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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
NORTH COAST, Calif. – A wildland fire complex burning the last three weeks in portions of the Mendocino National Forest is expected to be fully contained by Monday evening.
By Sunday night, the North Pass Fire was 90-percent contained after having scorched 41,983 acres, the US Forest Service reported.
The North Pass Fire consists of two fires that began burning in the Williams Valley, 10 miles northeast of Covelo, on Saturday, Aug. 18, due to lightning strikes. The fires later moved to the north and east, spreading into the Yolla Bolly Middle Eel Wilderness.
At the incident’s height, it was burning up to 4,000 acres a day, officials reported. It has since destroyed 26 structures and damaged four others.
The US Forest Service said the incident is expected to be fully contained by 6 p.m. Monday.
Approximately 422 personnel remained assigned to the fire on Sunday, officials said.
The Forest Service said hand crews are still required to improve and hold fire line in the north and west portion of the fire, and crews are working to repair fire line on Forest Highway 7, which will result in the road staying closed.
The main effort has shifted to mop up, fire suppression repair and roadside chipping, according to forest officials. Crews continue to cut down snags and remove fallen trees along M1, M2, M4, FH-7 and Blands Cove Road.
Dirt roads used for access or contingency lines are being regraded, and officials said roadside chipping operations involve heavy equipment that may block the forest roads, which are closed for this reason.
Indian Dick Road (Forest Road M-1) is open to Boardman Ridge Campground, and Mendocino Pass Road (Forest Highway 7) is open to benchmark 2444 (second driveway entrance to Bauer subdivision) for residents only with a valid ID, the forest reported.
Officials are asking that people help the firefighting effort by staying off roads in the fire area.
The North Pass Fire’s management is transitioning to a smaller management team on Tuesday at 6 a.m. A type 3 management team is scheduled to shadow Southern California Team 1 on Monday in preparation for assuming command on Tuesday. The Forest Service reported that the base camp and the incident command post will be co-located at the Round Valley Airport.
Repair efforts are expected to continue for weeks after containment is complete, forest officials said.
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- Written by: Lake County Sheriff's Office
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Air Quality Management District has issued another air quality alert in response to the Scotts Fire, reporting the potential for worsening conditions on Monday.
Pollution Control Officer Doug Gearhart said the fire, estimated to be 3,200 acres on Sunday morning, was expected to result in “unhealthy” air quality through much of Lake County on Monday, with the potential for “hazardous” conditions if forecasts for increased winds were accurate.
Smoke and haze from the fire was visible through many parts of the air basin on Sunday.
Gearhart said Blue Lakes, Upper Lake and portions of Scotts Valley were experiencing unhealthy air quality throughout Sunday due to high levels of particulate. He said ozone levels were elevated but had not exceeded state health-based air quality standards.
The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for Lake County for Sunday afternoon and evening for gusty winds and low humidity.
Gearhart said wind forecasts for Sunday night and Monday include periods of north and northwest winds, which – mixed with smoke from the Scotts Fire – have the potential to significantly degrade air quality.
Smoke from wildfires contains harmful chemicals that can affect health, the district reported. Smoky conditions can cause irritation of the eyes, nose and air passages. These conditions can be hazardous to everyone and your pets.
People who are at greatest risk of experiencing symptoms due to smoke include young children, the elderly, individuals with heart conditions and those with chronic lung disease such as asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory conditions, according to the district.
Children, the elderly, and those with respiratory disease or heart disease should stay indoors and avoid prolonged activity, the district advised. All others should limit prolonged or heavy activity and time spent outdoors. Even healthy adults can be affected by smoke.
The district urged people to seek medical help if they have symptoms that worsen or become severe.
County residents are urged to take precautions and plan ahead as smoke conditions can change quickly.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKEPORT, Calif. – As the Scotts Fire on Cow Mountain continues to grow, on Sunday afternoon fire officials issued an evacuation warning for the Scotts Valley Road area.
Cal Fire said the warning – not yet an order – was for Scotts Valley Road, from Highway 20 south to the northern intersection with Hendricks Road. Hendricks Road is not included.
As of Sunday afternoon, the fire had burned 3,200 acres in rugged terrain, with 10 percent containment, Cal Fire said. The fire was first reported early Friday afternoon.
The Scotts Fire is approximately one mile from both the Blue Lakes area and Scotts Valley Road, according to Cal Fire. Approximately 300 residences and 40 outbuildings are threatened.
Red Cross is setting up an evacuation center at the Lakeport Senior Center, 527 Konocti Ave.
The agency said fire crews and equipment are working to hold the fire south of Highway 20, west of Scotts Valley Road and east of Cow Mountain Road, with efforts being made to protect Bureau of Land Management lands and communications infrastructure in the Cow Mountain Road area.
Making matters more challenging, Cal Fire said a red flag warning is in effect for the fire area for gusty winds and low humidity which could increase fire activity.
Cal Fire said 879 firefighting personnel were assigned to the incident, along with 81 engines, 44 fire crews, three airtankers, 11 helicopters, 21 bulldozers and nine water tenders.
Officials said controlled traffic is in effect on Scotts Valley Road, which is open to residents only.
The Cow Mountain Recreation Area has been closed at both the Scotts Creek and Mill Creek entrances, and the Mendo Rock Road access to North Cow Mountain Road is closed at Mill Creek.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Rich Mellott
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Saturday’s Middletown-Upper Lake varsity football game was postponed early Saturday due to air quality concerns from smoke caused by a fire that had been raging since Friday afternoon near the Mendocino and Lake county line.
The game, pitting the county’s top two teams, was tentatively rescheduled for Monday at 4 p.m. at Upper Lake High.
The Middletown-Upper Lake JV football game and the Cougar Classic cross country meet were also scratched early Saturday due to excessive smoke from the Scotts Fire west of Scotts Valley Road and east of Ukiah, which had consumed 1,600 acres by Saturday morning.
Instead of hosting a football game on Saturday, Upper Lake High School was the site of an evacuation center, where about 15 people who resided too close to the fire for comfort had gathered.
The JV football game and the cross country meet at the high school weren’t immediately rescheduled.
Reagan leads Kelseyville to 43-14 win over John Swett.
Kelseyville High needed a win Friday night against John Swett of Crockett in the worst way. Following a lackluster 52-6 loss to Upper Lake in their season opener last week, the Knights needed to prove to someone, anyone, that they could play football.
And they did.
John Mark Reagan ran for 114 yards and two touchdowns and passed for a third as Kelseyville got its act together and crushed John Swett, 43-14, at Crockett.
The Knights (1-1), who allowed a touchdown on the game-opening kickoff to Upper Lake last week, and then proceeded to lose two fumbles in the first quarter that set up two more Cougar scores, went on a first-quarter blitz of their own Friday. On their third play from scrimmage, Reagan ran 57 yards for a touchdown and a quick 7-0 lead.
Perhaps relishing the feeling of finally owning a lead, Kelseyville tried an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff – and recovered it. Shortly thereafter, Reagan made it 13-0 on a 28-yard run. And the Knights were on their way to a victory that might help them forget their poor showing a week prior.
Reagan ended the night with 215 yards in total offense--101 yards passing (with a touchdown) to go along with his rushing totals.
The Knights pushed their lead to 29-0 by halftime on touchdown runs by Robert McLean and Dasan Vasquez, with Vasquez converting both conversion runs.
Kelseyville added to the lead in the third quarter on Reagan’s 24-yard scoring pass to McLean and closed out the scoring in the fourth quarter on Vasquez’s 4-yard run.
Vasquez finished with 87 yards on 15 carries and McLean had 79 yards on 10 carries.
Zac Cocco stood out on defense with five solo tackles, including a sack, and a fumble recovery.
John Swett fell to 1-2 with the loss.
Arcata rides onside kicks to 44-6 victory at Lower Lake
Arcata, using onside kicks after its touchdowns, defeated Lower Lake 44-6 Friday night at Lower Lake.
Arcata (2-1) broke the game open with a 30-point second quarter, using onside kicks after each touchdown to get the ball back.
Onside kicks are fair game, of course, but are usually used by teams that are trailing in the closing minutes of a game and need to gamble to get the ball back, or for teams who want to surprise an opponent early in a contest.
The Trojans scored their only touchdown in the third quarter when quarterback Richard Tucker hit Thomas Cross on a 15-yard pass.
Lower Lake (0-2) has two more strong opponents coming up--Valley Christian on the Trojans' home field next week, then Middletown the following week.
Other games…
Ukiah High won the anticipated defensive battle with Willits 7-0, Fort Bragg breezed past Elsie Allen 46-6 and St. Helena defeated St. Vincent of Petaluma 44-14 … In games involving NCL II-Bay Football teams, Tomales routed South Fork 54-0 and California School for the Deaf edged surprising Calistoga 35-29.
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