With the Valley Fire still raging uncontained, authorities are working quickly to put in place necessary aid and information facilities.
“We have been working tirelessly to create enough shelters,” said Jill Ruzicka of the Lake County Office of Emergency Services, “but we are still in first response mode.”
The Red Cross set up shelters and Kelseyville High School and the Napa County Fairgrounds in Calistoga. Several other shelters — official and unofficial — have opened around the area, as well. These include Kelseyville Presbyterian Church in Kelseyville and Highland Senior Center in Clearlake. A more comprehensive list is in the boxed information.
“There are a lot of impromptu shelters,” County Supervisor Jim Steele pointed out. “It’s working well — people know each other so they have a support system.”
More than 10,000 residents are under evacuation orders.
Mandatory Evacuations as of Sunday evening:
Hwy 29 (Kelseyville) at Hwy 175 south on Hwy 175 towards Cobb
Red Hills Road to Hwy 29
Hwy 29 at Hwy 175 south to Seigler Canyon Road (south side of Hwy 29)
Hwy 29 Tubbs Lane (Calistoga, Napa County) to Hwy 29/Hwy 53(Lower Lake, Lake County)
Butts Canyon Road to Napa County Line, including Berreyssa Estates
Butts Canyon Road to Pope Valley.
Communities of Cobb, Seigler Canyon, Loch Lomond, Middletown and Hidden Valley Lakes, Livermore Road, Summit Lake Road and north of the community of Angwin, Point Lakeview Hwy and Hwy 281, Riviera West and Clearlake Riviera are also under mandatory orders.
The Rivieras were evacuated as a precaution. The Valley Fire is spreading unpredictably and made a run toward that area early on Sunday morning.
According to Lake County Sheriff Brian Martin, those evacuated from homes should expect to be out for two or more days.
Advisory Evacuations are in place for Pine Flat Road 5000 and above, Geysers Road out of Healdsburg 6000 block and above and Geysers Road out of Geyserville 9400 block and above.
The Lake County Office of Emergency Services opened a call center with live response to answer questions and provide direction. They can be reached at 800-325-9604.
The California Office of Emergency Services will be setting up mobile units to aid residents, as well.
Dave McQueen, Superintendent of the Kelseyville Unified School District, reported that all county public schools will be closed today, Monday. Reopening will be based upon a daily assessment by the individual districts. Families will be notified.
“We’re in this together,” McQueen said.
As of Sunday afternoon, county donation centers were limited.
“Right now all we are set up for is monetary donations at the Mendo -Lake Credit Union,” Ruzicka pointed out.
County and state officials noted that more information would be available today.
“I know Lake County,” County Supervisor Rob Brown said. “People will want to help and we need their help.”
“If you have room in your home — this is all about being good neighbors,” Martin added. He encouraged people to donate necessary items to the county shelters and Animal Control.
