The Ranch Fire is now at 295,970 acres and 59 percent containment, and Cal Fire crews continue to work on the northern portion of the Ranch Fire to stop it from reaching communities like Lake Pillsbury. Cal Fire said the northwest corner of the fire was active due to minimal humidity recovery during nighttime operations.
Cal Fire Operation Sections Chief Bill Steers said in a daily update Monday that the Ranch Fire moved near Pillsbury Lake and around the dam area, but that all fire is still south of the Eel River. He said they also held fire out from the majority of the summer homes near Lake Pillsbury and that fire crews in and around Lake Pillsbury are preparing and defending structures in the area. Firefighters are making dozier lines north of the Ranch Fire for additional protection if they get a change of winds or weather over the next few days.
Crews are also still working on bringing the Ranch Fire below and west of Lodoga Stonyford Road and back into the Mendocino National Forest. Fire Crews are also patrolling around the southern area of the Ranch Fire and continue to work on suppression repair. As the fire expands, crews are making dozer lines along with contingency dozer lines to help slow down its progress.
The Mendocino National Forest said that firefighters would hold and patrol dozier lines along Gilmore Ridge and north through the 2012 Mill Fire Scar towards Davis Flat to help secure the fire’s northeast corner to keep the fire west of Stonyford and Century Ranch.
Cal Fire Operations Chief Mike Inman said they have resources out moping up and patrolling the communities of Spring Valley Lake, Nice, Clearlake Oaks, Lucerne, Upper Lake and over into Potter Valley.
The River Fire is at 48,920 acres and is at 93 percent containment, with no movement overnight. Cal Fire crews are expected to continue to patrol the perimeter to prevent further spreading.
Mandatory Evacuations for Mendocino County are in place for South of Eel River, west of the Mendocino- Lake county line, east of the 10500 block of Mid Mountain Road, and north of Pine Ave. Does not includes residents on Pine Ave. Road closures include Eastbound Eel River Road at County Road M6 (20N01) and Eastbound Mid Mountain Road at 11756 Mid Mountain Road.
Mandatory evacuations still in place for Lake County are east of the Lake-Mendocino County Line, south of the Lake-Mendocino- Glenn County Line, west of the Lake- Colusa County Line, north of the fire perimeter and the Mendocino National Forest boundary. Road closures include Northbound Elk Mountain at Middle Creek Campground and Northbound Bartlett Springs Road at SR-20.
Smoke is expected to be heavy in Clearlake, Stonyford and Potter Valley as well as Ukiah and Willits.
