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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – As federal and state firefighters worked on a fire inside the Colusa County area of the Mendocino National Forest on Sunday, resources were sent to several more fires reported around the region.
The Mill Fire – near the Mill Creek Campground in the national forest – was sparked on Saturday afternoon, and remained the focus of an aggressive firefighting effort on Sunday.
Air resources continued to hit the fire from above due to the steep terrain, according to reports from the scene.
Mendocino National Forest officials reported Sunday evening that the Mill Fire had reached approximately 1,200 acres, more than tripling in size since the morning. There was no containment estimate given.
In the midst of that effort, on Sunday afternoon the Sites Complex along Sites Lodoga Road west of Maxwell was reported.
On Sunday night, Cal Fire reported that the Sites Complex’s five fires had blown up to an estimated 2,500 acres over the course of about five hours. A report on that incident can be found at http://bit.ly/ONjOS7 .
In the video posted below and submitted by Steve and Sara Marks of Woodland, both the Mill Fire and the Sites Complex can be seen from the Marks' family ranch near Stonyford.
Smoke from the fires – all in Colusa County – mushroomed up over the Lake County horizon, casting a reddish-brown cloud along the hilltops.
On Saturday officials had set a Friday containment date for the Mill Fire, but forest spokesperson Tamara Schmidt said Sunday night that there was no current estimate for a containment time on the incident, the cause of which remains under investigation.
Schmidt reported that the Mill Fire on Sunday continued to move to the north and east toward the Fouts Springs area in Colusa County.
She said terrain and wind dominated the active fire behavior exhibited on Sunday, with spotting a half mile ahead of the fire and running crown fire. The fire is burning in heavy mixed brush and timber.
The incident is expected to transition to a Type 2 Incident Team on Monday at 6 a.m., with the team’s operations to be based in Stonyford, Schmidt said.
According to the U.S. Forest Service, a Type 2 team includes members from a wide variety of federal, state, county and local agencies. The team manages large wildland fire incidents and addresses safety, fiscal, planning, operational and logistical issues.
As of Sunday night, Schmidt said evacuations were in effect for the Fouts Springs Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Area, as well as in the Happy Valley area.
Mill Valley, Mill Creek and Letts Lake campgrounds and the Board Camp summer home tract were evacuated on Saturday, she said.
Approximately 25 structures are threatened, including the campgrounds, according to Schmidt.
She said the M10 Road between Letts Lake and Fouts Springs, leading to Stonyford, is currently inaccessible.
The Mendocino National Forest is preparing a formal closure order restricting access to the entire area, including roads and the OHV trail system, she said.
Also on Sunday, Cal Fire sent air and ground resources to the Jelly Fire, a small incident near Jellystone Park Campground, located at 14117 Bottle Rock Road in Cobb.
The fire, reported shortly before 3 p.m., was contained at approximately 3:38 p.m., reports from the scene indicated.
Burn piles were located in the middle of the fire, and heavy mop up was required, according to radio reports.
Cal Fire said the Jelly Fire burned a total of nine acres. No cause was immediately reported.
In other fire news around the state, Cal Fire reported that the Oregon Fire, west of Lake Oroville in Butte County, was fully contained at 60 acres Sunday night.
The Fish Fire, located in Inyo County, had reached 1,103 acres Sunday night, and was 85 percent contained, Cal Fire said.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
COBB, Calif. – Two moderate-sized earthquakes hit the Cobb area within a minute of each other early Sunday evening.
The quakes, which occurred at 5 p.m. and 5:01 p.m., measured 3.1 and 3.9, respectively, according to the US Geological Survey.
The 3.1-magnitude quake was recorded at a depth of just under two miles, and was centered two miles north northeast of The Geysers geothermal steamfield, four miles west southwest of Cobb and six miles west northwest of Anderson Springs, the survey reported.
By 9 p.m. Sunday four shake reports from three zip codes – Calistoga, Cloverdale and Rohnert Park – had been submitted to the survey.
The second, 3.9-magnitude quake happened just under the earth’s surface. The US Geological Survey said the second quake’s epicenter was three miles north northeast of The Geysers, four miles west of Cobb and seven miles northwest of Anderson Springs.
The survey by 9 p.m. Sunday had received 29 shake reports from 15 zip codes, most of them in Lake, Napa and Sonoma counties, but some coming in from as far away as San Francisco.
Numerous Lake County residents posted on Lake County News’ Facebook page that they felt the second quake – dubbed by one “a good little shaker” – even as far down as the Kelseyville/Lakeport area.
One area resident said it was the largest quake he’s felt in Cobb so far, another person said they noted cars shaking as a result.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – It’s tabby time at the county’s animal shelter.
Lots of the striped felines are ready for adoption, hoping to jump into a spot in your heart.
Cats that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed and microchipped before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake .
If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets there, hoping you'll choose them.
The following cats at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (other cats pictured on the animal control Web site that are not listed here are still “on hold”).
Orange male tabby
This orange male tabby is 5 years old.
He has a short coat and gold eyes, and has been neutered.
Find him in cat room kennel No. 20, ID No. 33143.
Domestic short hair calico
This female calico is 2 years and 3 months old.
She has a short coat and gold eyes, and has not been spayed.
She is in cat room kennel No. 23, ID No. 32321.
Brown male tabby
This brown and white male tabby is a domestic medium hair mix.
Shelter staff have not provided an estimated age for him.
He has been neutered.
He’s in cat room kennel No. 29, ID No. 32484.
Green eyed girl
This female kitten is 13 weeks old.
She has a long black coat and green eyes. She has not yet been spayed.
She’s in cat room kennel No. 53b, ID No. 33249.
Gray tabby kitten
This female gray tabby kitten is 15 weeks old.
She has green eyes, a short coat and has been spayed.
Find her in cat room kennel No. 65a, ID No. 32839.
Gray tabby kitten
This male gray tabby kitten is 15 weeks old.
He has a short coat and green eyes, and has been neutered.
Find him in cat room kennel No. 65b, ID No. 32840.
Male domestic short hair mix
This male domestic short hair mix kitten is 15 weeks old.
He has gray and black coloring and green eyes, and has been neutered.
He's in cat room kennel No. 65c, ID No. 32841.
Brown tabby kitten
This male brown tabby kitten is 15 weeks old.
He has a short coat and green eyes, and has been neutered.
Find him in cat room kennel No. 65d, ID No. 32842.
Domestic short hair mix kitten
This male domestic short hair mix kitten is 16 weeks old.
He has a distinctive black and white coat, and has not yet been altered.
He’s in cat room Kennel No. 106A , ID No. 33309.
Domestic short hair mix kitten
This male domestic short hair mix kitten is 16 weeks old.
He has a black and white coat, and has not yet been neutered.
Find him in cat room kennel No. 106B, ID No. 33310.
Adoptable cats also can be seen at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Cats_and_Kittens.htm or at www.petfinder.com .
Please note: Cats listed at the shelter's Web page that are said to be “on hold” are not yet cleared for adoption.
To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .
Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .
For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County marked the recent July 4 holiday over the course of last week, and in the process several local residents captured great images of the celebrations.
Above is a compilation of photos shared with Lake County News by county residents.
Thanks to local photographers Russell Bishop, Trett Bishop, Sawyer Braden, Cheryl Johns, Gary McAuley, Jodi Norris-Farres, Ed Oswalt and Michael Stroud for sharing their great photos of this year’s festivities.