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- Written by: Lake County News reports
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Wildland fires burning in Colusa and Mendocino counties are sending smoke into Lake County's air basin, resulting in the Lake County Air Quality Management District issuing an air quality alert for Thursday.
By Wednesday night the 16 Complex in Colusa County had reached 3,500 acres, while the North Pass Fires in northern Mendocino County was 41,983 acres, according to Cal Fire. The fires have resulted in smoke, haze and degraded air quality for Lake County.
The Lake County Air Quality Management District reported that weather forecasts indicate favorable west winds will push smoke away from the Lake County air basin on Thursday afternoon. Overnight settling of smoke is likely and could linger into the morning hours.
Air quality conditions significantly improved through most of the county from early morning to late afternoon on Wednesday, due primarily to better meteorological conditions, Air Pollution Control Officer Doug Gearhart reported.
Areas close to the fires experienced significantly degraded air quality on Wednesday, but most areas of Lake County experienced good to moderate air quality, according to Gearhart. Levels of ozone and particulate were elevated, but did not exceed state health-based air quality standards.
Gearhart said air quality on Thursday is expected to be in the “moderate” to “unhealthy” range. The greatest concern exists for the Northshore communities, Clearlake and the southeastern portions of Lake County, although all areas of the county may be impacted.
Smoke impacts are forecast to be most significant from the early morning hours through mid-day Thursday, Gearhart said. At times on Thursday, areas of the county could experience “unhealthy” to “hazardous” air quality levels as smoke settles into the basin.
Smoky conditions can cause irritation of the eyes, nose and air passages. These conditions can be hazardous for sensitive individual including young children, the elderly, and individuals with heart conditions, and those with chronic lung disease such as asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory conditions.
The moderate to unhealthy air quality alert results from fine particulate in the smoke and ground level ozone, generated by combustion products in the smoke combined with the high temperatures, significant sunlight, and humidity.
Other chemical reactions reduce visibility by forming secondary particulates. Poor air quality, haze and particulate from the ongoing wildfires is expected to continue throughout Lake County until the fires are out.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Two fires burning four miles apart in Colusa County grew by several hundred more acres on Wednesday.
The 16 Complex, located off of Highway 16 in the Rumsey Canyon area, had burned 3,500 acres by Wednesday night, with 10 percent containment, Cal Fire reported.
Officials said an evacuation warning remained in effect for the Cortina Rancheria area, and Highway remained closed from the junction with Highway 20 to seven miles east of the Colusa/Yolo County line.
Approximately 1,516 firefighting personnel, 173 engines, 34 fire crews, three helicopters, 18 bulldozers and three water tenders were assigned to the incident on Wednesday.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
NORTH COAST, Calif. – Firefighters were able to keep the North Pass Fires in northern Mendocino County from burning new acreage on Wednesday.
The two lightning-caused fires have so far burned 41,983 acres and are 68 percent contained, according to Cal Fire and the US Forest Service.
Officials said the fire's northern portion continues to burn between Pothole Creek and Stick Lake Canyon.
Fire personnel assigned to the incident on Wednesday numbered 1,088, with 34 engines, 23 fire crews, two airtankers, seven helicopters, six bulldozers and 23 water tenders.
Evacuations remain in effect for portions of Indian Dick Road (Forest Road M-1) and Mendocino Pass Road (Forest Highway 7), with closures still in effect for all areas of the Covelo Ranger District north of Mendocino Pass Road to the Six Rivers and Shasta-Trinity National Forest boundaries.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
Cal Fire has increased staffing due to dry lightning and strong winds throughout much of Northern California.
A low pressure system along the coast is bringing subtropical moisture, which is causing isolated thunderstorms across Northern and Central California, many of which have little to no rain with them. Considerable lightning has already begun and is likely to continue into Thursday.
Dry lightning has already sparked over a dozen fires over the Sierra and northeastern California.
Ahead of the predicted dry lightning, Cal Fire staffed its reserve fire engines, placed additional inmate fire crews available 24 hours a day, and has held all personnel on duty.
In addition to department preparations, Cal Fire is in close communication with local, state and federal partners including the U.S. Forest Service, the California National Guard and the California Emergency Management Agency.
“This year we have seen a significant increase in lightning-sparked fires in California,” said Chief Ken Pimlott, Cal Fire director. “With the already tinder-dry conditions, this lightning storm system has elevated the fire danger even higher for this week.”
Cal Fire urges Californians to remain extra fire safe and help prevent new fires.
A few helpful reminders and safety tips include doing any mowing or weed eating before 10 a.m. (and never during extremely dry or windy conditions); never using lawn mowers in dry vegetation; ensuring campfires are permitted and, if so, extinguishing them completely when done; never pulling your vehicle over in tall dry grass
“We are well into fire season and it’s critical that homeowners have a family disaster plan in place, so that they know exactly what to take and where to go when a wildfire ignites in their area,”said Pimlott.
For more ways to prepare for wildfires visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org or www.fire.ca.gov .