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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The August Complex on the forest’s Grindstone Ranger District in Glenn County and the Hull fire on the Upper Lake Ranger District had together burned more than 180,000 acres by Sunday night.
US Forest Service officials said the August Complex, which began 30 miles northwest of Willows on Aug. 17, originally was 37 different lightning-started fires that merged into about 20 larger fires.
It had grown by 17,745 acres to a total of 177,750 acres on Sunday, at which point it was 11 percent contained, the US Forest Service reported.
On Sunday night, the largest of those fires, the Doe, was up to 153,083 acres. The other major fires in the complex include the Glade fire, 13,888 acres; the Hopkins, 2,153 acres; the Tatham, 7,958 acres; and the Willow Basin, 601 acres.
To the west, the Hull fire grew by 500 acres to a total of 3,000 acres on Sunday evening, the Forest Service said. No containment has been reported.
Officials said the Hull fire continues to spread primarily to the southeast towards the Eel River and the 2018 Ranch fire footprint, and to the west.
The Hull fire is located five miles north of Lake Pillsbury on Hull Mountain, and it prompted the Lake County Sheriff’s Office to issue an evacuation warning for the Pillsbury Ranch community.
The Forest Service said 79 personnel are assigned to the incident.
Officials are concerned with the weather forecast for the coming days, with a red flag warning issued by the National Weather Service due to the potential for thunderstorms and high winds through Tuesday evening.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
This year, five samples of mosquitoes collected in Lake County tested positive for West Nile virus, according to the Lake County Vector Control District.
The WNV-positive mosquito samples were collected near Clearlake Oaks, Lower Lake, Middletown, and Upper Lake (2); all were Culex tarsalis (western encephalitis mosquito), Vector Control said.
“Both mosquito and West Nile virus activity increase when the overnight temperatures are 60°F or warmer,” said Jamesina Scott, Ph.D., district manager and research director of the Lake County Vector Control District. “With so many other things happening, like the fires and COVID-19, many people don’t think about mosquito-borne illnesses. Mosquitoes cannot transmit coronavirus, but they transmit West Nile virus. The best way to protect yourself is avoid mosquito bites. If you plan to be outside when mosquitoes are active, apply an effective repellent that contains Picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus or DEET.”
Mosquitoes develop in water, so you can protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites and West Nile virus by dumping out standing water.
Now is a great time to take a walk around your yard and look for places that might hold water like buckets, toys, and boats and dump out any water you find.
If you have water that can’t be drained, like a pond, livestock watering trough, water feature, or an out-of-service (green) swimming pool, contact the district and staff can provide free mosquito-eating fish to prevent mosquitoes from growing there.
Lake County Vector Control District continues to provide mosquito control services to the community.
If residents need help with a mosquito problem, they are urged to call the district from 7:30 a.m. t 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, or request service online anytime at http://lcvcd.org/request-service/.
The district encourages residents to reduce their risk of contracting West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne diseases by:
– Dumping or draining standing water to prevent mosquitoes. Mosquitoes need water to complete their life cycle.
– Defending yourself. Use repellents containing DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus. Follow the label directions.
– Avoiding the outdoors when mosquitoes are present, typically dawn and dusk.
So far this year, West Nile virus activity has been detected in five mosquito samples in Lake County.
Statewide, 28 California counties have detected WNV this year, mainly in mosquitoes. As of Aug. 23, 27 human cases of West Nile virus illness have been reported in California residents this year.
Residents with questions or who would like help with a mosquito problem, including reporting a neglected pool or spa, or have an in-ground yellowjacket nest on their property that they want treated, should contact the Lake County Vector Control District at 707-263-4770 or visit their website at www.lcvcd.org.
For more information about West Nile virus, visit http://westnile.ca.gov/. Information about mosquito repellents can be found on the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at http://www.cdc.gov/westnile/faq/repellent.html.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
The meeting will begin at 6 p.m.
It will be broadcast live on Facebook and PEG TV Channel 8.
Those who wish to ask questions can participate via Zoom; meeting ID is 913 3863 4529, passcode is 094776. They also can call in with one tap mobile at +16699006833,,91338634529#,,,,,,0#,,094776#US.
Participants in the event are expected to include representatives from Cal Fire and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, and also partnering agencies that have been crucial to Lake County’s response to this wildfire event, including representatives of the Red Cross, county health and social services agencies, Lake County Behavioral Health Services and more. They will be available to answer constituent questions. Local elected representatives will also be invited.
“This will be a virtual meeting, so we can have the very best people participate while allowing them to primarily focus on the firefighting and life-saving activities that matter most right now,” said Lake County Sheriff Brian Martin. “Our goal is to get you information you need to respond to this disaster, whether you are currently under evacuation, or concerned about how the fires may evolve in days to come.”
“We are grateful to Cal Fire and our other partners for understanding the importance of sharing information during an event like this,” said Martin. “People are facing the loss or potential loss of homes, loved ones and ways of life. That places a strain on entire communities. Our hope is this event will reach a lot of people that are connected to Lake County, and help them evaluate their next steps.”
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A lightning-caused fire in the Mendocino National Forest has led to an evacuation warning for residents near Lake Pillsbury.
The Hull fire, located five miles north of Lake Pillsbury on the Upper Lake District of the Mendocino National Forest, is 2,500 acres and zero-percent contained, forest officials said Sunday.
The fire was detected on Wednesday after several rounds of thunderstorms occurred across the forest last week.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office on Sunday issued an evacuation warning for Pillsbury Ranch due to the Hull fire.
The evacuation warning includes areas north of M-1, south of the Lake County line, west of Bloody Rock and east of the Lake County Line.
There are 49 personnel committed to the incident including seven engine crews, one hand crew and operations managers, the Forest Service said.
Officials said crews are challenged by steep, rugged terrain where the fire is rolling out and making uphill runs. On Saturday, air tankers assisted crews in containing a slopover on Road 38.
The fire is burning in timber on the north and east aspects of Hull Mountain and is active in Hull Creek, backing down into Rattlesnake Creek and spreading north along Panther Ridge, according to the Forest Service’s Sunday report.
The Forest Service said the fire is threatening cabins to the south and other private property may become threatened as the fire progresses northward.
Officials said smoke in the community of Potter Valley and the Pillsbury Subdivision has degraded air quality. A known sensitive air quality area is located east of the fire in the Snow Mountain Wilderness.
A red flag warning is in effect from 11 p.m. Sunday to 11 p.m. Monday in the fire area, where winds could gust as high as 40 miles per hour.
There is a road closure in effect on Forest Road M1 to Forest Road M6 on Road 18N016. In addition, the forest has an area closure in place due to the August Complex.
Closure information is available here.