Cal Fire issues update on fire situation around the state

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – The state’s dry conditions and hot weather created additional challenges for firefighters working on numerous fire incidents around the state.

On Monday Cal Fire issued its latest “Fire Situation Report” on the state’s major wildland fires. The video can be seen above.

The Mill Fire, burning in the Colusa County side of the Mendocino National Forest, remains the state’s largest wildland fire. By Monday night it had burned 29,552 acres and was 75-percent contained, with full containment anticipated on Wednesday, according to fire officials.

That incident is under a unified command composed of  Cal Fire, the Mendocino National Forest and Northern California Incident Management Team 2.

The Robbers Fire – burning in Placer County since last Wednesday, July 11 – had scorched 2,600 acres and was 45-percent contained by Monday evening, according to Cal Fire. The fire’s cause is under investigation.

Approximately 2,206 personnel were assigned to the Robbers Fire on Monday, along with 161 engines, 62 crews, two air tankers, 15 helicopters, 37 bulldozers and 32 water tenders, Cal Fire reported.

So far, one residence and four outbuildings have been destroyed, with 170 residences still threatened. Cal Fire said evacuations are in effect for homes off the Yankee Jims Canyon and Shirttail Canyon areas, and parts of Iowa Hill.

On Monday morning, the Calf Fire began burning east of Santa Margarita in San Luis Obispo County. Cal Fire reported it had burned 750 acre by day’s end and was 10 percent contained at that point.

Officials said 205 personnel, 14 engines, seven fire crews, four air tankers, two helicopters, three dozers and two water tenders were on the incident Monday.

A mandatory evacuation order was issued for the homes located on Parkhill Road between Highway 58 and Seven Oaks Road.  

Farther north, the Flat Fire is burning 16 miles west of Junction City on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest in the community of Del Loma, located in Trinity County, according to forest officials.

The incident began last Wednesday, July 11, and had burned 1,712 acres by Monday night, with firefighters reaching 80-percent containment, officials reported. It’s expected to be contained by Wednesday.

Assigned to the Flat Fire on Monday were 533 personnel, 16 hand crews, one dozer, 21 engines, nine water tenders and two helicopters, according to the incident team.

The incident team said firefighters are being challenged by extremely steep terrain, hot and dry weather conditions, and large fire damaged trees that have been falling without warning in areas where firefighters are working. They’re also working on protecting structures in the Del Loma area and improving fire lines around the fires perimeter.

So far, the fire has resulted in three injuries, but forest officials said none of the 50 structures threatened had been damaged. Estimated suppression cost for the fire to date is $3.2 million.

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Mill Fire 75-percent contained; full containment expected Wednesday

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – California’s largest wildland fire burned several hundred more acres on Monday as firefighters continued to build containment lines around it, with the progress on the fire expected to lead to full containment the middle of this week.

The Mill Fire has been burning in the Mendocino National Forest, 10 miles west of Stonyford in Colusa County, since Saturday, July 7.

The fire rose from 29,252 burned acres on Sunday night to 29,552 acres Monday morning, and held at that number throughout the day, according to a Monday evening report from the unified command team  – composed of Cal Fire, the Mendocino National Forest and Northern California Incident Management Team 2 – managing the incident.

Containment on Monday evening was at 75 percent, putting the fire on track to be fully contained this Wednesday, two days earlier than fire officials previously had anticipated.

Suppression costs were put at $12.1 million in the Monday evening report.

About 500 personnel were released from the fire on Monday, with the committed personnel dropping from 1,495 in the morning to 965 by nightfall. Also still working the incident were 21 Type 1 crews, 15 Type 2 crews, 9 helicopters, 77 engines, 17 dozers and 13 water tenders.

The unified command report said a sudden downdraft of winds on Sunday evening caused the fire to jump the line near Little Stony Creek campground, resulting in two small spot fires that totaled approximately four acres. Crews worked quickly and the spots were contained by around 10 p.m. Sunday.

Burnout operations in the remaining fuels between the fire’s edge and Goat Mountain Road took place on Monday, with the firing successfully held above the narrow road, which officials closed to let firefighters work in the area. Firefighters are now working to put direct line on that edge of the fire.

Fire crews are continuing to secure lines and put out hot spots, and have begun repairs along the west, north and east flanks of the fire, where mop up already has occurred, officials reported.

While the burnout caused smoke in some areas, overall Lake County’s air – which was filled with more smoke due to weekend firing operations – appeared to have improved on Monday.

Fire officials said patrolling will continue overnight, with burnout operations expected to be finished on Tuesday.

Cooler weather – along with cloudy skies and variable winds – is expected in the next few days due to a low-pressure system expected to pass over Northern California, although officials said rainfall isn’t forecast in the fire area.

The unified command reported that on Monday voluntary evacuations and advisories for the Lakeview Loop, the west side of the Stonyford-Lodoga Road between Stonyford and Goat Mountain, and Century Ranch were lifted.  
 
A public hearing on the fire suppression efforts will be held at 7 p.m. at the Stonyford Grange.

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Kelseyville man seriously injured in Sunday wreck

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – A Kelseyville man had to be flown to a regional trauma center on Sunday after his vehicle went off the road and hit a tree.

Jesus Alvarez Jr., 28, was involved in the solo-vehicle crash, which occurred shortly before 7:30 p.m. in the 9000 block of Kelsey Creek Drive, according to reports from the scene.

California Highway Patrol Sgt. Rick Okazaki said Alvarez was driving a 2000 BMW northbound on Kelsey Creek Drive at a high rate of speed when he went through a curve and then traveled off the road, hitting a tree.

Alcohol was a factor in the crash, Okazaki said.

Alvarez suffered a possible fractured hip, a dislocated or fractured left wrist and left arm, facial injuries, multiple lacerations and possible internal injuries, Okazaki said.

REACH air ambulance flew Alvarez out of county. Okazaki said he was being treated for his injuries at Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa.

Okazaki said CHP Officer Erica Coddington is continuing the investigation into the crash.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .