fire was held to three acres.
Shortly before 7 p.m., a temporary power outage occurred in parts of Lower Lake and Clearlake, according to Pacific Gas and Electric spokeswoman Jacqueline Ratto.
Ratto said about 6,200 customers were impacted by the outage, which was resolved later in the evening.
She said the outage was attributed to fire retardant being dropped on a power transmission tower.
Radio reports indicated that St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake had to run on generator power for a short time because of the outage.
At least one Cal Fire unit was remaining on scene overnight to monitor the area, radio reports stated.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – The Mendocino National Forest is rapidly approaching containment on the final three fires from last weekend’s lightning and resources are starting to be released from the incidents.
The Etsel Fire, burning in the Yuki Wilderness on the Covelo Ranger District, is approximately 32 acres and 100-percent contained, according to forest spokeswoman Tamara Schmidt.
Schmidt said the Boardman fire is approximately 95 acres and 40-percent contained. However, resources have made great progress on the fire.
The Deer fire, burning southeast of Lake Pillsbury, is approximately 100 acres and 80-percent contained, Schmidt said.
She said there continues to be a chance of thunderstorms this weekend. Firefighters will be watching for lightning fires which may result from the unsettled weather pattern.
Forest visitors are asked to be aware of their surroundings and be prepared for changing conditions. This includes reporting visible smoke that could be from a wildfire. To report a fire, please call 911.
The Mendocino National Forest is under fire restrictions. Visitors are asked to follow regulations and be careful with anything with a flame or that can throw a spark in the forest. For more information, please visit www.preventwildfireca.org/OneLessSpark/ .