LAKE COUNTY — The threat to the Blue Lakes and Scotts Valley Road areas because of the Scotts Fire was reduced Monday, according to fire officials.
CAL FIRE lifted the evacuation warning that had been in place for portions of Scotts Valley Road because of the wildland fire, which started for unknown reasons early Friday afternoon.
Burning west of Scotts Valley Road on Cow Mountain, the Scotts Fire grew to 4,618 acres and was 15 percent contained, CAL FIRE reported Monday morning.
The fire is burning southeast toward Little Cow Mountain and east toward the Scotts Valley Road area in steep and rugged terrain, according to CAL FIRE.
Nearly 1,400 fire personnel were on scene Monday.
Crews and equipment were successful in holding the fire south of Highway 20, west of Scotts Valley Road and east of Cow Mountain Road, according to CAL FIRE.
Air quality conditions improved Monday afternoon primarily because of better weather conditions and the suppression efforts, according to the Lake County Air Quality Management District.
Officials predict good air quality in Lake County today, though locations near active burn areas could experience moderate air quality occasionally throughout the day.
Efforts are being made to protect federal lands as well as communications infrastructure in the Cow Mountain Road area, according to CAL FIRE.
Lampson Field in Lakeport remains closed to general aviation traffic because CAL FIRE is using the airport as a base for its aerial attack. The closure, which is in effect through Thursday, does not affect REACH.
The Cow Mountain Recreation Area is closed at the Scotts Creek and Mill Creek entrances. For specific information regarding the Cow Mountain Recreation Area, contact the Bureau of Land Management at 468-4000.
Scotts Valley Road is open to residents only. Mendo Rock Road, which provides access to North Cow Mountain Road, is closed at Mill Creek. Mill Creek Road is also closed. For the latest information on wildfires, including any evacuation orders, visit http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_current.
The CAL FIRE information phone line for the Scotts Fire is 967-4207.
