- Lake County News reports
- Posted On
Mandatory evacuation order issued for Pillsbury Ranch as August Complex grows; wind event forecast
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Sheriff’s Office on Monday afternoon issued a mandatory evacuation order for the Pillsbury Ranch area due to the growing August Complex and a wind event forecast for the area.
The US Forest Service said Monday the August Complex has grown to 349,565 acres – an increase of 24,000 acres since Sunday – with containment remaining at 24 percent.
Officials said there are 1,138 resources committed to the complex, which is burning primarily in the Mendocino National Forest.
A previous evacuation warning for Pillsbury Ranch had been lifted on Sept. 3, but on Monday shortly before 2:30 p.m. the sheriff’s office instituted a new one due to an expected wind event that begins on Monday evening.
Just over an hour later, the sheriff’s office upgraded that new evacuation warning to a mandatory evacuation order, which covers the areas north of Forest Road M1, south of the Lake County line, west of Bloody Rock and east of the Lake County Line.
Residents and visitors in the area are ordered to leave immediately.
Those in need of shelter should respond to a temporary evacuation point that is being established at the Upper Lake County Park, 575 East Highway 20. Evacuees are asked to stay in their vehicles and wear masks when they arrive at the park. A shelter is being established for them.
The Forest Service said there are multiple wind direction shifts expected through the day and into early morning Tuesday with strong gusts of up to 30 to 40 miles per hour. Winds are expected to shift from the southwest to the northeast by early Tuesday morning.
The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning on Sunday afternoon that’s in effect from 10 p.m. Monday to 8 a.m. Wednesday. There is potential for increased fire activity and spread with heavy smoke production, the Forest Service said.
Officials said fire activity increased Sunday due to high temperatures and gusty winds throughout the complex. Fire crews are prepared for heightened fire activity over the next couple of days due to the extreme forecast weather.
There were successful burnout operations in multiple areas of the complex. The burnout operations along the M2 Road and in the area around the Mitchell Place on the north end of the complex are holding in place, officials said.
Another effective burnout operation from the area around the Mare Cabin down to Brewer Oak Camp progressed steadily ahead of the fire. The Forest Service said the spot fire east of Howard Lake has moved into an old burn scar and is holding on the northern side of the lake.
Firefighters worked to contain the spot fire from Saturday on the Hopkins fire, which is 18,514 acres and 10 percent contained. The Forest Service said those efforts will continue into Monday to hold the containment line. Access to this area from Highway 36 or Forest Road 30 is not advised.
On the southwest corner of the complex, the Forest Service said firefighters will work on the spot fire in the Mendenhall Creek area Monday. This is a focal area for operations ahead of the upcoming northeast winds.