Lake County News,California

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: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS; Posted On Saturday, 14 October 2017 03:03; 14 October 2017

Slight improvements reported in local air quality

**Smoke from wildland fires around Northern California continued to impact air quality on Friday, October 13, 2017. Image courtesy of NASA.**

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – As firefighters raise containment on the Sulphur fire in Lake County and other major incidents around the region, air quality officials are continuing to issue alerts due to degraded air quality.

The Lake County Air Quality Management District said air quality moved into the “moderate” to “unhealthy for everyone” range, a slight improvement over conditions earlier this week.

Air Pollution Control Officer Doug Gearhart said the smoke and haze currently visible through areas of Lake County are primarily the result of the Tubbs fire in Napa and Sonoma counties, the Pocket fire in Sonoma County and the Redwood Complex fire in Mendocino County. Other active fires in Northern California may add to the smoke impacts in Lake County.

The “moderate” to “unhealthy for everyone” air quality alert results from the variable weather conditions experienced in Lake County and the forecast for extended smoke impacts, and impacts from other air pollutants in the smoke lingering in Lake County until conditions change, Gearhart said.

Gearhart said the district is actively monitoring the smoke impacts.

Current particulate levels in Lake County are in the range from “moderate” in the Middletown and Hidden Valley Lake areas to “unhealthy for sensitive individuals” range in the northern portions of the county, according to Gearhart's report.

He said the highest levels of smoke are expected to continue through the weekend, though the models indicate the county will continue to see some winds today which could significantly improve air quality in Lake County. With the expected winds, fire activity may increase, increasing smoke levels in the county.

All areas may experience “unhealthy” air quality, and individuals should take precautions. Gearhart said the smoke is expected to remain in Lake County through the weekend, though there may be improved or degraded air quality as the winds shift through the next few days. Conditions can change quickly.

Smoky conditions can cause irritation of the eyes, nose and air passages. These conditions can be hazardous for sensitive individuals including children, the elderly, individuals with heart conditions, and those with chronic lung disease such as asthma, bronchitis, and other respiratory conditions.

Individuals with asthma, bronchitis, emphysema and other lung or heart diseases should carefully adhere to their medical treatment plans and maintain at least a five-day supply of prescribed medications.

Officials said such individuals should limit outdoor activity and unnecessary physical exertion. Air conditioning that recirculates indoor air should be used, when available. Drinking plenty of water to avoid drying of the airways is recommended, unless restricted for medical reasons.

If you cannot leave the smoky area, good ways to protect your lungs from wildfire smoke include staying indoors and reducing physical activity. Wearing an air purifying respirator can also help protect your lungs from wildfire smoke.

Air purifying respirators, such as N-95 or P100 filtering face pieces, may be effective in reducing some of the harmful particulate matter, but they also increase the work of breathing, can lead to physiologic stress, and are not recommended as a general protective measure.

Dust masks are not protective against the ultrafine particulate, which is the pollutant most detrimental to health caused by wildfire smoke.

With air quality forecast to be in the “moderate” to “unhealthy” range, people are recommended to use caution, avoid strenuous activity, avoid outdoor activities when possible, and reduce other sources of air pollution (such as smoking, use of aerosol products, frying or broiling meats, burning candles, vacuuming, etc.) and be prepared for rapidly changing conditions.

Localized areas of very unhealthy or hazardous air quality, regional haze, and particulate from these fires can be expected until the regional fires are fully contained and the weather pattern shifts to clear the smoke. Take appropriate measures until the smoke clears.

: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS; Posted On Friday, 13 October 2017 14:00; 13 October 2017

LCSO Sulphur Fire: Mandatory evacuation order lifted; advisory remains in place

CLEARLAKE, Calif., -- The Sulphur Fire is estimated to be at approximately 55% containment and fire personnel continue to make progress in suppressing the fire. Power is in the process of being restored, the roads are being cleared of debris, and emergency personnel.

The mandatory evacuation order for the Sulphur Fire has been lifted allowing for the repopulation of the affected areas. The area will remain under an evacuation advisory. An advisory status means returning residents should stay vigilant, and be prepared to evacuate again on short notice.

Due to ongoing power restoration efforts by PG&E access to all areas west of Mendocino Avenue will be via North Road.

There will be a 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew in effect in areas that are still without power. Anyone caught roaming within that area will be subject to possible arrest. Anyone seeing suspicious activity should report it to authorities immediately.

Drones are prohibited as they may interfere with ongoing aerial fire suppression operations.

Fire personnel request that all residents be alert to fire crews and other emergency staff that will be assessing damage throughout the region. Please use caution around any fire impacted areas and report any hazards or hazardous
conditions.

PG&E is working to return power to those areas that are no longer under mandatory evacuation. Spoiled food should be disposed of appropriately. Additional details will be forthcoming via Nixle.

Cooperating Agencies: Lake County; Lake County Sheriff’s Office; Mendocino County; Lake County Fire Protection District; City of Clearlake; CAL OES; California Highway Patrol; CALTRANS; California Dept. of Corrections and Rehabilitation; American Red Cross; PG&E; United States Forest Service; California National Guard; National Weather Service; California Conservation Corps.

: Elizabeth Larson; Posted On Friday, 13 October 2017 03:43; 13 October 2017

Fire officials make more progress on Sulphur fire, complete initial damage assessment

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – With more resources arriving in Northern California, firefighters raised containment on the Sulphur fire on Thursday.

Cal Fire reported Thursday night that the fire, burning since early Monday, remains at 2,500 acres, with containment during the day growing to 55 percent.

The Sulphur fire has been combined with the Redwood fire in Mendocino County into the Mendocino Lake Complex, which is under the management of Cal Fire’s Incident Management Team 4.

Incident management team member Capt. Steve Kaufmann said Cal Fire has a total of six such teams, which normally would be assigned each to once fire.

With 17 major incidents going on around the state, each of the teams now has two to three fires to oversee, Kaufmann said, which is the reason the two incidents were combined.

At a community meeting in Clearlake on Thursday night, Kaufmann showed a map of the Sulphur fire, which can be seen below.

He explained that the black line on the northern portion of the fire signifies areas where the fire is contained; in those locations, they don’t believe any fire will cross that line.

The red area around the lower part of the fire is where firefighters are continuing to build line to increase containment, with Kaufmann explaining that work will continue over the next few days.

The Redwood fire, burning in Potter and Redwood valleys since early Monday, was at 34,000 acres and 10 percent containment, based on Cal Fire’s latest estimate on Thursday night.

On Thursday Mendocino County Sheriff Tom Allman The Mendocino Lake Complex was rated the No. 3 priority statewide amongst a total of 10 disasters.

Allman also said the death toll in the Redwood fire had risen to eight.

Cal Fire was not able to break down the specific resources between the Sulphur and Redwood fires, but for the overall Mendocino Lake Complex a total of 8,000 people have been evacuated between the two fires.

Officials said about 1,000 of those were told to leave their homes on Wednesday night due to worsening conditions in Mendocino County.

Between both incidents, a total of 1,000 structures remain threatened, with a total of 245 homes destroyed and another 15 damaged, two commercial structures damaged, 124 minor structures destroyed and 26 minor structures damaged.

Based on a damage assessment released to Lake County News by the city of Clearlake, 168 structures were destroyed in the Sulphur fire, with all but two of them in Clearlake.

Resources committed to the overall incident include 88 engines, 22 water tenders, 19 helicopters, 67 hand crews, 44 dozers and 1,712 personnel, Cal Fire said.

On Thursday, firefighters benefited from favorable weather conditions across both fires in their efforts to increase containment and protect structures, according to Cal Fire.

However, Cal Fire said firefighters remain challenged by the steep terrain, dry fuel and northwest winds.

**The Sulphur fire. The black lines around the top of the fire perimeter are contained and mopped up areas and red lines at the bottom are where more work is required. Map courtesy of Cal Fire.**

Community hears updates

Kaufmann and other Cal Fire personnel joined with local officials at Thursday night’s regular Clearlake City Council meeting, which was combined with a Sulphur fire community update.

One of the council’s main items of business was ratifying the declaration of a local emergency made on Monday by City Manager Greg Folsom.

The update on fire conditions was added as an emergency item to the council’s agenda, and held at the beginning of the meeting.

Folsom started by thanking everyone who had worked so hard to save the city, which had narrowly escaped the Rocky fire two years ago.

Kaufmann credited local firefighters for saving homes before Cal Fire’s teams arrived.

Now, with firefighters coming in from around the region, Kaufmann assured community members that while they might not recognize the firefighters’ faces or patches, “While we’re here, we are your firefighters, and we’re not going to leave until this is mitigated.”

Kaufmann said they are anticipating a significant wind event beginning on Friday, with the coming winds having just slightly less strength than those seen on Sunday and Monday.

“I do want you to understand that we are still not out of danger,” Kaufmann said.

He also addressed concerns about resources, assuring the group that firefighters are coming in from around California, as well as from Washington, Oregon, Nevada and from as far away as the East coast.

He also encouraged people to download Cal Fire’s free “Ready for Wildfire” app to get updated information on incidents.

Also at the Thursday night meeting, Sheriff Brian Martin urged people to remember that the situation remains a dangerous one, with fire weather warnings issued and evacuations still in effect in some areas due to the fire.

Acting Clearlake Police Chief Tim Celli had some good news – the city anticipates being able to lift the remaining evacuations by 5 p.m. Friday.

He said a lot of work has gone into the effort to allow residents to safely return home, with Pacific Gas and Electric, water crews, fire departments and many others involved.

“You have an entire army working for you,” Celli said.

County Supervisor Rob Brown – who was on hand along with fellow board members Jeff Smith, Jim Steele and Moke Simon – said the county is working with the city to start the recovery process.

He said the county has been assured by the California Office of Emergency Services that Lake County is a priority and that it hasn’t been forgotten in the midst of the other disasters around the state.

Smith has been Clearlake’s supervisor for 19 years, and he lost his home of 31 years in the fire.

He didn’t mention his personal loss during the meeting, but instead told community members not to hesitate to ask for help. “We’re all here for you,” he said.

“We’ll all get through this together,” he said, adding, “We just have a fresh start now.”

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 NEWS REPORTS; Posted On Saturday, 14 October 2017 02:54; 14 October 2017

Cow Mountain Recreation Area temporarily closed due to fire danger

NORTH COAST, Calif. – The Bureau of Land Management Ukiah Field Office has issued a temporary emergency closure for the Cow Mountain Recreation Area in Mendocino and Lake counties due to fire danger.

The closure began on Thursday and remains in effect until further notice.

The Redwood and Sulphur fires, which form the Mendocino Lake Complex Incident, are in close proximity to the Cow Mountain Recreation Area.

As of Friday night, the complex has burned a total of 36,500 acres and is 22-percent contained. That includes 34,000 and 20-percent containment for the Redwood fire and 2,500 acres and 60-percent containment in the Sulphur fire.

Adverse weather conditions forecasted for this weekend are expected to hamper wildland fighting efforts.

The fire continues to burn in multiple directions, threatening numerous communities and infrastructure. Steep inaccessible terrain, coupled with critical fuel moistures, and northwest winds will provide challenges for crews working on the fire.

The public is reminded to exercise caution and be prepared to evacuate if asked to do so.
The BLM is committed to keeping the public safe, while protecting natural resources.

For more information on the Cow Mountain Recreation Area, please call the Ukiah Field Office at 707-468-4000.

: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS; Posted On Friday, 13 October 2017 13:49; 13 October 2017

Advisory: City of Lakeport has donated N95 particulate respirator masks that are available at the County Library in Lakeport

LAKEPORT, Calif, -- Advisory: City of Lakeport has donated N95 particulate respirator masks that are available at the County Library in Lakeport

The City of Lakeport has donated 700 N95 particulate respirator masks to the residents of Lake County due to the unhealthy air quality associated with the wildfires in our region. These masks are rated to block at least 95% of very small (0.3 micron) test particles. The masks are available beginning today (Friday) at the Lake County Library located at 1425 North High Street. They will be available until the supply runs out.

: Elizabeth Larson; Posted On Friday, 13 October 2017 03:06; 13 October 2017

Fire weather watch issued for Lake County, other parts of region

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – On Thursday fire officials warned that more heavy winds are on the way this weekend while at the same time the National Weather Service issued a fire weather watch for Lake and neighboring counties.

The fire weather watch will go into effect at 12 a.m. Saturday and remain in effect until noon on Sunday, when the National Weather Service said the strongest winds are expected to occur.

The strongest winds are expected will be across exposed ridges and through wind-aligned drainages, the agency said.

Winds around the region are forecast to have northeast winds from 15 to 30 miles per hour, with local gusts of between 35 to 45 miles per hour, based on the forecast.

Those winds, combined with low relative humidity that is drying out vegetation, are concerns for fire officials.

Capt. Steve Kaufmann of the Ventura County Fire Department is a member of Cal Fire’s Incident Management Team 4, which is managing the Sulphur fire as part of the Mendocino Lake Complex – which includes the fires in Potter and Redwood valleys.

Kaufmann gave community members an update on conditions at a Thursday night meeting in Clearlake.

He said a “significant wind event” is expected to arrive on Friday.

The forecast calls for winds that aren’t quite as strong as those the region experienced on Sunday and Monday, he said.

However, he said it would take just one small ember to get out of the fire lines “and we’re off to the races again.”

He added, “I do want you to understand that we are still not out of danger,” he said.

The county forecast expects north northeast winds of up to 8 miles per hour on Friday and up to 13 miles per hour during the day on Saturday in the Sulphur fire area.

In southern Lake County, winds are expected to range up to 10 miles per hour during the day on Friday, rising to about 16 miles per hour at night, with nighttime gusts of up to 23 miles per hour.

On Saturday, the forecast calls for daytime conditions with winds of up to 17 miles per hour and 24-mile-per-hour gusts. The forecast calls for wind conditions to taper off to about 9 miles per hour on Saturday night.

Temperatures over the next several days around the county look to be in the normal fall range, from the high 40s at night and the high 70s during the day, the forecast 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 NEWS REPORTS; Posted On Saturday, 14 October 2017 02:51; 14 October 2017

Cal Fire suspends all outdoor burning in State Responsibility Areas

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Due to the current fire conditions and the amount of fire suppression resources committed to the fires in Northern California, Cal Fire has suspended all outdoor open burning within the State Responsibility Areas.

The suspension became effective at 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13, within the State Responsibility Areas and any Local Responsibility Areas under Cal Fire contract in the following Cal Fire units or contract county:

- Marin: Marin County;
- San Mateo: Santa Cruz serving San Mateo, Santa Cruz counties;
- Santa Clara: Serving Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara and areas west of I-5 in Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties;
- Sonoma-Lake-Napa - serving Sonoma, Lake, Napa and portions of Solano, Yolo, and Colusa counties.

This burn suspension bans all outdoor burning including campfires, warming fires and ceremonial fires.

This order is made under the authority vested by the director of the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection as per section 4423.1 of the Public Resources Code.

This suspension of burning will be reassessed when critical fire conditions decline and or the amount of fire suppression resources committed to the large fires become locally available.

Cal Fire is asking residents to ensure that they are prepared for wildfires including maintaining a minimum of 100 feet of defensible space around every home.

In specific locations, campfires within organized campgrounds or on private property that are otherwise permitted by the landowner may be allowed if the campfire is maintained in a facility designed to hold a campfire and in such a manner as to prevent the fire from spreading to the wildland.

The public is cautioned that they are liable for any fire they lose control over.

For additional information on preparing for and preventing wildfires visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org.

: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS; Posted On Friday, 13 October 2017 13:46; 13 October 2017

LCSO Advisory: Traffic Advisory for Sulphur Fire Area

CLEARLAKE, Calif, -- Residents who live on the north side of Mendocino Street should use North Drive. Residents who live on the south side of North Drive should use Lakeshore drive. Residents who live south of Plumas can use Lakeshore Drive. Residents who live past Plumas should use the North Drive access

Workers are still in the area working and may have traffic control. Please be cautious of these workers.

: Elizabeth Larson; Posted On Friday, 13 October 2017 02:47; 13 October 2017

Air quality alert issued for continuing poor conditions

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – With fires continuing in burn in Lake and neighboring counties, air quality on Thursday was reported to have degraded further to a range unhealthy for everyone.

The Lake County Air Quality Management District issued the air quality alert due to smoke and haze currently visible through areas of Lake County.

Air Pollution Control Officer Doug Gearhart said the smoke and haze are primarily the result of the Tubbs fire in Napa and Sonoma counties, the Atlas and Partrick fires in Napa County, the Nuns fire and Pocket fires in Sonoma County, the Redwood Complex fire in Mendocino County, and localized impacts from the Sulphur fire in Lake County.

Other active fires in Northern California may add to the smoke impacts in Lake County, Gearhart said.

The “unhealthy for everyone” air quality alert results from the forecast for continued high levels of smoke, the extended smoke impacts, and impacts from other air pollutants in the smoke lingering in Lake County until conditions change, according to Gearhart’s report.

Gearhart said the district is actively monitoring the smoke impacts.

He said current particulate levels in Lake County are in the “unhealthy” range in many areas with short periods of improved air quality since late afternoon on Monday.

The highest levels of smoke are expected to continue through the weekend, though the models indicate winds could significantly improve air quality in Lake County, he said. With the expected winds, fire activity may increase, increasing smoke levels in the county.

Gearhart said all areas may experience “unhealthy” air quality, and individuals should take precautions. The smoke is expected to remain in Lake County through the weekend, though there may be periods of improved air quality as the winds shift through the next few days.

Smoky conditions can cause irritation of the eyes, nose and air passages. These conditions can be hazardous for sensitive individuals including young children, the elderly, individuals with heart conditions, and those with chronic lung disease such as asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory conditions.

Individuals with asthma, bronchitis, emphysema and other lung or heart diseases should carefully adhere to their medical treatment plans and maintain at least a five-day supply of prescribed medications. They should limit outdoor activity and unnecessary physical exertion. Air conditioning that recirculates indoor air should be used, when available. Drinking plenty of water to avoid drying of the airways is recommended, unless restricted for medical reasons.

Dust masks are not protective against the ultrafine particulate, which is the pollutant most detrimental to health caused by wildfire smoke.

Air purifying respirators, such as N-95 filtering face pieces, may be effective in reducing some of the harmful particulate matter, but they also increase the work of breathing, can lead to physiologic stress, and are not recommended as a general protective measure.

With air quality forecast to be in the “unhealthy” range, people are recommended to use caution, avoid strenuous activity, avoid outdoor activities when possible, and reduce other sources of air pollution (such as smoking, use of aerosol products, frying or broiling meats, burning candles, vacuuming, etc.) and be prepared for rapidly changing conditions.

Localized areas of very unhealthy or hazardous air quality, regional haze and particulate from these fires can be expected until the regional fires are fully contained and the weather pattern shifts to clear the smoke. Take appropriate measures until the smoke clears.

: Lake County News Reports; Posted On Friday, 13 October 2017 16:23; 13 October 2017

Public Service Message: RED FLAG WARNING

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A red flag warning is in effect for most parts of California. The red flag warning is now in effect from 11 p.m. Friday 8 a.m. Sunday.

Conditions including high winds, low relative humidity and dry brush contribute to extreme fire danger.

Fire and public safety officials strongly suggest against risky, heat generating behavior during red flag conditions.

Those behaviors include, among other things, mowing, driving in brush, chain saws, BBQ, open fire, flicking cigarettes or anything that generates heat.

Please share this public service message and avoid risking another fire.

: Elizabeth Larson; Posted On Friday, 13 October 2017 04:35; 13 October 2017

MAP: Officials issue initial Sulphur fire damage assessment

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – On Thursday local officials completed the work on an initial damage assessment for the Sulphur fire.

The fire, which began early Monday, has displaced thousands of residents of Clearlake and Clearlake Oaks, and burned 2,500 acres.

A trip through the Sulphur fire area, filmed and posted below, shows devastation along a swath of lakefront and hillside residential areas.

However, until Thursday it wasn’t clear just how many structures had burned.

Clearlake City Manager Greg Folsom on Thursday released to Lake County News the damage assessment the city completed this week with the assistance of Cal Fire and Lake County Community Development staff.

The work has been ongoing even as the firefighting effort continues. The fire was reported to be 55-percent contained on Thursday evening.

The completed assessment puts the total number of destroyed structures at 168, with those structures located on 116 different properties.

In one case, 30 structures were lost on one site – 12145 Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake Park, listed as Holiday Island Mobile Home Park.

Of the 168 structures lost, 136 were residences, 27 were outbuildings, two were commercial and three were listed as “other.”

Lake County News mapped the data, as shown above. When clicking on any of the dots, the map will show information including the address and structure type.

The breakdown of residential structure types is as follows:

- Single-family residences, single-story: 49;
- Single-family residences, multistory: 34;
- Mobile home, singlewide: 28;
- Mobile home, doublewide: 20;
- Mobile home, triplewide: 1;
- Mobile home, motorhome: 1;
- Multifamily residence, single story: 3.

Other structure types listed among the destroyed structures include:

- Detached garage: 22;
- Miscellaneous: 3;
- Outbuilding: 3;
- Commercial building, single-story: 2;
- Barn: 1;
- Shop: 1.

The destroyed structures were located in the following communities:

- Clearlake: 89 structures at 77 addresses.
- Clearlake Park: 76 structures at 36 addresses.
- Clearlake Oaks: Two structures at two addresses.

There also was one structure on Lakeshore Drive with an undetermined address.

Folsom said the city of Clearlake will post the full list of destroyed properties on its Web site on Friday.

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.

: Elizabeth Larson; Posted On Thursday, 12 October 2017 20:22; 12 October 2017

School closures reported for Friday due to fire conditions

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – More schools have announced they will be closed on Friday due to the local and regional fires.

Kelseyville Unified and Lake County International Charter School confirmed they will be closed Friday, joining the Konocti and Middletown districts, and the Clearlake Community School, which had previously planned to be closed for the remainder of the week, according to Rob Young, the Lake County Office of Education’s emergency services and special projects coordinator.

Young said Lakeport Unified, Lucerne Elementary and the Upper Lake Unified school districts plan to be in session on Friday.

The Woodland Community College Lake County Campus in Clearlake will be closed Friday, according to Executive Dean Annette Lee.

Mendocino College also is suspending classes on all of its campuses in Lake and Mendocino counties through Sunday due to the region’s fire, according to spokesperson Jessica Silva.

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.