- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
Acreage for Ranch, River fires grows overnight
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Two wildland fires in Mendocino County continued to grow overnight, with Lake County officials prepared in the event the fires reach local communities.
The Ranch and River fires, which were first reported about an hour apart on Friday afternoon, were combined into the Mendocino Complex overnight, according to Cal Fire.
Just after midnight early Saturday, Cal Fire issued an update on the complex, which together have burned 8,300 acres, with zero containment, and two structures – one residence and one outbuilding – destroyed. Two firefighters have been injured.
Officials said at that time that there were no roadway closures but urged drivers along Highway 20 and Highway 175 to use caution and watch for emergency vehicles entering and exiting the roadway.
Available mapping shown above illustrates that both fires are close to the Lake County line, with spots on the River fire appearing to have crossed into Lake County.
The Ranch fire, located along Highway 20 near Old Lake County Highway eight miles northeast of Ukiah, was first reported at about noon on Friday.
Cal Fire said the Ranch fire was up to 2,700 acres by midnight.
The fire was reported to be moving toward Lake County, which prompted evacuation warnings Friday evening for the areas of Bachelor Valley, Blue Lakes, Witter Springs, north Scotts Valley Road from the 7000 block to Highway 20, and Highway 20 from the 6000 block to the Lake County line, according to Cal Fire.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office reported that, in the event it issues a mandatory evacuation notice due to the fire, an evacuation shelter will be opened at Mountain Vista Middle School at 5081 Konocti Road, Kelseyville.
Lake Evacuation and Animal Protection, the volunteer group working under the auspices of Lake County Animal Care and Control, also has been on standby since Friday afternoon in the event evacuations are necessary.
Lakeport Fire Chief Doug Hutchison told Lake County News on Friday afternoon that his agency was ramping up in the event that the fires reached Lake County.
The River fire, which was reported at about 1 p.m. Friday along Old River Road six miles north of Hopland, has burned the largest portion of the complex’s acreage, and was at 5,600 acres early Saturday, according to Cal Fire.
In Mendocino County, mandatory evacuations are in effect for the River fire area, from the 8000 block of River Road, south to Highway 175, and from the Russian River east to to the Lake County line, and area which the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office said includes the Hopland Band of Pomo Indians.
The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office issued an evacuation warning, or advisory, for the area south of Highway 175, east of Old River Road to Highway 101 and east to Old Toll Road and Ranch Road area.
An evacuation center for Mendocino County residents has been established at the Mendocino College Dance Room at 1000 Hensley Creek Road, Ukiah.
The J arena located at 4800 Burke Hill Road, Ukiah, is accepting animals but not horses; instead, horses will be sheltered at the Redwood Riders Arena, located at 8300 East Road in Redwood Valley. Small animals will be accepted at the Mendocino County Animal Shelter, 298 Plant Road in Ukiah.
Concerns about fire and safety also led the county of Lake to temporarily close Mt. Konocti County Park, the regional trails and the Highland Springs Recreation Area until further notice.
The Bureau of Land Management also implemented a temporary closure of the North Cow Mountain Recreation Area, rifle range and South Cow Mountain Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area due for public safety due to the proximity of both the River and Ranch fires.
Lake County Air Pollution Control Officer Doug Gearhart had reported on Friday that the Mendocino County fires – as well as the Carr fire Shasta County to the north – were sending smoke into the local air basin.
As the night wore on, Lake County’s air quality continued to degrade, with a pervasive smell of smoke and reports from residents in a number of areas of falling ash.
Gearhart said air quality could drop into the “unhealthy” range for all residents, although air quality could vary if there are wind shifts in the area.
Both Lake and Mendocino counties are under a heat advisory through Sunday night due to a forecast for temperatures that could top the century mark. Those high temperatures are expected to create more challenges for a firefighting force that’s already stretched in light of resource needs at other incidents around the state.
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