LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Winds and topography continue to push the Jerusalem fire deeper into wildland, but firefighters have matched the fire's activity by making progress to put in the containment that ultimately will control it.
While by Thursday morning the fire had grown to 23,500 acres – with much of its northern perimeter now bumping up against the southern perimeter of the Rocky fire based on the latest maps – firefighters once again significantly increased containment, more than doubling it to 33 percent, according to Cal Fire.
Cal Fire spokesman Daniel Berlant said in a Thursday afternoon report that the Jerusalem is the most active of the 14 wildland fires burning across the state.
Berlant said the Jerusalem fire was very active on Wednesday evening, but firefighters have made good progress on the blaze, which began on Sunday afternoon in the Jerusalem Valley area northeast of Middletown, and has since burned into Napa and Yolo counties.
On Thursday, Berlant said winds again were proving a concern on the Jerusalem fire.
Shortly before 2 p.m., weather and radio reports indicated that winds in the fire area ranged from 5 to 9 miles per hour from the south southwest and between 15 to 20 miles per hour on ridge tops, with winds expected to shift and come from the west northwest at between 8 and 11 miles per hour on Thursday evening, with gusts of between 25 to 30 miles per hour.
The Jerusalem fire is burning heavy vegetation, which Cal Fire said is producing “extreme” fire behavior, with the fire being driven by wind, the fuel and the steep topography.
Firefighters are continuing to be challenged in accessing the fire due to the area's lack of improved roads, Cal Fire said.
On Thursday firefighters were focusing efforts on the fire's southern and eastern flanks, where they continue to construct fire line to stop the fire's forward progress while defending structures, according to Cal Fire.
Cal Fire said 50 structures remain threatened but none so far have been damaged or destroyed, with mandatory and advisory evacuations remaining in place for areas near the fire. Evacuation areas are listed at http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_details_info?inciden .
On Thursday 2,053 firefighters remained assigned to the Jerusalem fire, with 140 engines, 57 hand crews, 28 dozers, 21 water tenders, 15 helicopters and four air tankers.
The Rocky fire to the north, which began July 29, remained at 95-percent containment on Thursday, with Cal Fire adjusting its overall size to 69,438 acres based on more accurate mapping, Berlant said. It's expected to be fully contained by Saturday.
Some 361 personnel, 24 engines, 14 dozers, eight water tenders and six fire crews continue to work on mop up and final containment on the Rocky. Berlant said firefighters are putting in the last containment lines around the fire.
Both the Rocky and Jerusalem fires are the two largest burning in the state, based on Cal Fire data.
The Jerusalem fire is still on track to be fully contained by Monday, officials said.
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.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – In the two weeks since the Rocky fire started – followed a week and a half later by the Jerusalem fire – thousands of community members have been impacted by mandatory or advisory evacuation orders due to the close proximity of the wildland fires.
As they've fled the path of the fires, residents left with their pets and livestock, with many getting assistance from Lake County Animal Care and Control and its Lake Evacuation and Animal Protection, or LEAP, group.
LEAP was formed several years ago and operates under the auspices of Animal Care and Control. It includes a number of dedicated individuals who have trained for removing animals from disasters.
“They have been outstanding,” Animal Care and Control Director Bill Davidson said of the group.
Key LEAP members include Lynnette Bertelli, and her husband Greg, a Cal Fire battalion chief who has been on the front lines of both the Rocky and Jerusalem incidents. The Bertellis were instrumental in creating LEAP.
Another of the volunteers is Karen Schaver, founder of the animal rescue group Lake County Animal Services.
LEAP's first major incident was the 2012 Wye fire east of Clearlake Oaks, Davidson said, an incident that burned 7,934 acres over six days, less than a tenth of the acreage that's been burned by the two current wildfires.
The Rocky fire and Jerusalem fire have proved to be much more difficult and exhausting incidents.
Davidson said activity for his staff as far as animal evacuations and assistance had started to slow down around Monday, Aug. 3.
By that time, they'd already had a rough five days due to the Rocky fire, he said. “We got our butts kicked.”
At that point, they called the North Valley Animal Disaster Group out of Butte County, the organization that LEAP was formed to emulate.
That group showed up on Aug. 3 and were on scene for a week, offering assistance, he said.
Last weekend, it had looked like the situation was starting to clear. Then, the Jerusalem fire sprang up on Sunday afternoon and, like the Rocky, burned large amounts of acreage in its early days due to wind and dry conditions.
Davidson told Lake County News on Wednesday that during the course of both fires he and his staff have assisted with sheltering or moving about 400 animals out of harm's way.
Davidson and his staff reported the menagerie includes cats and dogs, pigs, goats, horses, ducks, donkeys, Alpacas and an Italian-speaking African gray parrot named Rupert.
Possibly the most exotic creatures of the group that Animal Care and Control assisted with housing was a group of five parrots – including Rupert – brought in from Clearlake on July 31, when animal control officers were still set up at a temporary location at Lake County Social Services in Lower Lake.
At that location, the birds were being kept in an air-conditioned part of the building so they were protected from the smoke.
When Sara Schramm – Animal Care and Control's facilities supervisor – and another female staffer put the birds away and wished them goodnight, they were greeted with a chorus of “Night night,” plus a wolf whistle.
Lynnette Bertelli also reported that LEAP had been contacted about the need to help lift a very heavy pet tortoise.
At one point, Animal Care and Control staffers and LEAP volunteers were staffing shifts around the clock at the animal evacuation center in Lower Lake.
“The first few days we were trying to help everybody with everything,” said Davidson.
After that, he said, it seemed like the whole county was on fire, and due to the growing need for space they moved to try to assist people without actually taking the animals to county facilities.
He said a lot of people came forward to offer space for evacuated animals on their properties, which allowed his staff to begin directing people to those local properties rather than the limited space at the shelter.
With large animals like horses and other livestock, Davidson said Animal Care and Control primarily assisted with transport to other locations.
Groups offering assistance in finding places for animals also sprang up on Facebook at about the same time, with new pages created.
The SPCA of Clear Lake also housed about 60 dogs that came from a kennel placed under evacuation, Davidson said. Those animals have since gone back to the kennel.
The parrots also have since gone home, as have many of the other animals, including a group of pigs whose owners dutifully came to Animal Care and Control in Lakeport every day to clean up after their animals and care for them, Davidson said.
“People have been really good about coming back and getting their animals,” he said.
More recently, due to the Jerusalem fire, Davidson said operations of the animal evacuation center have moved to Spruce Grove Storage, 11360 Spruce Grove Road. The facility is managed by Lynnette Bertelli.
So far, Davidson estimated that about 30 percent of those 400 animals still remain either at the shelter or other rescue locations, either because their homes aren't safe to return to or owners haven't retrieved them.
Some animals have had to be evacuated more than once, which was the case with three horses that had to be picked up on Tuesday night due to the Jerusalem fire. Davidson said the same animals had been removed from their home due to the Rocky fire.
The work has sometimes been dangerous for his staff, which is why sheriff's office personnel were escorting Animal Care and Control into evacuation areas while they picked up animals, Davidson said.
However, more recently Cal Fire gave Animal Care and Control its own agency escort. “We've been able to do so much more with a Cal Fire escort being assigned to us,” Davidson said, pointing out that it's also safer since deputies aren't trained in fire behavior.
Davidson said that on Wednesday his staff tried to evacuate animals in the area of Morgan Valley and Reiff Road, which had been placed under a mandatory evacuation order on Tuesday.
He said some residents in that area had refused to leave, but became scared on Wednesday due to the fire conditions and called for help to remove about 20 head of cattle plus several horses.
Two Animal Care and Control staffers, with pickups and trailers, went out into the area along Reiff Road with their Cal Fire escort on Wednesday to try to pickup up the animals, Davidson said.
The Cal Fire escort told the Animal Care and Control staffers that they had 45 minutes to load the animals. But Davidson said, “The animals were so freaked out we were having a hard time loading them.”
Ten minutes later, the Cal Fire staffer returned and told Davidson's staff to leave immediately.
At that point, they had only managed to load one frightened horse, which then backed out of the trailer. Davidson said they had to leave without any of the animals.
“The flames were literally coming up over the road as they were leaving,” said Davidson, adding that his staff members got out OK and were not hurt.
He shared a photo that one of the officers took of the flames along the road as they were leaving. The photo also was posted on Animal Care and Control's Facebook page.
While they are still helping as needed with evacuations, Davidson noted that he and his crew also are now starting to see more regular activity back at the shelter.
“Our population is starting to transition back into strays again rather than evacuated animals,” he said.
That is allowing LEAP volunteers to get a break and get back to their lives, and helping Animal Care and Control to transition back to normal operations, he said.
Once the fires are past, Davidson said there are plans to sit down and write out guidelines on what has, and hasn't, worked well during the emergency response to the fires in order to create the best plan possible for the future.
Anyone needing assistance or information about the animal evacuation services can call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.
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.
In the video above, Lake Evacuation and Animal Protection volunteers Lynnette Bertelli and Karen Schaver explained the animal rescue response during the Rocky fire in Lake County, Calif., in early August 2015.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Kiwanis Club of Lakeport took top honors at this year’s Grillin’ on the Green barbecue cook-off while the Lakeport Fire Department Volunteers earned “Best Decorated Booth” honors at the event, which benefits Westside Community Park.
The grilling team representing the city of Lakeport was runner-up in the cook-off; and in his second outing as a Grillin’ competitor, Adam Bruch led his team, The Bru Cru, to third place.
The winners were selected by people’s choice vote Saturday, Aug. 1, at the sixth annual fundraiser at Westside Community Park.
For the first time, the event also included awards from celebrity judges. Michelle Malm, food services director for the Kelseyville Unified School District, Dave Faries, managing editor of the Lake County Record-Bee, and Michael Lunas, a Lake County Superior Court judge, selected Kiwanis Club of Lakeport’s pork ribs as their favorite and awarded Rookie of the Year to Fresh & Bangin’ Eatery.
Organizers deemed this year’s event a success with over $17,000 in revenue from ticket and drink sales, sponsorships and donations.
More than 340 people attended the fundraiser and enjoyed tastes from 10 grilling teams, music by the LC Diamonds, kids’ activities, horse-drawn wagon rides and a show of classic and vintage cars.
Attendees also voted for their favorites among the 44 vintage vehicles on display, selecting a 1940 Studebaker owned by Gary Williamson as the top car and a 1957 Chevy sedan owned by Joe Colabella as “best make-out vehicle.”
"The Westside Community Park Committee appreciates the support of the community for this year's Grillin',” said Dennis Rollins, chair of the Westside Community Park Committee. “The grillers and other food providers, our sponsors, volunteers, the car clubs, the Horse Council, and the people who came out to enjoy the evening in the park all made for a highly successful event."
Cook-off teams this year included NorCal BBQ Team (formerly Smokin’ and Q’n), the Early Lake Lions, the Lakeport Lions, Main Street Softball Team and Beef Cake.
“Every year I am more impressed with the support of the community and the top-notch cook-off competition,” said Cindy Ustrud, chair of the event committee. “The food keeps getting better and better – the best barbecue anywhere. I can't thank the grillers enough for their enthusiasm and generosity.”
Competing teams and their sponsors supply the food and volunteer their time and services to the fundraiser.
Attendees were treated to additional dishes to complement the barbecue tastes.
Salads, beans, desserts and beverages were provided by Lakeview Market, the Lakeport English Inn, the Kelseyville Unified School District, and Lake Event Design.
Snow cones were available from Marta and Domingo Avillea.
Several attendees took advantage of free horse-drawn wagon rides sponsored by the Lake County Horse Council and provided by Andre and Ellen Boersma of Scotts Valley.
"The wagon rides were well received,” said Rollins. “Dozens of people took the guided tour of the future equestrian area. The committee thanks the Boesmas and the Lake County Horse Council for providing this new addition to Grillin'."
Rollins recognized this year’s major sponsors: the Keeling-Barnes Family Foundation, which pledged matching funds up to $5,000, Sutter Lakeside Hospital, Ruzicka Associates, the Ustrud-Rollins Family and Lake Event Design.
Additional sponsors this year were Clearlake Redi-Mix; Dr. Brian Grey, DDS, MDS; Dr. Alexander McGeoch, DDS; Savings Bank of Mendocino County; Guy Strohmeier’s Auto Center; Kathy Fowler Auto Center; Susie LaPointe; Margaret Silveira; Mendo Lake Credit Union; Peggy Campbell, CPA; William C. Kranz, attorney at law; Polestar Computers; Lake Parts/Napa Auto Parts; Debi Freeland, certified massage practitioner; and Jim and Alice Holmes.
In-kind contributions were made by Lake County News, KNTI radio, Lake Publishing and the Lake County Record-Bee, S2 Tutoring & PR, Lakeport Cinema 5, Wildhurst Vineyards, Kelseyville Unified School District and Kelseyville High School, Disney’s Awards & Trophies, RAHamilton, UCC Rental Center and Nancy Ruzicka.
Rollins also thanked the Grillin’ on the Green committee of volunteers: Ustrud, Wilda Shock, Beth Havrilla, Alice Holmes, Sue Stout, Tami Cramer, Val Schweifler and Jessica Kelley, Cathy Brennan and Mary Ann Larrea.
Westside Community Park is a city of Lakeport recreational facility that has been in development since 1998.
The nonprofit park committee is developing the park in conjunction with the city of Lakeport, volunteers, and numerous contributions by individuals and businesses dedicated to constructing a recreational facility for the youth and adults of Lake County.
AccuWeather reports that as fall of 2015 unfolds, an already brutal wildfire season will continue across much of California and the Northwest.
In contrast, the rain will continue at times in the Southwest even after the monsoon fades in early September.
An expected strong El Niño will lead to beneficial rain for Southern California, but it may be delayed until late fall and winter; meanwhile, flooding and mudslides will threaten the Four Corners region, in addition to some mid-fall snow.
Wet weather is forecast to unfold across the south-central United States after a drier second half of summer, even spreading into the Southeast and mid-Atlantic at times. Farther northeast, a dry autumn is in store for leaf-peepers while the neighboring Midwest will face some chilly conditions.
Warm weather to kick off fall for Mid-Atlantic, Northeast
Fall will get off to a warm start in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic before cooler, more seasonable air settles in during late September.
"There will be some periods where temperatures will come up from time to time. I think there's going to be that back and forth still going on through mid-fall," AccuWeather Expert Long-Range Forecaster Paul Pastelok said.
The region will dry out ahead of winter and, overall, the weather will be conducive to leaf-peepers and those planning to attend the region's many harvest festivals.
After a bitterly cold winter of 2014-2015, the winter of 2015-2016 will be milder. However, the season will be stormy with near- to above-normal snowfall in the offing for many, which could influence temperatures downward late in the season.
"In the Northeast, we've seen a couple of really nasty winters and lots of big storms. And that was without El Niño. El Niño can bring lots of moisture. The question is always, is the cold there when the moisture arrives?"
The moisture may transpire as flooding rains for the mid-Atlantic early, until mid- to late-season when it can be cold enough for snowfall in cities such as Philadelphia and New York City.
Overall, however, the heaviest snow of the season will most likely fall north and west of these areas.
One or two tropical systems in offing for the Southeast
Despite below-normal numbers predicted for the Atlantic hurricane season, the Southeast could still get one or two impacts into the fall.
"I'd watch the central eastern Gulf of Mexico coastline and also maybe the Carolinas," Pastelok said. "September is the month. I think after that the threat will weaken fast and go away."
Regardless of potential tropical impacts, a significant amount of moisture will still make its way into the Southeast through late fall and beyond.
When winter rolls around, severe weather will reignite in Florida, while areas from eastern Texas to Virginia will face rounds of rain and the threat for flooding.
This fall, the Midwest will be milder overall compared to fall of 2014, but it doesn't mean the crop-growing region will be in the clear of occasional early shots of cold air.
"The Midwest could get an early shot of chill in the second or third week of September that can get cold enough to produce frost," Pastelok said.
Wild temperature swings are possible at times, with quick snaps of cold followed by a week of warmer weather.
As for late fall and into the early winter season, there is an opportunity for a storm track to come to places like Chicago and Indianapolis, according to AccuWeather long-range forecasters.
Mild air to stretch across Northern Plains; Southern Plains to remain wet, cool
Mild air will infiltrate the northern Plains into the fall as warmth that has built up over the summer in the Northwest and western Canada spreads eastward.
"This will start in October then come on strong in November. Temperature departures can range anywhere from 3-6 degrees above normal by November," Pastelok said.
Come winter, snowfall for the region is predicted to be below normal.
In the southern Plains, increased rainfall, below-normal temperatures and limited sunshine will define autumn. "It may not be extremely cold, but it will be rough to get those sunny days that get those temperatures up during the daylight hours," Pastelok said.
Fire danger to worsen in California, Northwest
High heat going into the fall and increasingly dry conditions will allow an already brutal wildfire season to worsen across much of California and the Northwest.
"The problem with the Northwest is they're getting these weak systems that produce spotty storms and they're kicking off more fires than they're helping [to extinguish]," Pastelok said.
Into October, the region could also get some late-season 90-degree days.
However, in California, Santa Ana winds will be at fault through September and October. This will bolster the fire threat, in what has already been a deadly and destructive season.
Some rain is possible for the drought-stricken state from October to November, though it will hardly make up for the existing deficit.
The greatest chance for denting or eliminating the long-term drought will be in winter and early spring with the help of a strong El Niño.
Wild weather to grip Southwest, Four Corners
After a few years of drought conditions for the Four Corners region, heavy rain can settle in this fall leading to significant flooding and mudslide events through November.
Drought conditions have fueled wildfires over the past few years, resulting in unrecovered burn scar areas.
"When you put a lot of rain on top of that, you're going to get a lot of mudslides and you're going to get a lot of flooding a lot easier. That's the problem they're going to face this season," Pastelok said.
By November, temperatures will drop well below normal across the Southwest, leading to a very active, wet and snowy season, typical of an El Niño pattern.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Fire officials said the Jerusalem fire is continuing its spread through wildland although containment has risen, while to the north the effort to fully contain the Rocky fire took another step forward on Wednesday.
Cal Fire said early Wednesday night that the Jerusalem fire's size was up to 20,500 acres, a growth of 4,000 acres during the course of the day, while containment nearly tripled to 16 percent.
The Jerusalem fire, which began Sunday afternoon in the Jerusalem Valley area northeast of Middletown is still expected to be contained fully by Aug. 17, Cal Fire said.
Meanwhile, on the 69,636-acre Rocky fire to the north, which began burning July 29 to the east of Lower Lake and later ran north of Highway 20 east of Clearlake Oaks, containment rose to 95 percent by Wednesday evening, according to Cal Fire.
Cal Fire had expected to fully contain the Rocky incident by Thursday, but has now pushed the estimated date for full containment to Saturday.
Fire maps Cal Fire issued on Wednesday morning showed that several areas of the Jerusalem fire have burned up against – or into – the Rocky fire's southern perimeter.
Cal Fire spokesman Scott McLean also confirmed on Wednesday evening to Lake County News that the fire, which had crossed into Napa County earlier this week, has now moved just inside the borders of Yolo County.
Officials said the fire continues to burn into remote, difficult-to-access areas with dense vegetation and a lack of improved roads, with the added complications of winds that continue to be erratic.
Cal Fire officials said the winds continue to push the Jerusalem fire to the east and away from heavily populated areas.
However, Cal Fire spokesman Daniel Berlant said in a Wednesday report that winds during the day had died down on the Jerusalem fire and allowed firefighters to make progress, adding that the Rocky fire has acted as a containment line on the Jerusalem fire.
Cal Fire said 50 structures remain threatened by the Jerusalem fire, with radio reports indicating that firefighters on the ground and in the air continued their efforts to protect residences and outbuildings throughout the day.
Scanner traffic earlier in the afternoon and evening reported that a large fire ball had gone up from an area near a metal building that was surrounded by vehicles in the Jerusalem fire burn area, causing air attack to avoid the location.
McLean told Lake County News that the explosion – which was in an area north of Oat Hill and west of Berryessa Knoxville Road – could have come from a propane bottle or one of the older, broken down vehicles near the building, which he said wasn't damaged.
An evacuation shelter is open at Kelseyville High School, telephone 415-307-4503, officials said.
An animal evacuation center is staged at Spruce Grove Storage, 11360 Spruce Grove Road, in Lower Lake, according to Lake County Animal Care and Control Director Bill Davidson. That center can be reached by phone at 707-263-0278.
Authorities said continuing road closures are in effect at Jerusalem Valley Road at Spruce Grove Road, Morgan Valley Road from Reiff Road southeast to Napa County line, Reiff Road from Morgan Valley east to Yolo County line and Berryessa Knoxville Road from Lake Berryessa north.
Resources on the Jerusalem fire increased again on Wednesday, with assigned personnel totaling 2,053, plus 140 engines, 57 hand crews, 28 dozers, 21 water tenders, 15 helicopters and four air tankers, Cal Fire said.
Spot fires were reported in the Jerusalem Grade Road area, inside an area that has already burned, on Wednesday evening, based on radio traffic.
Radio reports from the scene indicated air operations ceased for the day just after 8 p.m. At about the same time, firefighters were reported to be wrapping up a phase of firing operations.
Drift smoke from the Jerusalem fire was continuing to result in smoke checks for firefighters in the area of the Double Eagle Ranch east of Clearlake Oaks, which is within the Rocky fire area, according to reports from the scene.
Cal Fire said there are still 361 firefighters assigned to the Rocky fire, along with 24 engines, 14 dozers, eight water tenders, six hand crews and two helicopters.
Firefighters in the Rocky fire boundaries are continuing to actively patrol and work on mop up, dealing with what Cal Fire reported are isolated pockets of smoldering fuel deep within the interior of the burn with minimal fire activity near the perimeter.
Overnight radio traffic had reported the discovery of a burning tree along Highway 20 in the Rocky fire area.
As the Rocky fire nears final containment, mop up of hot spots and patrolling of fire lines is set to continue for several days, Cal Fire said, while fire crews also continue with making repairs to fire suppression areas.
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.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday evening issued a new mandatory evacuation order due to the movement and growth of the Jerusalem fire.
Cal Fire said the fire had reached 14,000 acres and 5-percent containment early Tuesday evening.
Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office said the fire is currently moving in a northern direction.
As a result of the fire's growth and movement, Brooks said a mandatory evacuation order has been implemented for all residents in the following areas:
– Morgan Valley Road from the Rocky Fire burn area, which is near the Reiff Road intersection, east to the Napa County line; – Reiff Road from the Morgan Valley Road intersection east to the Yolo County line.
In addition, Brooks said Morgan Valley Road will remain closed east of the intersection of Reiff Road to the Napa County line, and Reiff Road will be closed east of the intersection of Morgan Valley Road to the Napa County line.
Residents should gather their medications, pets, and important papers and are advised to leave the area immediately. Brooks said.
If needed, Brooks said residents may seek shelter at the Middletown High School, 20932 Big Canyon Road.
Mandatory evacuations already are in place for the Jerusalem Valley area east of Spruce Grove.
That area includes Tinilyn Road, Nicholas Way, Jaclyn Road, June Bug Drive, Jerusalem Grade, Jerusalem Valley Road, Jerusalem Road, W Jerusalem Road, Canyon Road, Coon Flat Road and Daly Place.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake and Mendocino counties are sponsoring the second annual Lake and Mendocino Veterans Stand Down/Resource Fair next month.
The stand down will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, at the American Legion Post 437, located at 14770 Austin Road in Clearlake.
Vietnam veterans in San Diego introduced the stand down concept in 1988 as a way to help veterans in need.
Since then, similar free stand down events have been held regularly in cities all over the nation to provide food, clothing, services and referrals to homeless and at-risk veterans.
The inaugural Lake County stand down event held last year, also at the Clearlake American Legion Post 437, hosted hundreds of veterans and offered a variety of services and information from more than 30 agencies and organizations, as Lake County News has reported.
This year's stand down will offer access to on-site medical and dental attention, enrollment in health care and supplemental nutrition programs, officials said.
Organizers are again seeking volunteers to assist with the event.
Volunteers will assist in capacities including helping to organize supplies, passing out clothing or toiletry items, and preparing food.
If you would like to volunteer to assist with this event, contact Frank Parker, UVC President 707-274-9512 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or Alice Watkins at the Mendocino County Veterans Services Office, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 707-463-4226.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Emergency Operation Center (EOC) is still activated and available to assist victims of the Rocky / Jerusalem fires, officials said Wednesday.
Lake County Emergency Operation Center coordinates with county, municipal, state and federal agencies to provide protection to lives and property from natural and manmade disasters.
The Lake County EOC was activated on July 29, 2015 shortly after the Rocky fire began.
Lake County Office of Emergency Services Manager Marisa Chilafoe thanked all county staff, and partnering and mutual aid agencies for their help in staffing the Lake Emergency Operations Center.
“Though we are pleased with the progress the EOC made on the Rocky fire, our work is not done, Chilafoe said. “Lake County Office of Emergency Services will remain vigilant on the Jerusalem fire and will be prepared to handle other Lake County emergencies as needed.”
Chilafoe also says, “The Lake County Office of Education has been instrumental in our partnership to serve the community and those affected by the fires.”
On the Rocky fire, the Lake County Emergency Operation Center is moving into the recovery phase. The EOC provides assistance to the community while recovering from an emergency and helping residents and businesses return to a normal life as soon as possible.
Lake County opened a Local Assistance Center (LakeLAC) at 14092 Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake on Monday morning, Aug. 10. The hours of operation are 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. The LakeLAC will close Wednesday, Aug. 12, at 7 p.m.
The LakeLAC is intended to assist residents and business owners with access to recovery information and to connect with available resources, including numerous state and local agencies and many non-profits.
With regard to the Jerusalem fire, the Lake County Emergency Operation Center is continuing to provide care and shelter for those displaced by the Jerusalem fire.
The American Red Cross transitioned out of the Middletown shelter and opened shelter at Kelseyville High School on Wednesday, Aug. 12, at noon.
Chilafoe also acknowledges the work of Lake County law enforcement. “Thank you to Sheriff Brian Martin for his leadership and phenomenal job with the evacuation efforts during this unpredictable situation. He and his deputies rose to the challenge.”
For help in dealing with the Rocky Fire and Jerusalem Fire, please call the Rocky Fire Help Line at 1 (800) 325-9604 or go to www.LakeCountyLAC.com .
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The acreage of the Jerusalem fire doubled overnight as it continued to burn through remote and difficult terrain, while firefighters pushed the nearby Rocky fire closer to full containment.
The Jerusalem fire, which began burning Sunday afternoon in the Jerusalem Valley area northeast of Middletown, had reached 12,000 acres by Tuesday morning, with no containment yet achieved, according to Cal Fire.
Fifty structures remain threatened, with none destroyed or damaged so far, Cal Fire said.
Authorities have implemented some mandatory and advisory evacuations, and an evacuation shelter at Middletown High School remains open. The full list of evacuation orders and advisories is at http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_details_info?incident_id=1193 .
On the Rocky fire, located to the north and burning since July 29, firefighters edged containment up on that 69,636-acre blaze to 88 percent overnight, Cal Fire said.
Approximately 1,344 personnel continue to work in the footprint of the massive Rocky incident, with crews dealing overnight with flare ups and continuing to try to gain access to some parts of the fire located in rugged country, Cal Fire said.
Still committed to the Rocky fire are 45 engines, 36 hand crews, 10 helicopters, six dozers and two helicopters, Cal Fire said Tuesday morning, with numerous resources from the incident having already been deployed to the Jerusalem fire or one of the other wildland fires burning elsewhere in the state.
While the Jerusalem fire saw 6,000 acres of growth since Monday evening, Cal Fire said burning conditions actually slowed overnight due to an increase in relative humidity – which radio reports indicated was in the mid 50-percent range – and cooler temperatures.
At the same time, however, crews have had to deal with the same kinds of erratic winds that fanned the Rocky fire, and which are promoting what Cal Fire said are high intensity runs on the Jerusalem incident, with short range spotting.
Resources committed to the Jerusalem fire on Tuesday morning included 1,1,22 personnel, 32 engines, 32 hand crews, 23 dozers, 18 water tenders and 17 helicopters, Cal Fire said.
Firefighters on the lines of both incidents Tuesday should be aided by slightly cooler temperatures, with the National Weather Service forecasting highs in the mid-80s and milder conditions overall through mid-week thanks to a low pressure system moving through the region. However, north northwest winds of up to 9 miles per hour are predicted.
Cal Fire estimates the Rocky fire will be fully contained on Thursday, and the Jerusalem fire will be fully contained on Aug. 17.
The causes of both fires remain under investigation, authorities said.
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.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Dig out those blue suede shoes and poodle skirts, hang those dice in your car window and get ready for the Hot August Nites Car Show & Concert this weekend.
The Lakeport Senior Center is hosting its third annual fundraiser event from 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, at Lakeport’s Library Park on Park Street.
There is something for everyone at the event, said center Director Jonathan Crooks.
“Meet your friends, bring your family, enjoy the beauty of Library Park, listen to great music, dance, sing, eat great food, maybe win a raffle prize – what a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon and evening,” Crooks said.
Starting at 4 p.m. in the park there will be food and drink vendors offering choices ranging from hot dogs, hamburgers and pulled pork sandwiches to ice cream, with other vendors selling jewelry, crafts, clothing and 1950s memorabilia.
Come early to see beautiful cars, trucks and motorcycles “cruise the main” before they set up in front of Library Park for the Car Show on Park Street at 5 p.m.
Vehicles anticipated to be on display include a 1912 Ford C-Cab, 1931 Chevy Roadster, 1973 Chevy Wagon, 1966 Ford Mustang, 1936 Ford Phaeton, 1969 Camaro, plus many more.
A free concert by the LC Diamonds will start at 6 p.m.
There also will be many raffle prizes – courtesy passes to Cinema 5, Snoopy’s Ice Rink in Santa Rosa, Lakeport Speedway, Schwinn three-wheel bike donated by John Puccetti of Affordable Travel, a Coleman portable gas barbecue donated by Judie and Al Reynolds, an anti-gravity lounge chair, a complete ladies 1950s costume and a 1950s painted tool box donated by a “mystery shopper.”
A 1950s costume contest for both children and adults will be held, with gifts cards donated for the winners from McDonalds-Lakeport and Cheese’s Main Street Pizza.
Proceeds will benefit the center in serving the community's many seniors as well as upgrading much-needed equipment.
For more information contact the center at 707-263-4218, and follow it on Facebook.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Wednesday morning Cal Fire reports that containment of the Jerusalem fire has edged up slightly while the fire continues to grow.
An additional 2,500 acres were consumed by the fire overnight bringing the total to 16,500 acres. Containment for the Jerusalem fire has risen to six percent, according to Cal Fire.
No structures are confirmed burned at this point though Cal Fire reports that 50 structures are threatened.
On Tuesday evening, because of the fire's movement and continued growth, the Lake County Sheriff's Office issued new mandatory evacuations for all residents along Morgan Valley Road from the Rocky Fire burn area, which is near the Reiff Road intersection, east to the Napa County line, and for Reiff Road from the Morgan Valley Road intersection east to the Yolo County line, as Lake County News has reported.
Previously placed under mandatory evacuation was the Jerusalem Valley area east of Spruce Grove, including Tinilyn Road, Nicholas Way, Jaclyn Road, June Bug Drive, Jerusalem Grade, Jerusalem Valley Road, Jerusalem Road, W Jerusalem Road, Canyon Road, Coon Flat Road and Daly Place.
Officials said advisory evacuations remain in effect for Grange Road from Luchetti Ranch Road east to Bucksnort Creek, and Butts Canyon Road from Bucksnort Creek east to the Napa County line.
Altogether, Cal Fire said 50 structures remain threatened, but none have been burned or damaged thus far, with reports from the fire lines indicating firefighters have been working on structure protection.
Evacuees are being directed to Middletown High School, 20932 Big Canyon Road, where a Red Cross evacuation shelter remains open, telephone 415-971-0797.
The Lake County Office of Emergency Services reported that the Red Cross will close the Middletown shelter at noon on Wednesday and reopen the shelter at Kelseyville High School, 5480 Main St. That shelter can be reached at 415-307-4503.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Firefighters continued their efforts overnight to fully contain both the Rocky and Jerusalem fires.
As of Monday night, the Rocky fire remained at 69,636 acres and 85-percent containment, with the Jerusalem fire at 6,000 acres with no estimated containment, according to Cal Fire.
Cal Fire said it anticipates having the Rocky fire – which began on July 29 – fully contained on Thursday.
Estimated containment on the Jerusalem fire, which began on Sunday afternoon in the Jerusalem Valley area northeast of Middletown, is expected on Aug. 17, Cal Fire said.
Still assigned to the Rocky fire on Monday night were resources including 1,344 personnel, 45 engines, 36 fire crews, 10 water tenders, six dozers and two helicopters, according to Cal Fire.
The agency said firefighters were quickly demobilized from the Rocky fire to the new Jerusalem fire, which is burning south of the Rocky fire perimeter.
The Jerusalem fire's quick growth resulted in mandatory evacuations for the Jerusalem Valley area east of Spruce Grove beginning on Sunday, with advisory evacuations issued on Monday, as Lake County News has reported. The full list of evacuations and advisories is at http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_details_info?incident_id=1193 .
Altogether, the fire is threatening 50 structures, Cal Fire said. An evacuation shelter remains open at Middletown High School.
By Monday night, the Jerusalem fire had nearly as many resources committed to it, with Cal Fire reporting that 1,122 personnel, 83 fire engines, 32 fire crews, 23 dozers, 18 water tenders and 17 helicopters were assigned.
Radio reports indicated that throughout the night new fire crews and resources were continuing to arrive to work on the Jerusalem fire.
Firefighters were reported to be working on structure defense in areas along Morgan Valley Road and in Jericho Valley, according to reports from the scene.
Erratic winds were proving a challenge for firefighters overnight. Cal Fire said the winds were contributing to the increased fire activity and promoting high intensity runs with short range spotting.
Overnight, firefighters were reporting wind speeds of about 10 to 15 miles per hour on ridge tops, with winds coming from the west northwest. Scanner reports early Tuesday morning indicated higher humidity and dropping wind speeds, which later were anticipated to pick up again, with a change in wind direction to north northwest.
While the Rocky incident is nearing full containment, Cal Fire warned that several small flare ups may still be seen within the fire's interior.
That was the case late Monday and early Tuesday, when firefighters received reports of a flare up along Highway 16, based on radio reports.
Firefighters investigating the reports stated over the air that they found a burning log about six miles from the Cal Fire Wilbur Springs fire station on Highway 16.
At one point on Monday evening, radio reports indicated that a search was on for four hunters near the fire areas. The hunters later were safely found.
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.