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NORTH COAST, Calif. – Fire managers have lifted the evacuation advisory previously in place for roads and areas near the Eel fire, 10 miles east of Covelo.

The fire began last Tuesday.

With containment at 60 percent and no growth in several days, fire managers have determined the area is safe for the public and residents, according to Punky Moore, spokeswoman for the Mendocino National Forest.

The public is asked to use caution while traveling through the area as personnel and equipment are still working on the fire.

Moore said fire crews continue to mop up smoldering vegetation, reinforce containment lines and fell dead standing trees that pose a threat to firefighters on the line.

With diminished fire activity, the number of resources needed on the incident will start to decrease. Moore said there are approximately 144 personnel working on the incident and the fire remains at 972 acres.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A number of Lake County offices forced to close because of the Mendocino Complex will reopen on Monday, Aug. 6.

The River and Ranch Fires began Friday, July 27, and continue to threaten portions of Lake County.  

Consequences have been widespread, including the closure of most Lakeport-based county offices and the Lakeport branch of the Superior Court for the full week of July 30, as Lake County News has reported.

On Monday, Aug. 6, all Lakeport-based county offices and the Lakeport branch of the Lake County Superior Court will reopen.  

Offices in all areas of the county no longer under mandatory evacuation will also resume business.

County government and court leaders said they have undertaken considerable efforts to ensure the Lake County Courthouse building at 255 N. Forbes St. in Lakeport and other county offices are ready for the resumption of regular duties.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. -- Cal Fire reports that crews had some success increasing containment on the River Fire Saturday night and containment lines were holding.

Some additional structures have been destroyed since Saturday.

The Mendocino Complex has grown in size to 254,982 acres, with total containment at 33 percent. No injuries or fatalities have been reported. Cal Fire’s Saturday night report set the complex of the Ranch and River fires at 229,006 acres.

Overnight the Ranch Fire grew to 207,319 acres with containment at 23 percent while the River fire acreage remained unchanged overnight at 47,663 acres and containment at 50 percent.

The fires continue to threaten 15,300 structures while 68 residences 62 other structures have been destroyed.

Damaged structures are now reported at 12 residences damaged with 14 other structures reported damaged.

The Ranch Fire continues to grow in a South-East direction and crews will continue to be embedded in the communities providing structure protection.

The Pillsbury Lake Basin still continues to be threatened and crews are working strategically protect this area.

The town of Lucerne, among others on the Northshore, has been spared but the fire has done damage in Spring Valley.

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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Mendocino Complex continued to add acreage overnight as it pushed further into the national forest and western Colusa County, and new damage totals showed another increase in structures lost in its path.

Cal Fire said the Mendocino Complex grew to 273,664 acres and 30-percent containment by Monday morning, an overall increase of nearly 6,700 acres overnight.

That breaks down as 225,001 acres and 21-percent containment for the Ranch fire and 48,663 acres and 58-percent containment for the River fire, according to Cal Fire.

The complex is now the second-largest wildland fire incident in California’s history, second only to the Thomas fire, which burned 281,893 acres in Ventura and Santa Barbara in December.

Based on an updated damage assessment, Cal Fire said Monday morning that the complex has so far destroyed 143 buildings, specifically, 75 homes and 68 structures. Approximately 26 structures, 12 residents and 14 other types of building, have been damaged.

Cal Fire said the complex continues to threaten 9,300 structures.

Officials said the River Fire had limited movement overnight. A burnout operation conducted on the northern portion of the fire late Sunday afternoon improved containment. Firefighters are planning to work on burning out and tying in containment lines on Monday.

With containment up and firefighters making progress on the River fire, resources are being mobilized to help with the Ranch fire, according to Cal Fire.

The Ranch Fire continues to grow to the north and southeastern directions, threatening communities in its path, fire officials said.

Fire mapping shows it is continuing to move north toward Stonyford in Colusa County. Cal Fire Incident Management Team 2 Operations Section Chief Charlie Blankenheim said Sunday that fire officials have plans for protecting Stonyford should it reach there, and have put in control lines to keep it out of that community.

Cal Fire said the terrain on the northern quarter of the Ranch Fire makes it challenging to access the fire front directly.

Late Sunday night, Kurt Jensen Jr., a Lake County News contributor, said he witnessed the fire burning actively off of High Valley Road above the community of Clearlake Oaks, while Lake County News staff in the area on Sunday evening said it did not appear to be active Sunday in areas of including Lucerne, Glenhaven and Clearlake Oaks along Highway 20.

Cal Fire said many crews will be on the ground in the communities threatened by the fire, providing structure protection.

Resources that Cal Fire said are assigned to the Mendocino Complex as of Monday morning include 3,781 personnel, 432 engines, 89 water tenders, 15 helicopters, 57 hand crews and 80 dozers.

The target for full containment continues to be Aug. 15, Cal Fire 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.
The Ranch fire, part of the Mendocino Complex, burning along High Valley Road near Clearlake Oaks, Calif., late Sunday, August 5, 2018. Photo by Kurt Jensen Jr. for Lake County News.
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NORTH COAST, Calif. – Calmer winds and lower temperatures have aided firefighting efforts on the Eel fire.

The fire began Tuesday 10 miles east of Covelo on the Mendocino National Forest.

Mendocino National Forest spokeswoman Punky Moore said firefighters reached 60 percent containment on the incident Sunday.

She said the fire remains at 972 acres.

There are 144 personnel assigned to the incident to patrol, extinguish smoldering vegetation near containment lines – commonly referred to as mopping up – and to fell snags that pose a threat to firefighters working on the fireline, Moore said.

She said this incident is aided by personnel from the US Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Arizona and the private sector.

“The interagency cooperation on this incident showed how individual agencies come together and work effectively to meet one set of objectives on incidents no matter the location or jurisdiction,” said Incident Commander Dale Shippelhoute.

On Sunday, minimal fire behavior was observed with mostly smoldering and creeping. A warming trend will return with no precipitation in the forecast, Moore said.

Mandatory evacuations were lifted for the North M1 Road from the Eel River Station to the Indian Dick Station. Moore said an evacuation advisory remained in place for this area on Sunday.
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LUCERNE, Calif. – As the Ranch fire continued its Northshore run on Saturday, hundreds of firefighters were on the line to protect structures and try to stop the fire from burning into the town of Lucerne.

The video above gives a brief overview of the work done on Saturday to help protect the Lucerne community from the Ranch fire, part of the Mendocino Complex, which appeared to move east but later was reported to have done more damage in Spring Valley.

The video was completed by John Jensen of Lake County News.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Fire officials reported gaining ground on the Mendocino Complex on Sunday, with much of that success being in protecting Northshore communities.

Cal Fire said it has established fire lines on the ridges of the Northshore meant to protect communities stretching from Upper Lake in the west to Clearlake Oaks in the east.

A full update on the situation that unfolded on Sunday is here: http://bit.ly/2vHlNlZ.

In response to community members’ questions about the situation in Clearlake Oaks and Glenhaven along Highway 20, John Jensen of Lake County News took a quick trip to those areas on Sunday evening, reporting that both appeared to be unscathed.

The short video above gives an idea of the conditions there on Sunday.

In the town of Lucerne, Kurt Jensen Jr., a Lake County News contributor, reported on Sunday night that it was quiet, with no fire activity in the community boundaries.

However, Kurt Jensen said he encountered the Ranch fire burning off High Valley Road above Clearlake Oaks, in an area where Cal Fire had earlier confirmed that the fire was active.

Fire officials have reported losses in the Spring Valley Lakes subdivision east of Clearlake Oaks, but so far specific numbers have not been reported.

Separately, Lake County News has received reports from property owners about structure losses in the Bartlett Springs area in the hills above Lucerne. A tally of losses is not yet available.

Lake County News is planning another trip through the fire areas on Monday to visit other communities impacted by the Ranch fire, as conditions allow.

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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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. -- Sunday morning, County of Lake Information Technology director Shane French has re-established the county's live camera feed from Buckingham peak.

French moved the feed to Youtube so more people can get a bird's eye view of conditions in the county, a previous stream platform had proved unreliable, according to French.

The camera has been set to a 360-degree pan which reveals an expansive view of Lake County and captures weather conditions as well as views of the fires.

Although the high definition view is affected by smoky haze from the fires, billowing clouds of smoke drifting toward the East and South are clearly visible.

French advises the stream remains in development and may go down while tinkering happens and a stable, long-term solution is implemented.

He volunteers that the camera dome could do with a bit of cleaning and when he's able he'll be going to the top of the mountain to tidy up. "I guess I have an excuse now," he said.

Two other live streams located at Lucerne Harbor park are currently down, likely power loss or other outside influence.

Those streams, once reactivated, will be available at konoctibaitshack.com. The operator of the park streams, John Jensen of Lake County News, says going into the area for the purpose of restoring the streams isn't a high priority at the moment.

At the moment these are the only embeddable streams in Lake County that Jensen or French are aware of, Jensen asks that if other embeddable streams exist to let him know through Lake County News.

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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Gov. Jerry Brown and Congressman Mike Thompson have both asked the Trump administration for a presidential major disaster declaration to assist areas hard hit by the summer’s wildland fires, including Lake County.

Officials said there are 17 major fires currently burning across the state, causing extensive damage to residences and infrastructure. More than 14,000 firefighters from California and 17 other states are working the front lines of wildfires statewide.

Those incidents include the Mendocino Complex, burning in Lake, Mendocino and Colusa counties, and headed toward Glenn County.

By Saturday night hit had topped 229,000 acres and destroyed more than 100 structures. It continues to threaten an estimated 15,300 structures and has resulted in the evacuation of thousands of residents in the three counties where it’s actively burning.

Last week, Gov. Brown declared a state of emergency in Shasta, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Riverside and Mariposa counties due to multiple fires and requested and secured federal aid to further support communities impacted by the Carr Fire.

Then, on Saturday, the governor met with local leaders and fire and emergency management officials at the Carr Fire Incident Command Post in Shasta County and officially requested a presidential major disaster declaration to bolster the ongoing emergency response and help residents recover from the devastating fires burning in Lake, Mendocino, Napa and Shasta counties.

“Battling these relentless fires requires a Herculean effort,” said Gov. Brown in the request for a presidential major disaster declaration sent Saturday to the White House. “Additional federal assistance is needed immediately to reduce the direct threat to public health and safety.”

A presidential major disaster declaration makes individuals in the impacted counties eligible for a number of programs and support, including crisis counseling, unemployment assistance, food aid and legal services.

The governor’s office said a declaration also would help state, tribal and local governments with ongoing emergency response and recovery, including the repair and replacement of disaster-damaged facilities and infrastructure, including roads, bridges and utilities.

Congressman Mike Thompson added his support to the state of California’s request for the major disaster declaration to gain individual and public assistance for Lake, Mendocino, Napa and Shasta counties in a Saturday letter to President Donald Trump.

“An Emergency Declaration under the Stafford Act will provide the essential federal resources needed to help our communities recover from these devastating fires,” Thompson said.
 
Later on Saturday,  Brown’s office reported that the White House approved the request for the presidential major disaster declaration for the Carr fire in Shasta County.

At its peak, the Carr Fire forced more than 35,000 Shasta and Trinity county residents to seek temporary shelter – and thousands remain evacuated. To date, the fire has burned more than 140,000 acres, killed half a dozen people and is about 40-percent contained.

“This is part of a trend – a new normal – that we've got to deal with. We're dealing with it humanly, financially and governmentally,” said Brown on Saturday during a media briefing at the Carr Fire Incident Command Post in Anderson. “These kinds of horrible situations bring people together, regardless of the lesser kind of ideologies and partisan considerations.”

The Governor’s Office reported that the Federal Emergency Management Agency is reviewing the disaster declaration requests for Lake, Mendocino and Napa counties on an expedited basis as preliminary damage assessments continue.

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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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The fourth-largest wildland fire complex in California history grew by nearly 40,000 more acres on Sunday as it pushed further into forest lands in Lake County and east into Colusa County.

The Mendocino Complex reached 266,982 acres and 33-percent containment on Sunday night, according to Cal Fire.

The largest of the complex’s two fires, the Ranch fire, is up to 218,319 acres and 23-percent contained, while the River fire is 48,663 acres and 58-percent contained, Cal Fire said.

The boundaries of the two fires still have not touched, although they have continued to creep closer together and appear to be less than two miles apart in the area of Scotts Valley Road near West Highway 20, based on state mapping.

That growth between the northern edge of the River fire and the southern boundary of the Ranch fire, however, appears to have stalled thanks to containment lines fire officials said have been completed between Scotts Valley Road and Blue Lakes near Highway 20.

Firing operations planned for Sunday night and early Monday morning also are expected to strengthen containment, according to Cal Fire Incident Management Team 2 Operations Section Chief Charlie Blankenheim.

The Ranch fire, which burned into the scar of the June Pawnee fire on Saturday, has shown the most aggressive growth, gaining nearly 40,000 acres in size since Saturday night and throwing spot fires over one mile ahead of the main fire, according to Mendocino National Forest spokeswoman Punky Moore.

Cal Fire said more resources are now working the incident, including approximately 3,781 firefighting personnel, 432 engines, 89 water tenders, 15 helicopters, 57 hand crews, 80 dozers and an unspecified number of aircraft.

With some evacuations called off in the north Lakeport area, the number of structures threatened on Sunday was reduced to 9,300, Cal Fire said.

However, an updated damage assessment from Cal Fire showed a growing toll, with 130 structures – 68 residences and 62 other buildings – now reported destroyed, and 26 structures – 12 homes and 14 others – damaged.

The good news, according to Cal Fire, is that favorable weather allowed firefighters to get in and directly fight the fire in some areas.

That stable weather system occurred on Sunday morning, and Cal Fire said it gave ground and air opportunities to suppress the fire’s growth.

However, conditions continue to change quickly, and on Sunday afternoon lower humidity and higher winds caused the Ranch fire’s activity to increase and push forward as it has in previous days to the south, east and northern portions of the fire.

State fire mapping shows that the Ranch fire spread northward toward Lake Pillsbury overnight. Moore said firefighters initiated dozer line overnight from the Eel River northeast toward Elk Mountain Road to protect the residences around Lake Pillsbury, and to attempt to keep the fire out of the Pine Mountain Project.

She said the fire slowed around Little Round Mountain on Sunday morning.

The fire also has continued to move east toward western Colusa County. Over the court of the last few days, it has passed the northern end of Indian Valley Reservoir and continued approaching Leesville.

To the north lies the community of Stonyford. As of Sunday evening, the Ranch fire hadn’t reached there yet, Blankenheim said.

“The fire is still quite a ways from Stonyford,” he said, explaining there is fire line at the toe of the slope where the forest comes out of the hills before Stonyford.

While the Ranch fire is expected to continue moving north toward Stonyford, Blankenheim said they feel pretty good about where they've placed line to keep it out of that community. “We do have a plan to keep it out of the structures in Stonyford,” he said.

Moore said crews were working on dozer lines along the Stonyford-Lodoga Road and around Stonyford.  

She said the favorable conditions on Sunday on the southeastern side of the fire, included favorable visibility that allowed aircraft to use retardant drops to reduce the fire spread while firefighters on the ground built dozer line down the eastern edge of Bear Valley.

Moore said the Mendocino National Forest’s Stonyford Work Station is closed until further notice due to mandatory evacuations on the Ranch fire.

Firefighters gaining ground

During a Sunday evening community meeting held at the Lake County Courthouse in Lakeport, Blankenheim gave an overview of the gains and the challenges on the River and Ranch fires.

Blankenheim’s Incident Management Team 2 is familiar with Lake County, having worked here during the 2015 Rocky and Jerusalem fires, according to Cal Fire Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit Chief Shana Jones, who also spoke at the Sunday meeting.

“It’s been a real good day on the River fire,” Blankenheim said.

On the southern portion of the fire, near Highway 175 and Lakeport, all of the fire line is tied in, mop up has been completed and equipment is moving out, he said.

Up through Scotts Valley, where last week some of the most furious fire activity had occurred, the situation was looking good on Sunday evening, with fire line tied in, Blankenheim said. He said the situation was the same on the Mendocino side of the incident.

Blankenheim said two firing operations, expected to burn between 2,000 and 3,000 acres, will take place along the River fire’s northern edge in the Scotts Valley area overnight.

The successes on the River fire led to the reopening of Highway 20 between Highway 101 and Highway 29 on Sunday. Highway 29 south of Highway 20 also reopened in both directions. Highway 20 east of Highway 29 remains closed, officials said.

The situation on the Ranch fire was more dynamic and active on Sunday, according to Blankenheim.

He said the Highway 20 corridor from Upper Lake to Clearlake Oaks looks very good. However, he said the fire is still active along the highway coming out of Upper Lake.

Blankenheim said there is dozer line established along the ridges from Upper Lake to Clearlake Oaks.

Firefighters are trying not to use that line on the ridge, however. “We’re going direct wherever we can,” he said, using helicopters to drop water, planes to drop retardant and hand crews to cut lines.

“We’re trying to keep it from coming off the hill,” he said.

Engines are staged and prepped around the communities of Upper Lake, Nice, Lucerne and Clearlake Oaks to protect them, he said.

Blankenheim said the Ranch fire hit the Pawnee fire scar on Saturday. On Sunday, he said firefighters were holding the fire’s progression at High Valley Ridge, where it was backing down in a few places and structure protection was in place.

“The plan for tonight is to continue to go direct wherever we can,” he said, noting there are a lot of spot fires and activity on the Ranch fire.

With the River fire wrapping up, Blankenheim said they have been able to move resources and concentrate aircraft along the southeast portion of the Ranch fire. “We’re really having some good success.”

On Saturday, when the Ranch fire hit the Pawnee fire area, it moved up Indian Valley Reservoir and hit the lake.

He said it then made an 8- to 10-mile run from an area of the map that appeared to be northwest of Hough Springs in Lake County east toward Leesville and Brim Road in Colusa County.

The Ranch fire has crossed Brim Road and has an east wind from the Sacramento Valley on it, pushing it back toward Indian Valley Reservoir. They’re trying to tie it into the reservoir, where Blankenheim said they’re optimistic they can stop it.

Blankenheim said they took direct line from Brim line to Stonyford, and did firing operations Saturday night up to just below Lodoga, where it’s holding well.

If they can pick up the slopover on the fire’s eastern edge in Colusa County overnight, he said they will be good shape from the northeast corner near Leesville to the edge of the fire’s head near Lucerne.

While there is still a lot of potential for spot fires, Blankenheim said they believe they can hold the head of the fire – the active portion heading east – and their No. 1 priority on Monday is to work that area.

He said firefighters will continue to build line up past Stonyford and look for places to bend it back across the Mendocino National Forest. The forest area continues to provide a lot of challenges due to a lack of resources, with the focus on areas where structures are and where the head of the fire is.

Blankenheim said they’re now starting to shift resources and focus to building lines across the northern portion of the Ranch fire.

Line also is being built up out of Potter Valley toward the lake, with a goal of using the Eel River to control the fire’s advance, he said.

Blankenheim said a lot of work on the forest remains to be done, as well as a lot of planning.

Officials are optimistic that the situation is starting to come together after three to four days where their efforts seemed futile and nothing appeared to work, he said, adding that they’re finally feeling like they’re getting a handle on the bottom of the fire.

Sheriff Brian Martin said Sunday evening that mandatory evacuations for the majority of the Northshore are remaining in effect due to the continued fire activity – which can be seen in the hills above the towns.

He said law enforcement patrols are continuing to protect the evacuated communities.

Martin said evacuations will remain in place until it’s safe.

“If we let you in too soon, we’re going to fail you,” he said, explaining some areas remain dangerous and there also are some power outages in fire-impacted communities.

He said authorities will do their best to keep community members safe and get them home as soon as possible.

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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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. -- The Lake County Sheriff's Office reports that the evacuation order for the North Lakeport area east of Hill Road has been reduced to an advisory. 

Residents north of the Scotts Valley Road and Hill Road intersection, east of Hill Road, south of Nice-Lucerne Cutoff Road, and west of Clear Lake may return home.

This will includes all driveways and streets accessed from Hill Road and Lakeshore Blvd. to the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff.

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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – This is the Mendocino Complex general information update for Sunday, Aug. 5.

This story will be updated on a rolling basis until 11:59 p.m. with important new information, including acreage and containment estimates, and evacuation developments.

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 issued an air quality alert for Lake County due to heavy smoke that has resulted in “unhealthy” and “hazardous” conditions and the forecast for extended smoke impacts. Current particulate levels in Lake County are in the range from “moderate” to “unhealthy.”

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.

Lake County

• Lake Pillsbury area, north of Highway 20, east of the Lake-Mendocino County line, south of the Lake-Mendocino County line, west of the Lake-Glenn County line. This includes the areas of Lake Pillsbury, Elk Mountain Road, Bear Creek, Pine Mountain and the surrounding areas. Travel west to Potter Valley via Elk Mountain Road. Shelter is available at the Mendocino College Ukiah Campus.

• Double Eagle Ranch and Landrum Ranch off Highway 20 east of New Long Valley Road to the Lake-Colusa County line, including residents with driveway access on the south side of Highway 20.

• 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.

Colusa County

• Town limits of Stonyford, west to the Colusa-Lake County line and North to Colusa-Glenn County line, Century Ranch subdivision, east and west side of East Park Reservoir, Lodoga from Squaw Creek Inn, south and all areas west of Bear Valley Road to Highway 20.

ADVISORIES/WARNINGS

Lake County

• 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.

Glenn County

• Southwestern portion of Glenn County, south of Road 308 and west of Road 306.

EVACUATION SHELTERS

Evacuation shelters offer overnight accommodations.

• Mendocino College, Dance Room, 1000 Hensley Creek Road, Ukiah
• Lower Lake High School, 9430 Lake St.• Twin Pine Casino, 22223 Highway 29, Middletown (AT CAPACITY)
• Twin Pine Casino, 22223 Highway 29, Middletown
• Middletown High School, 20932 Big Canyon Road (AT CAPACITY)
• Middletown Middle School, 15846 Wardlaw St.
• Mountain Vista Middle School, 5081 Konocti Road in Kelseyville
• Colusa County Veterans Hall, 108 E. Main St., Colusa

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

Lake County

• Southbound Elk Mountain to south Pillsbury Lake
• Elk Mountain Road at Middle Creek Road
• Westbound Highway 20 at Highway 29 to Ukiah is now open
• Northbound Highway 29 at Park Way
• Northbound Lakeshore Boulevard at Park Way
• Northbound Hill Road at Park Way
• Northbound Hill Road East at Park Way
• Westbound Highway 20 at Highway 53
• Hill Road at Hill Road East
• New Long Valley Road at Highway 20
• 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

Mendocino County

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

Colusa County

• Northbound Bear Valley at Highway 20
• Eastbound Leesville at Bear Valley Road
• Southbound Leesville-Lodoga Road at Sites-Lodoga Road
• Sites-Lodoga Road at Rail Canyon Road
• County Road 306, half a mile north of the county line

Glenn County

• County Road 306 at the Colusa-Glenn County line

PUBLIC LAND AND PARK CLOSURES

Cache Creek Management Area

The Bureau of Land Management Ukiah Field Office is temporarily closing the Cache Creek Management Area, which includes Cowboy Camp, due to the potential risk to public safety from the nearby Mendocino Complex Fire.

Included in this temporary closure are the Cowboy Camp Equestrian Area; Blue Ridge, Cache Creek Ridge, Frog Pond, Fisk Creek, High Bridge, Judge Davis, Langs Peak, Perkins Creek Ridge and Redbud trails; Cache Creek; Cache Creek Wilderness and Wilderness Study Areas; and the Buck Island Rafting Area. The BLM has also closed the Cow Mountain Recreation Area and Indian Valley, which are actively burning. Public lands on Walker Ridge are also closed to all access.

The Ukiah Field Office has increased fire restrictions, which prohibit recreational target shooting and ban all campfires and open flame.

Read more at https://www.blm.gov/press-release/blm-ukiah-increases-fire-restrictions-limits-shooting-Aug2018 .

A complete listing off all fire restrictions on BLM-managed public lands in California is available at https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-info/california/fire-restrictions . For specific questions, please contact the Ukiah Field Office, Monday through Friday, at 707-468-4000.

Highland Springs Recreation Area and Mt. Konocti County Park

Highland Springs Recreation Area, Mt. Konocti County Park and regional trails are closed until further notice, action the county of Lake took on July 27 due to concerns about fire danger and the availability of local fire resources. The River fire also had moved toward Highland Springs at one point.

Indian Valley Management Area

On Aug. 2 the Bureau of Land Management Ukiah Field Office temporarily closed the Indian Valley Management Area in eastern Lake and western Colusa counties for public safety due to the proximity of the Mendocino Complex Fire.

Mendocino National Forest

Mendocino National Forest officials have issued two orders for closures on the forest due to the Ranch fire.

Forest Order No. 08-18-12 closes the area, roads and trails in the vicinity of the Ranch fire.

Forest Order No. 08-18-13 closes roads, trails and campgrounds in a large area due to the Ranch Fire on the Upper Lake ranger district. The purpose of the closure is to provide safety to the public and for the firefighters on the incident.

The closure will remain in place until hazards to the public are diminished.

The details are posted on the forest Web site at https://tinyurl.com/yapyxxpm .

UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE – MAIL DELIVERY

The Lakeport Post Office reopened on Friday, with normal hours of 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Kelseyville and Finley Post Offices are open with normal hours of operation.

Customers served by the Upper Lake, Nice, Lucerne, Glenhaven, and Clearlake Oaks Post Offices can pick up their mail at the Clearlake Post Office between the hours of 1 and 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 1 to 4 p.m., The Clearlake Post Office is located at 14500 Olympic Dr., Clearlake.

Photo identification required. Change of address forms for temporary mail forwarding are available at the post office.

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.

Upcoming Calendar

21Sep
09.21.2024 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Farmers' Market at the Mercantile
21Sep
09.21.2024 4:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Passion Play fundraiser
21Sep
09.21.2024 4:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Lake County Wine Auction
23Sep
09.23.2024 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Lakeport City Council candidates' forum
24Sep
09.24.2024 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Farmers' Market at Library Park
28Sep
09.28.2024 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Farmers' Market at the Mercantile
5Oct
10.05.2024 7:00 am - 11:00 am
Sponsoring Survivorship
5Oct
10.05.2024 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Farmers' Market at the Mercantile
12Oct
10.12.2024 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Farmers' Market at the Mercantile
14Oct
10.14.2024
Columbus Day

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