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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Firefighters continued to make advances on a wildland fire burning northwest of Lakeport on Tuesday.
Cal Fire said the Scotts Fire remained at 4,618 acres, with containment rising to 70 percent by Tuesday night.
The fire has been burning since last Friday on North Cow Mountain, between Scotts Creek and Scotts Valley Road. The cause remains under investigation.
The Tuesday night report said containment lines had been constructed around the fire’s perimeter, with firefighters working on active fires within the perimeter area.
Fire suppression repair operations have begun and will continue in the fire area for several weeks, Cal Fire said.
The number of personnel on scene was reduced by about 140 on Tuesday, with a total of 1,480 on scene by nightfall. Resources included 151 engines, 44 fire crews, four helicopters, 13 bulldozers and two water tenders, Cal Fire said.
Cal Fire expects the fire to be fully contained by Saturday.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
COVELO, Calif. – The closure order for the North Pass Fire area was adjusted on Tuesday, reopening Forest Highway 7 between the Eel River Station and Mendocino Pass, while maintaining the closure within most of the fire perimeter on the Mendocino National Forest.
Closure Order Number 08-12-14 will go into effect at midnight tonight, replacing Order Number 08-12-13.
While it opens up FH7, Forest Road M4 at FH7 north to Road M2 remains closed, as well as Forest Road M2 between M4 and Green Springs.
The closures were in response to the North Pass Fire, which started Saturday, Aug. 18. It has consumed approximately 41,983 acres north of FH7 between Anthony Peak and the community of Covelo. On Tuesday evening it remained at 97-percent containment.
Access to the Yolla Bolly Middle Eel Wilderness on the Covelo Ranger District remains closed from the southern portion near FH7 to the Forest border to the north.
The closure also extends to the western edge of the Forest.
While FH7 is once again open, drivers should still watch for increased traffic in the area.
The closure area includes popular recreation sites both inside and outside the wilderness.
Residents and landowners or lessees of land within the closure area are exempt from the order to the extent necessary to access their property.
“We are happy to restore access to the forest on FH7 again,” said Forest Supervisor Sherry Tune. “We are asking the public to respect the closure order for the remainder of the North Pass Fire area, including M2, M4 and the wilderness and the many roads and trails within the area. This will help us maintain public and firefighter safety as we continue suppression efforts to achieve control of the North Pass Fire.”
Violation of the closure order is punishable by a fine of no more than $5,000 for an individual, $10,000 for an organization, or up to six months imprisonment or both.
For more information, please visit www.fs.usda.gov/mendocino or contact the forest at 530-934-3316.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKEPORT, Calif. – A small wildland fire broke out along Scotts Valley Road on Tuesday afternoon, not far from a major wildfire that has been burning since last week.
The Tuesday fire was first reported in the 7000 block of Scotts Valley Road just after 1:30 p.m.
Northshore Fire Chief Jay Beristianos, in whose district the fire was located, said it occurred right off the parking lot for the Bureau of Land Management’s Glen Eden Trail, which has been closed due to the nearby Scotts Fire.
Beristianos said the fire on Tuesday afternoon burned a total of five acres.
Initial reports from the scene said the fire moved from grass into an area of heavy timber, with power lines in the middle of the fire area.
Beristianos said it also burned into a nearby walnut orchard, and was bordered by a dry creekbed.
Several helicopters were diverted from the Scotts Fire to make water drops, Beristianos said.
An air tanker that had been ordered was released en route, according to radio reports.
Along with Northshore Fire and Cal Fire, Kelseyville Fire and Lakeport Fire also responded, Beristianos said.
It took about 45 minutes to control the fire, with several hours of mop up, Beristianos said.
Beristianos said the cause remains under investigation.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
CLEARLAKE PARK, Calif. – A 96-year-old Clearlake Park woman died on Monday in a fire that destroyed her home.
Hazel Jeannie Black was identified as the victim of the fatal structure fire, according to Sgt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Lake County Fire Protection District Chief Willie Sapeta said the fire occurred in a modular home with additions that was located at 2881 10th St.
Firefighters were dispatched at 6:49 a.m. Monday. A volunteer who arrived on scene two minutes later found the home 50-percent involved, Sapeta said. The first engine arrived at 6:53 a.m.
A total of three Lake County Fire engines, a rescue unit, two medic units, three battalion chiefs and a mutual aid engine from Northshore Fire responded to the incident, Sapeta said. A Cal Fire engine also responded to help cover the district.
Sapeta said firefighters arriving on scene were hampered by a downed power line that energized the chain link fence around the home.
He said because of that danger firefighters had to make controlled access, going into the scene one or two at a time.
It took firefighters about half an hour to control the fire, with several hours of mop up, according to Sapeta.
Capt. Brice Trask, the district’s arson investigator, was on scene all day Monday trying to ascertain the fire’s cause, Sapeta said.
Sapeta said the investigation was continuing, with Trask still processing evidence.
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