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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
COW MOUNTAIN – By nightfall Sunday fire officials reported that a blaze that began earlier in the day had reached about 200 acres with efforts to suppress it expected to continue Monday morning.
The fire in the Mendocino County portion of the Cow Mountain area was first reported shortly before 4 p.m. Sunday, as Lake County News has reported.
Cal Fire, which was handling the fire from its Howard Forest station, dispatched firefighters, equipment, helicopters and air tankers to the fire, according to radio reports. Precise information on resources was not available Sunday evening.
Smoke from the fire was visible for miles along Highway 20. The smoke traveled down the Northshore and hung heavy over the Blue Lakes end of Scotts Valley Road, with the evening sun turning bright orange because of the smoky haze.
Four to five air tankers continued to circle the fire close to 8 p.m. Sunday, with the smoke hanging above the mountains behind Blue Lakes.
About a half hour later the air resources were released, with two tankers ordered to start work Monday morning, based on radio reports.
No information on containment was available from Cal Fire Sunday night.
Northshore Fire Chief Jim Robbins said Cal Fire was the lead agency on the incident, which he said didn't make it into Lake County. The large plume of smoke had many people concerned about its location and size.
He said Lake County firefighters had been prepared to respond if needed.
“We had units out there standing by in case we needed to get into the Scotts Valley area and help them out,” he said.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
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- Written by: Vicky Parish Smith
LAKEPORT – On July 12 the Lake County Fairgrounds on Martin Street in Lakeport joined the Lake County Quilt Trail.
A fairgrounds crew installed the hand-painted 8-foot by 8-foot quilt block onto the south facing wall of the Phil Lewis Hall.
The design was chosen because of its appropriate name, “county fair.”
The Phil Lewis Hall is the largest free-span multipurpose building available for public events in Lake County at 10,000 square feet.
Built in 1950, it was named after the first manager of the fairgrounds.
That naming tradition has continued throughout the fairgrounds, with a building named after every retired fairgrounds manager, and also a couple of influential fair board members.
Lake County’s largest event, the Lake County Fair, traditionally occurs Labor Day weekend each year at the fairgrounds in Lakeport. The fair is one of the county’s favorite summertime activities, and is enjoyed by more than 37,000 people each year.
The annual event features a variety of entertainment, food, exhibits, a carnival and livestock shows.
More than 4,000 items made, grown, or raised by Lake County residents during the previous year are entered in the contest at Lake County Fair, which includes one building dedicated entirely to textile items, including quilts.
The 2010 Lake County Fair opens Thursday, Sept. 2, and runs through Sunday, Sept. 5, in Lakeport.
This year's Lake County fair theme is “Fun for the Whole Herd!” For the first time this year fairgoers can enjoy the Lake County Quilt Trail quilt block, “county fair.”
For your own self-guided map of all 13 quilt blocks in the Lake County Quilt Trail, go to the Kelseyville Pear Festival Web site, www.kelseyvillepearfestival.com, and click on the “Quilt Trail.”
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The fire was reported shortly before 4 p.m. with a rapidly building smoke column, Cal Fire and the California Highway Patrol reported.
Cal Fire sent helicopters and air attacks to respond to the fire, which witnesses could see from across the lake in Kelseyville, and from Highway 20 near Blue Lakes.
Ash was reportedly falling near Upper Lake, and light winds were carrying smoke from the fire east along the Northshore.
Reports from the scene indicated that firefighters were having trouble accessing the remote location with their engines.
Initial reports shortly after 4 p.m. put the fire at about 35 acres, but just after 5 p.m. it had reportedly tripled in size.
Cal Fire's Howard Forest Station, which was handling incident command, reported the fire was about 120 acres with a moderate rate of spread at around 5:45 p.m. No structures were threatened at the time.
Efforts to fight the fire included attempting to hold it at a ridge top, fire officials said.
Exact numbers of the dozers, engines and firefighters on scene were not immediately available, but additional resources were being summoned after 6 p.m., including a Konocti Camp strike team, based on radio reports.
The CHP reported that Mill Creek Road at Cow Mountain Road was closed before 5 p.m. due to the fire.
One report from the scene indicated that the fire “will last for days.”
Lake County News will continue to follow the story.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at