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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – On Thursday, Sheriff Brian Martin declared a state of emergency in Lake County in response to the LNU Lightning Complex, which has burned into southern Lake County and prompted the evacuation of thousands of residents.
Martin declared the emergency in his capacity of director of the county’s Office of Emergency Services.
It cites “conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property” resulting from “fires related to the LNU Lightning Complex.”
As of Thursday morning, the LNU Lightning Complex was up to 131,000 acres, with no containment, Cal Fire reported.
The complex grew by nearly 7,000 acres overnight as it continued to grow across Lake, Napa, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo counties.
It is threatening 30,500 structures, with 105 so far destroyed and 70 damaged, Cal Fire said.
Cal Fires said 587 firefighting personnel, 69 engines, 27 water tenders, eight helicopters, nine hand crews and 28 dozers are assigned. Air tankers remain in short supply due to fires across the state.
Two fires within the complex – the Round and the Aetna – are burning within Lake County, according to the Thursday report.
The Aetna fire, south of Middletown, is 4,500 acres and the Round fire, located south of Hidden Valley Lake, is 4,000 acres, with no containment on either, Cal Fire reported.
Previously the Morgan fire – now merged with the 105,000-acre Hennessey fire – was reported to be in Lake County. However, Cal Fire mapping shows it is holding just on the other side of the Lake County line, and burning in Napa and Yolo counties.
The fires prompted initial evacuations to the southeast of Lower Lake on Tuesday with more evacuations ordered on Wednesday that covered areas including Jerusalem Valley and Hidden Valley Lake, and areas surrounding Middletown. Those orders remained in effect on Thursday, officials said.
An evacuation warning for areas including Middletown proper was issued on Thursday afternoon.
Sheriff Martin told Lake County News on Thursday afternoon that he estimated between 6,000 and 7,000 Lake County residents have been evacuated due to the complex so far.
That estimate does not include how many residents may be impacted if Middletown is forced to evacuate.
Martin said he has not yet had official reports from Cal Fire about damaged or destroyed structures, just secondhand reports from property owners in the Jerusalem Valley area about structures that have burned.
The Board of Supervisors must now ratify Martin’s declaration. Deputy County Administrative Officer Matthew Rothstein confirmed the declaration is on the agenda for the board’s next meeting on Tuesday.
Martin’s full declaration is published below.
EMERGENCY DECLARATION
WHEREAS, Section 6-5 of the Lake County Code empowers the Director of Emergency Services to proclaim the existence or threatened existence of a local emergency when Lake County is affected or likely to be affected by a public calamity and the County Board of Supervisors is not in session; and
WHEREAS, the Sheriff, as Director of Emergency Services of Lake County does hereby find; that conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property have arisen within the County of Lake, caused by fires related to the LNU Lightning Complex; and
WHEREAS, the Morgan Fire, which began on the 18th day of August, 2020, has already prompted evacuation of portions of southern Lake County, and rapid changes of wind conditions have required great vigilance in light of the possible need of further evacuations; and
WHEREAS, these conditions are beyond the immediate control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of Lake County, and air and other resources are over-tasked, due to significant wildfire activity around the State of California; and
WHEREAS, the County Board of Supervisors of the County of Lake is not in session and cannot immediately be called into session.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY PROCLAIMED that a local emergency now exists throughout Lake County and all jurisdictions within Lake County; and
IT IS FURTHER PROCLAIMED AND ORDERED that during the existence of said local emergency the powers, functions, and duties of the emergency organization of Lake County shall be those prescribed by state law, by ordinances, and resolutions of the County; and that this emergency proclamation shall expire 7 days after issuance unless confirmed and ratified by the Lake County Board of Supervisors.
AND, IT IS FURTHER PROCLAIMED AND ORDERED that said local emergency shall be deemed to continue to exist until its termination is proclaimed by the Lake County Board of Supervisors.
By: Brian L. Martin
Sheriff/Coroner/OES Director
August 20, 2020
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
SOUTH LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Sheriff’s Office has issued an evacuation warning for the Middletown area due to the approach of the LNU Lightning Complex.
The warning includes all areas west of Highway 29 (including areas west of Saint Helena Creek Road), north and east of the Lake/Napa County Line (extending north to the Anderson Springs Road prolongation between the county line and Highway 175), south of Anderson Springs Road, Neft Road and the Boggs Mountain Recreation Area prolongation to the intersection of Hofacker Lane and Highway 29.
This includes Middletown proper, officials said.
“We are asking everyone to take preparations in the event that a mandatory evacuation order is issued,” the sheriff’s office said.
Preparations should include gathering all medications, important documents, making plans for pets, and notifying family members where you may be going.
Those requiring additional time to evacuate or those with pets or livestock should leave the area as soon as possible, the warning stated.
“During a mandatory evacuation, it will be extremely hectic and traffic conditions will be very congested. By evacuating early, you do your part in keeping yourself, your neighbors, and our first responders safe,” the evacuation warning said.
Should an evacuation order be issued and shelter is needed, authorities will direct evacuees to a temporary evacuation point.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – A lightning-caused complex of fires that began on Sunday in the Mendocino National Forest has continued its massive growth, nearly doubling overnight.
The August Complex has burned 116,372 acres, US Forest Service officials reported on Thursday afternoon, up from 65,030 acres reported the night before. It is 3 percent contained.
The complex is made up of 35 fires that were started by lightning across the Mendocino National Forest, most of them burning on the Glenn County side of the forest.
The Thursday report said firefighters have been facing light downslope winds, continuous fuels and very dry fuels, which have kept the fire active.
Structures and power lines are being threatened, and many of the homes and summer cabins have been evacuated within the perimeter of the forest, officials said.
On Thursday, the focus for firefighters is the complex’s east side, with crews going direct where possible while protecting structures and private property.
The Forest Service reported that 293 firefighters and 69 overhead or command personnel are assigned to the fire, along with 15 engines, two helicopters, five bulldozers, five water tenders and six fire crews.
The Glenn County Sheriff’s Office has issued a mandatory evacuation order for all areas west of County Road 306 for the full length of Glenn County from the Tehama County line in the north to the Colusa County line in the South, and all areas west to the Mendocino County line.
Evacuation warnings also have been instituted for the area of Newville from County Road 306 along County Road 200 to Black Butte Lake and for the Grindstone Rancheria.
Road closures also are in effect on Highway 162 east of County Road 306, County Road 306 from County Road 303 to the north, County Road 306 from County Road 200 to the south, County Road 200 from County Road 306 west and County Road 308 from County Road 306 to West End.
A temporary evacuation point is located at Willows City Hall, 201 N. Lassen St., with sheltering for animals at the Glenn County Fairgrounds, 221 E. Yolo St. in Orland, telephone 530-720-7252.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Clearlake Police officers early Thursday were on scene investigating a shooting that sent two people to the hospital.
Chief Andrew White said the shooting occurred at Twin Oaks Village, located at 5755 Old Highway 53.
At approximately 9:11 p.m. Wednesday, officers responded to a report of shots fired at the location, White said.
When officers arrived, White said they located numerous subjects, two of them suffering from gunshot wounds.
While attempting to detain the persons involved, one subject ran but was quickly detained by another officer, White said.
White said detectives responded to the scene along with investigators from the Lake County District Attorney’s Office.
He said early Thursday that investigators were processing the scene and interviewing subjects.
The gunshot victims – two male adults – were treated at a local hospital, with White reporting that they were going to be flown out of the county for treatment.
The investigation initially closed the roadway between Old Highway 53 and Cass Avenue to old Highway 53 and Ridgeview.
Shortly after 3:30 a.m., police said both lanes of Old Highway 53 were open but Cypress Avenue remained closed.
Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to contact Det. Steve Hobb at 707-994-8251, Extension 321.
