- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
FIRE UPDATE: Firefighters respond to local incidents; hotter weather expected by week's end
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Fire activity continued to keep firefighters in Lake County and in other parts of the state busy on Monday.
A day after firefighters quickly contained the eight-acre Ogulin fire near Clearlake – it was stopped before it could damage nearby commercial structures – fire danger was again high, with three incidents threatening homes.
The incidents included an abandoned travel trailer fire in Lucerne on Monday morning and a grass fire near Lower Lake in the afternoon – with neighbors and a passerby assisting in those fires – and a fire on the deck of a Clearlake home in the evening, as Lake County News has reported.
In Mendocino County, firefighters wrapped up work on the Covelo fire, which was sparked on Sunday near the community of Covelo.
The Covelo fire burned 35 acres before it was fully contained, Cal Fire reported.
Cal Fire spokesman Daniel Berlant said several new fires started from lightning strikes over the weekend, with fire crews taking an aggressive initial attack to keep the fires small.
More than 3,000 firefighters were working California's large wildfire incidents on Monday, Berlant said.
Berlant said the hotter and drier weather than began on Monday is expected to build up by week's end.
With very dry conditions throughout the state, and extreme temperatures forecast for this week, the burning of residential landscape debris piles was suspended statewide effective Monday, according to Berlant.
While outdoor burning had already been suspended throughout much of the state, Berlant said Monday began the suspension of the rest of the North State, including the coastal and bay areas.
“Escaped burn piles are one of the top causes of wildfire each year, so it’s critical that residents look into other options to remove yard waste,” Berlant said. “Consider mulching landscape debris piles, or hauling it to a biomass facility in your area.”
Berlant said this week also marks the beginning of safe and sane fireworks being sold in approximately 300 communities, including the city of Lakeport.
“It's critical that if you choose to buy safe and sane fireworks in one of these communities that you exercise extreme caution. Only use those fireworks with the State Fire Marshal Seal of Approval. California has a zero tolerance for the use and sale of illegal fireworks,” Berlant said.
Rules for using safe and sane fireworks in the city of Lakeport can be found at www.bit.ly/1JlNRLM .
A rundown of other major incidents around the state follows, with the most recent available size estimates from Cal Fire.
Cal Fire incidents
– Covelo fire: Began June 28 in Mendocino County; 35 acres, 100-percent contained.
– Pleasure fire: Began June 27 in Napa County; 19 acres, 100-percent contained.
Unified command fires
– Lake fire: Began June 17 in San Bernardino County; 31,359 acres, 60-percent contained. All evacuations lifted. Cause is under investigation.
Federal incidents
– Sky Fire: Began June 18 in Madera County; 500 acres, 100-percent contained. Caused by a vehicle.
– Washington Fire: Began June 19 in Alpine County; 17,787 acres, 56-percent contained. Caused by lightning.
– Sterling Fire: Began June 27 in San Bernardino County; 100 acres, 100-percent contained. Arson fire.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.