How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
News
THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Firefighters are on the scene of two new fires in the Upper Lake area.
The Hunter Fire is burning near Upper Lake, as is a second fire in the North Federal Direct Protection Area, according to Cal Fire spokesperson Suzie Blankenship.
Cal Fire said the Hunter Fire was located off Bachelor Valley Road, northwest of Upper Lake.
First reported early Saturday between 12 a.m. and 5 a.m., the Hunter Fire was between five and seven acres by 10:30 a.m., and had reached 10 acres and 50-percent containment by noon, Blankenship said.
Blankenship said it was burning in heavy timber, with a slow to moderate rate of spread.
Resources on scene included 10 engines from Cal Fire, Northshore Fire and other local government agencies, Blankenship said.
Radio traffic also indicated a bulldozer had arrived at the fire.
The second fire was in the North Federal Direct Protection Area, where a Cal Fire helitack was working the fire, said Blankenship.
She said that fire was burning in heavy timber. It was three acres and holding at 10:30 a.m.
Blankenship said the Direct Protection Area is in the Mendocino National Forest, but Cal Fire has an agreement with the forest to protect that area.
Reports from the scene indicated Mendocino National Forest firefighting resources were on the way to the Direct Protection Area at about 10:40 a.m.
Mendocino National Forest spokesperson Tamara Schmidt said Saturday morning that the fires were not on the forest.
Lake County residents had reported seeing lightning strikes near Upper Lake late Friday night, but Blankenship could not say if the two fires were lightning caused.
Daniel Berlant, another Cal Fire spokesman with the agency’s headquarters, reported earlier Saturday morning that more than 900 lightning strikes had occurred across Northern California on Friday night, resulting in many new fires. As a result Cal Fire was on high alert.
Schmidt said there were lightning strikes on the Mendocino National Forest Friday night, and forest officials were planning a reconnaissance flight later Saturday.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – Nearly a week after the Wye Fire began burning along two areas of Highway 20, firefighters fully contained the incident.
Cal Fire reported Saturday morning that the Wye Fire – burning since last Saturday afternoon – had reached 100 percent containment.
The incident includes two different fires east of Clearlake Oaks – the Wye, at Highway 20 and Highway 53, and the Walker, at Walker Ridge Road, in Lake and Colusa counties.
Cal Fire Incident Management Team 4, which has been based at the Lake County Fairgrounds, is managing the two fires as one.
Altogether the Wye Fire burned 7,934 acres, with firefighters stopping the expansion of acreage about midweek, when personnel on scene totaled more than 1,200.
A total of three structures were burned and two were damaged during the week, with Cal Fire still investigating the fire's cause. Three injuries also were reported to firefighters.
Evacuations had been in effect early in the week in the Spring Valley and Wilbur Hot Springs area, and Highway 20 had been closed through Monday evening, as Lake County News has reported.
Crews were continuing to be demobilized on Saturday. Cal Fire said 138 personnel remain on scene, along with 10 engines, four fire crews, one helicopter, two bulldozers and three water tenders.
Cal Fire reported that crews would continue to patrol and work the area after full containment was reached.
Highway 20 east of Clearlake Oaks is still under a strictly enforced 45 miles per hour speed limit due to firefighters and fire equipment continuing to work in the area. Hunting also has been restricted 10 miles north and south of Highway 20, between Highway 53 and Highway 16.
Agencies cooperating with Cal Fire included the Lake and Colusa County Sheriff's offices, California Highway Patrol, Caltrans, Pacific Gas & Electric, Red Cross, Bureau of Land Management, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and dozens of fire agencies from around the state. The Mendocino National Forest said its firefighters also had assisted on the fire.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A meeting for residents in the Spring Valley, New Long Valley, and Old Long Valley areas who were impacted by recent wildfires will be held on Monday, Aug. 20.
The meeting will take place from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Moose Lodge, located at 15900 E. Highway 20 in Clearlake Oaks.
District 3 Supervisor Denise Rushing will lead the meeting, with participation from state and local agencies including first responders and those that provided support and assistance.
For more information call 707-263-2368.
LOWER LAKE, Calif. – The service of a search warrant on Thursday by the Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force, California Department of Fish and Game, California Highway Patrol and the Lake County Sheriff’s SWAT Team has resulted in one arrest, the seizure of marijuana and dogs, and the recovery of a stolen vehicle.
Sgt. Steve Brooks said 32-year-old Matthew Ritchie Vines of Lower Lake was arrested during the operation.
On Thursday at approximately 7:15 a.m. narcotics detectives assisted the California Department of Fish and Game with the service of a search warrant for Vines’ person and home, Brooks said. Also assisting Fish and Game was Lake County Code Enforcement and Lake County Animal Control.
When officers arrived, Vines and a female adult were detained without incident, Brooks said.
During the search, officers located 180 marijuana plants that Vines admitted were his. Vines said he was a member of a marijuana cooperative, according to Brooks.
Fish and Game Officers investigating the case determined that Vines had built a large dam which blocked a seasonal creek. Brooks said the investigation revealed that Vines was diverting water from the creek to water his marijuana plants.
Numerous firearms were located in several different locations on the property along with a vehicle which had been reported stolen out of Texas, Brooks said. Vines had told officers that he and his female companion had recently moved from Texas to Lake County.
Also located on the property were 13 adult dogs and several puppies. Brooks said the dogs did not have an adequate supply of water or food and appeared to be suffering from malnutrition. Lake County Animal Control Officers seized the animals and sought medical attention for them, with one of the animals appearing to have a facial injury.
Vines was arrested for cultivation of marijuana, vehicle theft, possession of a stolen vehicle and water diversion. Brooks said he was transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and Booked.
His bail was set at $15,000. Jail records indicated he later posted the required percentage of bail and was released.
The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force can be reached through its anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A special enforcement sweep conducted in Clearlake on Monday netted five arrests.
Clearlake Police Det. Ryan Peterson said officers from the Lake County Gang Task Force conducted the sweep in the city of Clearlake.
The Lake County Gang Task Force sweep agencies involved included the Clearlake Police Department, Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Lake County Probation and California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation State Parole, Peterson said.
During the operation Clearlake residents James Jordan, 28; Forrest Ranous, 33; Shy Savok, 21; David Row, 29; and Shavon Vestal, 31, were arrested for numerous different violations and booked into the Lake County Jail, according to Peterson.
During the enforcement sweep, numerous other CDCR Parole and Lake County Probation searches were conducted in regard to known criminal street gang members as defined by penal code 186.22 otherwise known as the Street Terrorism Enforcement and Prevention Act, Peterson reported.
He said it’s the goal of the Lake County Gang Task Force to prevent criminal street gang activity in the county of Lake to flourish as it has in many other communities.
Peterson said the task force contacts known criminal street gang members, tracks gang trends and enforces local and state laws.
CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – A major wildland fire burning for nearly a week in Lake County is expected to be fully contained on Saturday.
Cal Fire said Friday evening that the Wye Fire's containment was at 95 percent, with firefighters holding the size at 7,934 acres.
The Wye Fire includes two incidents burning east of Clearlake Oaks – the Wye, near Highway 20 and Highway 53, and the Walker, burning near Walker Ridge Road in Lake and Colusa counties. The fires started last Sunday afternoon.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, Cal Fire said.
With the fire about to be fully contained, Cal Fire said it was demobilizing fire crews and engines.
Cal Fire said 719 fire personnel remained on scene Friday evening, along with 82 engines, 20 fire crews, two helicopters, seven bulldozers and nine water tenders.
Highway 20 east of Highway 53 has a strictly enforced speed limit of 45 miles per hour. Drivers are asked to use caution while driving near Spring Valley due to fire personnel and equipment use in the area.
Cal Fire has set up a public information hotline on the Wye Fire; call 707-967-4207 or 707-967-4208.
Email Elizabeth Larson at