Howl at the SUN

Howl at the SUN, originally uploaded by Hotash.

The dry lightning fires that began on June 20th are slowly coming under control in Mendocino County.


Reports from:
June 23, 2008 5:30 pm
Mendicino Unit: Approx. 131 fires have been reported, buring more than 8,900 acres. Incident Command Team #4 has been assigned to this complex. The Orr Fire is 200 acres and has evacuations of the Orr Springs Resort and 50 homes in the area, the Navarro Fire is 1,400 acres and 5% contained, the Cherry fire is 50 acres and 50% contained, the Foster Fire is 50 acres and 50% contained, the Table Mtn. Fire is 1,000 acres and 5% contained, the Mallo Pass Fire is 800 acres, and the Juan Creek fires (2) are at 100 acres each. There are 8 additional fires at 30 acres each. The Mendocino Fire Information Number is (707) 972-3846.

To:
July 3, 2008, 11:00 am
Mendocino Lightning Complex Incident Information:
Last Updated:

Date/Time Started: June 20, 2008, 6:00 pm
Administrative Unit: CAL FIRE Mendocino Unit
County: Mendocino County
Location: Throughout Mendocino County
Acres Burned: 37,970
Containment: 40% contained
Structures Threatened: 680 residence, 1 commerical
Structures Destroyed: 2 residence
Injuries: 15
Evacuations:

Evacuation “Warnings” remain in effect for:

• Community of Rockport
• Montgomery Woods/ Orr Springs Road to Running Springs Road
• Red Mountain Road - From the intersection of Red Mountain Road and Bell Springs Road to 13600 Red Mountain Road.
Bell Springs Road – From Hwy 101 to the intersection of Red Mountain Road.
and Bell Springs Road.
• The Community of Cummings
• Town of Leggett
• De Haven Creek and Howard Creek drainage, North of Westport.

Evacuation Centers:
(Placed on Standby)

Fort Bragg
Fort Bragg High School, 300 Dana Street, Fort Bragg.
Phone number: 707-813-0345.

Willits
Willits High School
299 North Main Street, Willits
Phone number: 707-486-8674.

Animal Evacuations:
Redwood Empire Fairgrounds, Ukiah
Phone number: 707-972-8340

Albion Headlands, Albion
650-322-1070

Mendocino Animal Care Shelter, Ukiah
707-272-4337
Cause: Lightning
Cooperating Agencies: CAL FIRE, Marin County, CDCR, CHP, CCC, Mendocino County Sherif, all local government FPD in Mendocino County, and State OES, BLM, BIA, NWS, private timber companies and consulting foresters/representatives.
Total Fire Personnel: 1,661 (994 CAL FIRE)
Fire crews: 33
Engines: 137
Helicopters 15
Dozers: 50
Water tenders: 60
Costs to date: $13.6 million
Conditions:

The Mendocino Lightning Complex currently consists of 123 fires burning in Mendocino County. There are currently 40 active fires.

GIS (Geographic Information System) mapping operations are being conducted throughout
Mendocino County. Residents may see low flying rotary aircraft for the purposes of
mapping fire perimeters.

Fixed wing and rotary aircraft continue to operate on the fires.

The Governor has declared Mendocino County a State of Emergency due to redwood timber loss and significant threat to life, residential, commercial and resource loss.

Road Closure:
There is the possibility of temporary road restrictions during planned fire operations in the Red Mountain Road, Bell Springs Road, and Blue Rock area,
approximately eight miles north of Laytonville.


CAL FIRE Incident Command Team #4 is assigned to this incident.

Phone Numbers:

707-467-6426 (Mendocino Lightning Series Fire Information)

All fire info found here



Breaking news
By ROB BURGESS The Daily Journal
Article Last Updated: 06/22/2008 07:51:03 PM PDT

Fires still burn across the county

As it rose over the eastern hills Sunday, the rising sun revealed the day-old haze covering the Ukiah Valley still held a tight grip over the county, as firefighters worked frantically to get a handle on the hundreds of fires raging across Northern California.

As Sunday evening progressed Cal Fire spokeswoman Tracy Boudreaux said they were still fighting some 90 fires in Mendocino County with some 60 of them unstaffed as yet.

The fires had by Sunday evening consumed some 3,800 acres.

Mandatory evacuations were issued in the areas of Running Springs Road, Flynn Creek and the Cherry Creek subdivision along Highway 162 in the north county.


Orr Fire, directly above Orr Hot Springs

"The smoke coming from these fires can be seen as far as Sonoma County," stated Tracy Boudreaux, Cal Fire information officer, in a release issued late Saturday night. "Firefighters continue to battle fires with the greatest threat to homes and property. Cal Fire has recieved well over 100 reports of fires in Mendocino County from lightning that occured over the past 24 hours. These fires are mostly in remote areas of the county with very little threat to communities. Homeowners who feel an immediate threat to their safety should use their best judgement and not wait to be told to evacuate."

For the rest of the article click
www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/ci_9665579
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Rob Burgess can be reached at udjrb@pacific.net.

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