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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. -- The Lake County Sheriff's Office has reported that Mountain Vista Middle School has Opened as an Evacuation Shelter. 

The Mountain Vista Middle School is now open as an evacuation shelter for evacuees. 

The school is located at 5081 Konocti Rd. in Kelseyville.

Posted On

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. -- Friday mandatory evacuation orders were issued for additional parts of Lake County including the Lucerne, Glenhaven & Clearlake Oaks areas and the Hwy 20-Blue Lakes area.

Due to large numbers of evacuees, Twin Pine Casino has reached capacity and evacuees are being diverted to Middletown or Lower Lake High Schools.

At 10:32 a.m. Friday the Lake County Sheriff's Office ordered a mandatory evacuation for the Lucerne, Glenhaven & Clearlake Oaks areas. Evacuees are advised to proceed South. 

At 11:30 a.m. Friday the Hwy 20 Blue Lakes areas were also putin mandatory evacuation status. Evacuees were advised to leave the area immediately to the North & West.  A shelter has been established at Mendocino College, and additional shelters will be established as necessary. 

At 12:30 p.m. The LCSO reported that Twin Pine had reached capacity and diverted evacuees to Middletown or Lower Lake High Schools.

 

Posted On



This story will be updated on a rolling basis until 11:59 p.m. Friday, Aug. 3.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – This is the Mendocino Complex general information update for Friday, Aug. 3.

Cal Fire said Friday morning that the complex had reached 153,738 acres and 30-percent containment. The Ranch fire is 112,226 acres and 28-percent contained, the River fire is 41,512 acres and 50-percent contained.

The following summary includes updated information on sheltering for humans and animals, air quality, road closures, reconnecting with friends and family after an evacuation, where to donate and volunteer, prescriptions and important information numbers, including how to contact local emergency operation centers.

To suggest additions to this resource and information list, please contact Editor and Publisher Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 707-274-9904.

AIR QUALITY

The Lake County Air Quality Control District has issued an air quality alert for Lake County due to heavy smoke that has resulted in “very unhealthy” and “hazardous” conditions and the forecast for extended smoke impacts, and impacts from other air pollutants in the smoke lingering in Lake County until conditions change.

The district said smoke levels continue to exceed the Air Quality Index maximum range. With particulate levels this high, everyone needs to take steps to protect themselves from exposure.

EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTERS/PUBLIC INFORMATION

County of Lake Emergency Operations Center: 707-263-3450

City of Lakeport Lake Emergency Operations Center (24/7): 707-263-5683

Cal Fire Public Information Line: 707-574-8261

Caltrans: http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/ or http://www.dot.ca.gov/cgi-bin/roads.cgi; 800-427-7623

Pacific Gas and Electric online outage center: https://m.pge.com/#outages 

EVACUATIONS

MANDATORY

Anyone who remains in the areas under mandatory evacuation orders must remain on their property. Any unauthorized person who willfully and knowingly enters a disaster area and who willfully remains within the area after receiving notice to evacuate or leave shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

Updated 7 p.m.

Lake County

• For the Lucerne, Pepperwood Grove, Paradise Valley, Glenhaven and Clearlake Oaks areas of Lake County, including Long Valley, High Valley and Spring Valley: All areas north of Clear Lake, south and east of Bartlett Springs Road at Highway 20, west of Bartlett Springs Road at the Indian Valley Reservoir, south to New Long Valley Road and Highway 20 at Highway 53.

• Western Lake County, north of Clear Lake and Bartlett Springs Road, east of the Lake-Mendocino County line, south of the Ranch Fire, and west of High Valley Road and Bartlett Springs Road.

• Bartlett Springs Road at Highway 20, east along the National Forest boundary to High Valley Road, southeast to the 5 Star Fish Farm, southeast to the north side of Highway 20, east to New Long Valley Road, extending north to the west side of the Indian Valley Reservoir, north to Bartlett Springs Road, east to the Lake-Colusa County line, north along the Lake-Colusa County Line extending to Forest Service Road 18N40 (west of the Lake-Colusa-Tehama County line), and west to the western National Forest boundary in Lake County.

• Scotts Valley, Blue Lakes, Upper Lake, Bachelor Valley and Nice.

• South of Bartlett Springs Road at Highway 20, west of the Forest Boundary, including Pierce Canyon and High Valley Road, west of Sulphur Bank Drive at Hwy 20 and north of Clear Lake.

• West of Highway 29 and north of Park Way.

Mendocino County

• Cow Mountain area of Mendocino County, south of Highway 20, west of the Mendocino/Lake County line, east of the intersection of North Cow Mountain Road and the Cow Mountain Access Road, and north of the current fire perimeter of the River fire.

• Highway 20 area from one mile south of Highway 20, east of Potter Valley Road, south of the fire perimeter, and west of Mendocino-Lake County line.

ADVISORIES/WARNINGS

Lake County

• Lake Pillsbury basin and surrounding areas.

• Southeast Lakeport, north of Highway 29 at Highland Springs Road, east of Highway 29, south of Park Way, and west of Clear Lake

• South of Hallberg Road, west of Highway 29, north of Highway 175, and east of the River fire perimeter.

• South of Highway 29 and Highway 175, west of Highland Springs Road, north and east of the Lake-Mendocino County line, and east of the River fire perimeter.

Mendocino County

• South of the Eel River, east of the Eel River Road, east of the East Side Potter Valley Road, east of Potter Valley Road to Highway 20, north of Highway 20, west of the Mendocino-Lake
County line.

• South of the fire perimeter, east of intersection Highway 175 and Old River Road, north of Mendocino-Sonoma County line, west of Mendocino/Lake County line.

• South of Yokayo Ranch Road, east of the Russian River, west of the Lake-Mendocino County line, north of the Old River Road-Highway 175 intersection.

• East Ukiah Valley area, south of Highway 20, east of the east side of Lake Mendocino and east of the Russian River, north of Yokayo Rancheria Road, and west of the intersection of North Cow Mountain Road and Cow Mountain Access Road.

Colusa County

• East of the Lake-Colusa County Line (Bartlett Springs Road/Brim Road) to Leesville-Lodoga Road, north to Lodoga, west to the National Forest boundary, north along the National Forest boundary to the Colusa-Glenn County Line, and west to the Colusa-Lake County line.

EVACUATION SHELTERS

Evacuation shelters offer overnight accommodations.

• Mendocino College, Dance Room, 1000 Hensley Creek Road, Ukiah
• Lower Lake High School, 9430 Lake St.
• Middletown High School, 20932 Big Canyon Road.
• **At Capacity ** Twin Pine Casino, 22223 Highway 29, Middletown- LCSO 12:30 p.m. Friday DIVERT to Middletown or Lower Lake High Schools.
• Mountain Vista Middle School, 5081 Konocti Road in Kelseyville.

CONNECTING WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY AFTER EVACUATIONS

The Safe and Well locating service from the American Red Cross is now active.

Visit https://safeandwell.communityos.org/cms/index.php to list yourself as safe, using the Mendocino Complex Fire-July 2018 Disaster Event.

If you’re looking for someone, use the same link and click on “Search Registrants.”

ANIMAL EVACUATIONS

Lake County

Large livestock can be taken to Cole Creek Equestrian Center, 4985 Steelhead Drive, Kelseyville, telephone 707-279-0915; or to Helen Owens’ A1 Horse Programs, 18585 Guenoc Lane, Hidden Valley Lake, telephone 707-355-0121.

Lake Evacuation and Animal Protection has been activated and is still offering animal evacuation support services. Call Lake County Animal Care and Control Department at 707-263-0278. Phones are answered by staff between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m.

The Animal Care and Control Shelter is not accepting pets at this time.

The SPCA of Clear Lake, 8025 Highway 29, is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily and is accepting senior pets, or pets with medical issues and/or heat distress.

If you can keep your pets with you, please do so. Pet supplies are delivered to all open evacuation shelters regularly.

Mendocino County

Redwood Riders Arena, 8300 East Road, Redwood Valley is accepting horses.

Mendocino County Animal Care, 298 Plant Road, Ukiah is accepting small animals.

ROAD CLOSURES

Updated at 7:15 p.m.

Lake County

• Southbound Elk Mountain to south Pillsbury Lake
• Elk Mountain Road at Middle Creek Road
• Westbound Highway 20 at Highway 29
• Northbound Highway 29 at Park Way
• Northbound Highway 29 at Park Way
• Northbound Lakeshore Boulevard at Park Way
• Northbound Hill Road at Park Way
• Scotts Valley Road at HIll Road
• Highway 20 at Sulphur Bank Road
• Old Long Valley Road at Highway 20
• Walker Ridge Road at Highway 20
• Westbound Highway 20 at Highway 53
• Hill Road at Hill Road East
• Argonaut Road at Highway 29
• Highland Springs Road at Highway 29
• High Valley Road north of Highway 20
• Martin at Shirley
• 11th Street at Mountain View Road
• Hill Road at Hill Road East
• Ackley Road at Highway 29
• Round Mountain Road at Highway 20
• Morine Ranch Road at Highway 20
• New Long Valley Road at SR 20

Mendocino County

• Eastbound Highway 20 at Potter Valley Road
• Mill Creek Road, half a mile east of Old River Road

UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE – MAIL DELIVERY

Lake County residents normally served by Post Offices in Lakeport, Nice and Upper Lake can pick up their mail at the Clearlake Post Office, 14500 Olympic Drive. Pick up times are 1 to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Photo identification will be required.

The Kelseyville and Finley Post Offices have resumed normal service.

PRESCRIPTIONS

State law allows for residents in declared emergency areas to fill prescriptions at available pharmacies, even if it is not where your prescription is on file.

Please bring your medication bottle(s) and/or the actual medication with you to help the pharmacist fill your prescription. The pharmacist will contact your physician for confirmation.

In addition, California Pharmacy Law (Section 4054) provides that pharmacists may in good faith furnish a “reasonable” supply of medications or devices to patients in emergency conditions without a prescription.

Patients who need to obtain prescription medications or devices on an emergency basis should go to an open pharmacy and bring their original prescription containers or be able to provide their physician’s name.

Before filling the prescription, the pharmacist should make every reasonable effort to contact the original prescriber, and should make an appropriate record. That record must include the basis for proceeding under this section.

It is important to remember that the prescriber will not have any liability as a result of refilling a prescription under this section of law. The law was designed to offer this protection during states of emergency.

Any questions or concerns about this section of California Pharmacy Law that may arise should be referred to the Lake County Emergency Operations Center, 707-263-3450.

HOW TO DONATE

The county of Lake is unable to accept in-kind donations, such as clothing, household goods and other supplies, in the fire recovery effort. In-kind donations require significant time and financial resources to distribute.

Cash donations are most helpful at this time; such donations allow those supporting disaster relief efforts to direct assistance where it is most needed.

Donations can be made to the fire fund established by North Coast Opportunities, https://www.ncoinc.org.

HOW TO VOLUNTEER

American Red Cross

The American Red Cross is immediately seeking volunteers to assist with disaster response in Lake County. Help is needed with shelters, feeding, logistics and administrative tasks.

For general inquiries about volunteering, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. To apply online visit https://tinyurl.com/MendoComplexVol.

Organizations and agencies seeking volunteers can email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to be added to this list.
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LAKE AND MENDOCINO COUNTIES, Calif. – Cal Fire has issued mandatory evacuation orders for the Cow Mountain Area of Mendocino County (South of SR-20, west of the Mendocino/Lake County line, east of the intersection of North Cow Mountain Road and the Cow Mountain Access Road, and north of the current fire perimeter of the River Fire )
Posted On

LUCERNE, Calif. -- At 10:32 a.m. Friday the Lake County Sheriff's Office ordered a mandatory evacuation for the Lucerne, Glenhaven & Clearlake Oaks areas. 

Residents are advised to leave immediately, traveling South. 

A staging area has been established at the Twin Pines Casino, where further directions will be provided.

Posted On

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Federal officials have announced closures of public lands impacted by the Mendocino Complex, which includes the Ranch and River fires.

The orders came on Thursday from the Mendocino National Forest and Bureau of Land management.

Mendocino National Forest officials issued a closure to provide for public safety due to the Ranch Fire.

Forest Order No. 08-18-12 closes the area, roads and trails in the vicinity of the Ranch Fire on the Mendocino National Forest.

The purpose of this closure is to provide safety for the public and the firefighters who are engaged in suppression and rehabilitation efforts within the Ranch Fire Closure Area.

The closure will remain in effect until it is determined that hazards to the public have been reduced.

All National Forest System roads, trails, and campgrounds within the closure area will be closed due to fire suppression and rehabilitation activities that create a hazard to the public, including the use of heavy equipment, the falling of hazard trees weakened by the fire, and the construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of fuel breaks.

The details are posted on the forest website https://tinyurl.com/yapyxxpm.

The Bureau of Land Management Ukiah Field Office said it is temporarily closing the Indian Valley Management Area in eastern Lake and western Colusa counties for public safety due to the proximity of the Mendocino Complex Fire.

This closure also includes Walker Ridge and BLM-managed public lands along Highway 20, until further notice.

On July 27, the BLM temporarily closed the Cow Mountain Recreation Area due to active wildland fire.

The agency said these closures are necessary to protect public land users from risks associated with active wildfire, and to protect wildland firefighters from recreational activities associated with hunting of wild game.
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CLEARLAKE, Calif. -- Friday afternoon Clearlake Mayor Bruno Sabatier published a video invitation to evacuees to take advantage of available park space in Clearlake.

Walking through Austin Park, Sabatier reported that the city had just approved opening the parks for evacuees. "They are public lands", he said and went on to say that the city is working on an evacuation center in the city.

"Please, come on down and enjoy yourself", he said adding "it's a safe place to be".

With Twin Pine casino reaching capacity, more space is needed for evacuees, Sabatier said.

 

Posted On

The Mendocino Complex in Lake County, Calif., as mapped by Cal Fire on the morning of Friday, August 3, 2018.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Continuing its pattern of dramatic nighttime growth, the Mendocino Complex marked the end of its first week by scorching nearly 30,000 more acres overnight as it pushed into the footprint of another recent wildland fire.

At the same time, officials gave a new tally of the complex’s destroyed and damaged structures that had risen sharply since the last report.

Cal Fire said Friday morning that the Mendocino Complex of the Ranch and River fires was up to 153,738 acres, with containment rolled back from 39 to 30 percent containment.

The Ranch fire was reported to be 83,890 acres Thursday night, with 33-percent containment. By Friday morning, the updated acreage had ballooned to 112,226 acres, with containment rolling back to 28 percent, according to Cal Fire.

Based on Lake County fire history, the Ranch fire – part of which is located in Mendocino County – is on track to become the largest in Lake County’s recorded history, far outpacing the 83,000-acre Fork fire of 1996.

The River fire remains at 50-percent containment, having grown less than 300 acres overnight to a total of 41,512 acres, Cal Fire said.

Cal Fire also released a new damage assessment on the complex, which showed a total of 88 structures destroyed, 41 of them homes. Another 19 structures – 10 of them homes – have been damaged.

Cal Fire said 9,200 structures remain threatened. Numerous evacuations, which are listed here, remain in place.

Both the Ranch and River fires continued to remain active throughout the night, with Cal Fire noting that the Ranch fire made significant and rapid expansion to the east towards the scar of the Pawnee Fire, which burned in and around the Spring Valley Lakes subdivision east of Clearlake Oaks in June.

Radio reports also indicated overnight that firing operations were used successfully to remove vegetation, with the goal of controlling the complex.

On Friday, the plan is for firefighters to continue to prep and defend structures and construct primary and secondary control lines, according to Cal Fire.

Access and weather make many areas of the fire difficult to directly fight fire, so Cal Fire said aircraft support will be utilized when weather and smoke visibility conditions permit.

Cal Fire has pushed back by more than a week the expected date of full containment on the incident, now estimated to be achieved on Aug. 15.

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.
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MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – On Thursday, firefighters made progress raising containment on the Eel fire, which began on Tuesday.

The fire is located 10 miles east of Covelo on the Mendocino National Forest’s Covelo ranger district.

Forest spokeswoman Punky Moore said that on Thursday containment increased from 5 to 25 percent. The fire’s estimated size is reported at 1,000 acres.

There are 143 resources assigned to the incident including two crews, 20 engines, one dozer and five water tenders. No additional critical resources are needed, according to Incident Commander Dale Shippelhoute.

Potential north winds in the forecast could push the fire towards Forest Highway 7 and structures along the road, Moore said.

Moore said Forest Highway 7 is open but travelers need to be aware that conditions could change quickly.

Mandatory evacuation orders have been implemented for the M1 Road from Eel River station to Indian Dick Station, she said.

Forty residences are threatened by fire spread, and Moore said three have been destroyed.

Moore said the fire’s cause is under investigation.
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MENDOCINO COUNTY, Calif. -- At 1:00 p.m. Friday, Cal Fire issued a man mandatory evacuation for the community of Potter Valley area including:

East of Eastside Potter Valley Road and Eel River Road
South of the Eel River
West of Mendocino Lake County line
North of Mid Mountain Road
Posted On

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Cal Fire and the U.S. Forest Service are planning another meeting to update the community on progress to contain the Mendocino Complex.

The meeting will take place at 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 3, at the Clearlake Senior Community Center, 3245 Bowers Ave.

With the complex – composed of the Ranch and River fires – continuing to burn actively in lands overseen by both Cal Fire and the Forest Service, the two agencies are now in unified command.

Officials will discuss the situation on the fire, discuss the current work of firefighters, answer questions, display current maps and offer operational handouts.

Community members are asked to arrive early, as the meeting will start promptly at 6 p.m.

If you have questions about the meeting, please call the Mendocino Complex Fire Information Line 707-574-8261.

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.
Posted On

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – A Napa County woman has pleaded no contest to multiple counts arson crimes that were committed`from late October through last summer.

Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley announced Thursday that Debra Ann Windholz, 60, pleaded no contest on Aug. 1 to three counts of arson of a forest land.

The plea was taken in Napa County Superior Court before Judge Diane Price. Haley said the terms of the plea call for Windholz to register as an arson offender, be placed on four years of formal probation and spend a maximum of six months in the Napa County Detention Center.

Additional appropriate terms and conditions of probation, including damages and restitution for the fires, will be argued at sentencing and imposed by the judge, Haley said.

Haley said these three counts are strikes under the “Three Strikes” law and will be on Windholz’s permanent record.

The Napa County District Attorney’s Office charged Windholz with setting 11 fires between Oct. 30, 2015, and Aug. 10, 2017.

Haley said the fires were all maliciously set in the area of Berryessa Knoxville Road, adding that the charges are not connected to the Tubbs, Patrick and Atlas wildfires in October 2017.

The case was investigated by Cal Fire. Arson investigators Russell West and Gary Uboldi spearheaded the investigation, according to Haley.

Windholz had previously posted a $200,000 bail bond. She will be in court for a sentencing hearing on Sept. 18, Haley said.

“We are glad that the defendant took early responsibility for her crimes,” said Deputy District Attorney Agnes Dziadur, who prosecuted the case. “Her dangerous actions put our community at risk. We would like to express our gratitude to the Cal Fire investigators, who put an immense amount of time and resources into this case. It was their work which made this resolution possible.”

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