LAKEPORT >> The emergency meeting held in the Board of Supervisors chambers in Lakeport Sunday evening was the third of its kind, and brought together representatives from the myriad agencies and organizations working to fight the Mendocino Complex fires and bring aid and relief to its victims.
Cal Fire Operations Chief Charlie Blankenheim emphasized the significant progress that had been made on the River Fire, saying that “Sunday was a good day on the River Fire.” Because of this success, and due to the high demand for resources at the still-growing Ranch Fire, Blankenheim explained that “with the River Fire wrapping up, we’re able to concentrate all our aircraft in this area [of the Ranch Fire],” identifying the southern side of the Ranch Fire, which still threatens thousands of structures.
Blankenheim went on to say that the Ranch Fire had made an eight to ten mile run to the east over the weekend, and that Cal Fire was having success “tying it into Indian Valley Reservoir” as well as to the black scar where the Pawnee Fire had burned earlier this year in southeastern Lake County.
While the Ranch Fire is still burning close to the towns of Upper Lake, Lucerne, Nice and Clearlake Oaks, Blankenheim was confident that Cal Fire’s “structure protection plan” would keep those areas from seeing many structures destroyed.
As of Monday, August 6, the Mendocino Complex had destroyed 75 residences and 68 other structures, despite having ravaged 273,664 acres since Friday July 27. Overall containment of the complex was down to 30 percent Monday morning from 33 percent on August 5.
Based on a report from the Forest Service at Sunday’s meeting, that loss of containment is likely to have been concentrated in the northern end of the Ranch Fire, which has burned more than 138,000 acres, leaving 50 air miles of un-contained line still burning.
The Mendocino Complex at one point during its first week had forced 19,000 people out of their homes. While those numbers are down and, according to Sheriff Brian Martin on August 6, shelter resident numbers in Lake County are below 500 for the first time since their peak due to evacuations being lifted in cities like Lakeport and Kelseyille, many local resources are still in the process of resuming service.
Care and Shelter Coordinator Tavi Granger said that a Local Assistance Center would open up by Wednesday at the Lakeport Senior Center. The LAC will offer a variety of services as it brings together county, state, federal and private agencies like Red Cross to act as a one-stop hub for residents.
County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson said that a request by congressmen Mike Thompson and John Garamendi had been made to President Trump to secure a declaration of emergency and additional funding for California’s local fire crisis. Huchingson described the outlook on that funding as hopeful.
Martin noted amid questions from the public about which homes had been destroyed or damaged by the Mendocino Complex fires, that a Lake County damage assessment team and a Cal Fire damage inspection team were both working to identify the owners of homes that had been affected by the fires, and that while it can take some time to contact everyone, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office would get in touch with all property owners directly.
According to the Lake County Sheriff’s Department, on Monday, August 6, “all Lakeport-based County offices and the Lakeport Branch of the Superior Court will reopen. Offices in all areas of the County no longer under Mandatory Evacuation will also resume business.”
Other issues addressed at Sunday’s meeting included air quality and animal pickup post-evacuation:
Air Pollution Control Officer Doug Gearhart said that “things are improving significantly in the air basin” in Lake County.
A mutual aid health officer from San Francisco said that Sutter Lakeside Hospital hoped to open by the end of the week.
Lakeport City Manager Margaret Silveira said that schools were expected to be delayed at least until August 22, due to the intensive cleaning process that is required in order to make schools safe for children.
According to Huchingson, the Animal Care and Control office in Lakeport will be open this week, with animals available for pickup between 9 and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
