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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Due to increased firefighting traffic in Lake County on Highway 20 and Highway 29 because of the Rocky fire, Caltrans has suspended nighttime paving operations on both these highways for the rest of the week.
This weekend the situation will be reevaluated to determine if paving will resume on Sunday evening, Aug. 9, the agency said.
Caltrans said its contractors will continue to monitor pavement conditions and perform brief spot repairs as needed until the paving can resume.
Caltrans thanked the public for its patience as the agency does its part to support the efforts of Cal Fire to contain the Rocky fire, which by Tuesday evening had burned 67,000 acres and destroyed 91 structures.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – During a Sunday public meeting a number of local, state and federal officials were on hand to discuss the Rocky fire, and its impact on the community.
In the video above are featured separate updates with officials who spoke with Lake County News.
They include Supervisor Jeff Smith, Clearlake City Manager Greg Folsom, California Highway Patrol Clear Lake Area Commander Lt. Hector Paredes, State Sen. Mike McGuire, Congressman Mike Thompson, Cal Fire spokesman Scott McLean, Lake County Office of Emergency Services Manager Marisa Chilafoe, Cal OES Regional Administrator Jodi Traversaro, County of Lake Public Information Office Jill Ruzicka and Sheriff Brian Martin.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Planning Commission on Tuesday will discuss a helipad use permit and review a proposed zoning ordinance amendment regarding wireless facilities.
The commission will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
On the agenda is an application from REACH Air Medical Services to relocate its existing landing site at the St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake campus on 18th Avenue to a new location southeast of the hospital's main parking lot.
The new helipad will consist of a 43-foot by 43-foot metal helideck supported by steel columns and drilled piers, lighting and fencing, a ramp and stair access, and underground facilities, according to the staff report.
Relocating the helipad also will increase hospital and staff parking, the report said.
The commission also will review a proposed zoning ordinance amendment to address wireless facility projects.
The staff report to the commission from City Manager Greg Folsom and contract planner Gary Price explains that the city has recently received several applications for cell tower projects but doesn't have any regulations that specifically address these types of applications.
However, city rules have defined such projects as being subject to use permits the planning commission approves, the report said.
The city has come up with draft regulations to address these types of facilities which the report said currently is being circulated.
The commission is being asked to review the draft regulations for a discussion on Aug. 18, when Price will be on hand to answer questions and address comments.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – The Mendocino National Forest said work is continuing to fully contain three lightning-caused fires on forest lands.
A total of 15 fires were sparked from last Thursday through the weekend, according to forest spokeswoman Tamara Schmidt.
Schmidt said the three fires that are still active are all on the Upper Lake Ranger District. The others are either contained, controlled or out.
The three fires still burning are the Etsel, Boardman and Deer, said Schmidt.
The Etsel fire, located in the Yuki Wilderness, is approximately 32 acres and 60-percent contained, according to Schmidt.
Schmidt said the Boardman fire is 72 acres and 30-percent contained.
The Deer fire, burning southeast of Lake Pillsbury, is approximately 100 acres. Schmidt said it's threatening three structures.
Two engine crews and one Type 1 hand crew are currently working on the fire with the help of various air resources, she said.
Forest visitors are asked to be aware of their surroundings and be prepared for changing conditions.
The Mendocino National Forest remains under fire restrictions.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – While firefighters held the Rocky fire to a less-dramatic acreage gain on Monday, the fire jumped Highway 20, leading to a new focus on preventing it from advancing farther north.
The Rocky fire had burned 62,000 acres as of Monday evening – an increase of 2,000 acres over the course of the day – with containment holding at 12 percent, according to Cal Fire.
The main development on the fire on Monday was its afternoon crossing of Highway 20, with spot fires reported on the highway’s north side.
“The fire has crossed Highway 20 in multiple spots,” Cal Fire public information officer Rick Frawley told Lake County News.
Frawley didn't have an acreage estimate of those spot fires available early Monday evening.
“We're pouring significant resources into creating control lines in that area,” Frawley said.
The growing fire is now the largest burning in California.
Resources are continuing to come into Lake County to fight the fire from agencies all over California and the Western United States, according to comments officials made at a Sunday community meeting held to discuss the fire.
There also have been reports that some firefighters are being sent from the East Coast to assist.
The incident command, based at the Lake County Fairgrounds, is overseeing a force of some 3,145 firefighters, 285 engines, 72 fire crews, 57 dozers, 40 water tenders, 19 helicopters and four air tankers.
On Monday, Cal OES Director Mark Ghilarducci, California National Guard Brigadier General Matthew P. Beevers and Natural Resources Agency Undersecretary Janelle Beland visited the Rocky Fire Incident Command center to get an update on the situation.
Cal Fire said no additional structures have been destroyed, with the count remaining at total of 50 destroyed – 24 homes, 26 outbuildings – and three additional structures damaged.
The fire's growth resulted in an increase in the number of structures threatened, which rose by more than 650 to a total of 6,959, according to Frawley.
The mandatory evacuations implemented in recent days remain in effect, according to officials.
After the fire jumped Highway 20, the sheriff's office issued a second mandatory evacuation order late Monday afternoon for the Spring Valley and Double Eagle Ranch communities east of Clearlake Oaks.
Those communities previously had been placed under an evacuation order, with authorities making another sweep through on Monday to attempt to get the last holdouts to leave.
On Monday evening, radio reports indicated engines and other resources were staging in the Double Eagle Ranch subdivision.
Evacuation advisories remain in effect for areas near Lower Lake and on the east side of Highway 53 in Clearlake, north to Highway 20, and Highway 53 west to Sulphur Bank Road along Highway 20 near Clearlake Oaks.
In total, all evacuations impact approximately 13,118 citizens living in more than 5,530 residences. Frawley could not say on Monday evening how many people have actually left their homes due to mandatory evacuation orders.
Frawley said residents near the fire are encouraged to remain vigilant.
The weather conditions continue to be a challenge for firefighters, although a break in the hot temperatures is forecast.
The National Weather Service is predicting cooler temperatures – down into the high 80s – in the fire area over the next few days.
However, the winds in the area have been erratic, and radio reports on Monday night indicated firefighters were concerned that the wind could once again create issues on Tuesday.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif -- The Rocky fire has jumped hwy 20 in multiple areas in the Walker Ridge area according to Cal Fire Lead PIO Scott McLean who is on scene.
According to the Cal Fire media hotline the fire is close to the double eagle between Lance and Walker Ridge roads.
Cal Fire very strongly urges residents still in place in the Spring Valley and Double Eagle areas to evacuate immediately and not put themselves or fire personnel at increased risk.
No more specific information has been confirmed but those areas have been under mandatory evacuation.