Mandatory evacuation near River Fire — River Fire now 5600 acres, Ranch Fire is 2700 acres

By |
More
wildfire graphic

UPDATE 7.28.18, 8:40 a.m. — For the latest on day 2 of the Ranch and River fires, check out our continuing coverage here:

Mendocino Complex: River Fire is now 9000 acres, Ranch Fire now 5000 acres, both 5% contained (updated 12:15am)

UPDATE 7/28/18 2:30 a.m. — A new update from CalFire puts the River Fire at 5600 acres and the Ranch Fire at 2700 acres, with 0% containment. The most recent update was issued around midnight on the day both started, and there is no estimated time of containment nor official cause given for either fire. Multiple structures are now threatened, and additional resources are on their way.

Though the fires remain two distinct blazes, CalFire is now referring to the firefighting effort as the “Mendocino Complex Incident.”

Advertisements

Here’s the full report:

MENDOCINO COMPLEX INCIDENT UPDATE

UPDATE 11:00 p.m. — Mendocino County has opened a human evacuation center (they had previously opened a large animal evac center) at the Mendocino College dance room, at 1000 Hensley Creek Rd. in Ukiah.

Advertisements

Also people with questions may call the non-emergency sheriff’s number at 707.467.6428.

The mandatory evacuation area around the River Fire can be seen in the following maps:


And:


And:


UPDATE 9:00 p.m — Mendocino County has established animal evacuation centers. Large animals — but not horses — can go to 4800 Burke Hill Road in Ukiah to the J arena. Horses can go to 8300 East Road to the Redwood Riders arena. Small animals will be accepted at the Mendocino County Animal Shelter at 298 Plant Road in Ukiah.

Advertisements

If you need assistance with animal evacuation, Search and Rescue and Mendocino County Animal Control officers may be available to help. You can contact them at 707-467-6428.


UPDATE 8:45 p.m — New mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for the River Fire by MCSO. The new mandatory evacuations include south of University Road to Highway 175 and east to the Lake County line. Here’s the announcement and a map tweeted by MCSO:

UPDATE 8:30 p.m — Ukiah residents are being asked to reduce electricity use due to the current fires. Updates from the City of Ukiah and Ukiah PD can be seen and signed up for at this link.

Advertisements

UPDATE 7:40 p.m. — The River Fire has exploded up to 4000 acres with 0% containment. CalFire is throwing everything its got at the fire, with several aircraft including the heavy lift copter, but dry conditions and a wind have caused this fire to grow very quickly. CalFire aircraft do not fly at night, due to safety concerns, so there doesn’t remain much time for the use of aircraft. At least one residence and one outbuilding have been destroyed.

A mandatory evacuation order has been issued for anyone from the 8000 block of Old River Rd. south, to the junction with Hwy. 175 at the roundabout, and east of the Russian River.

Advertisements

Word from people that were in the area when the fire started is that it may have been caused by a truck dragging a chain on the road. It started somewhere near the 8200 block of Old River Rd. between Talmage and Hopland.

Here is the evening factsheet on the River Fire.

RIVER FIRE Incident Update - 7 PM Update

UPDATE 7:30 p.m. — CalFire has sent out an evening fact-sheet update on the Ranch Fire. The fire stands at 1000 acres and is still growing with 0% containment. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office has issued an evacuation advisory for the Blue Lakes, Bachelor Valley and Witter Springs areas. Two firefighters sustained heat related injuries on this fire.

The majority of CalFire’s aircraft resources continue to be devoted to the growing River Fire, to the south. CalFire cautions people to stay vigilant and be prepared to respond to changing conditions.

Here is the fact sheet:

Advertisements
RANCH FIRE Incident Update 7 PM

UPDATE 6:30 p.m. — The MCOS has now informed us that part of the evacuations for the River Fire have been made mandatory. The mandatory evacuation area is as follows: along Old River Rd. from the 8000 block of Old River Rd. south to the junction with Hwy. 175, including everything east of the Russian River, including driveways and University Rd.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office has also sent a evacuations advisory warning due to the Ranch Incident, which is spreading towards Lake County. The advisory evacuation is for Blue Lakes, Bachelor Valley, and Witter Springs areas. The announcement notes that if a mandatory evacuation is called, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office will establish a shelter.

The MCSO has also tweeted out the evacuation order, calling it “immediate.”


UPDATE 5:30 p.m — A new evacuation warning is being issued for the River Incident. The new warning — which is an advisory, and not a mandatory evacuation — covers the area from the 10,000 block of Old River Road to the roundabout at the intersection of Highway 175 and Old River Road in Hopland; the warning also includes the area from the Russian River east to the ridge at University Road.

There are CHP officers doing traffic control at the roundabout at 175 and Old River Road, but the road is not blocked and people are able to leave. MCSO’s Sgt. Matthew Kendall emphasized that drivers should avoid the area unless necessary because there is significant emergency traffic coming and going in the area.

Advertisements

Old River Road is not currently closed at Talmage at this time. However, there is a road block set up by CHP and the MCSO in the vicinity 7171 Old River Road.

Advertisements

The MCSO put out this announcement to assure people in the Ranch Fire region that there are no current evacuations, no road closures, and no structures threatened. Here’s the announcement:

Anyone who has not signed up for the MCSO emergency alert system is advised to do so — that way you’ll get the emergency announcements for your area as they go out. Here’s the info:

CalFire’s Tricia Austin told The Mendocino Voice that the next factsheets concerning the River and Ranch incidents should be available around 7 p.m.

Here are some videos we’ve taken from there scene:

Advertisements

UPDATE 4:10 p.m. — A evacuation warning has been issued for areas affected by the River Fire. Previously a text was sent out indicating that it was an evacuation “order,” however, a subsequent text was sent out saying, “Evacuation warning only for area along Old River Rd. from 6800 to the north.” Matthew Kendall at the MCSO has confirmed that the evacuation is only a warning, not an order. Kendall elaborated that the warning covers from the 6800 block of Old River Rd. to area around where the Yokayo Rancheria is.

Also, it does not currently look like there will be any closer of Hwy. 20.

The evacuation warning does NOT affect the Ranch Fire near Potter Valley.

A small structure fire has also broken out in Ukiah.

The Ranch Fire near Potter Valley has grown to approximately 600 acres.

Advertisements

Here is a video from the fire chief for the Ukiah Valley Fire Authority describing current conditions. CalFire is strapped for resources because so many planes another other resources have been sent to fight the massive Carr Fire in Redding. CalFire has asked for the VLAT, the very large air tanker, but no word on if we’ll get it. Lots of discussion over the scanner about a lack of resources, but it is possible that we may get the VLAT at some point.

UPDATE 3:15 p.m. — A fact-sheet has been released for the River Fire. An evacuation warning has been issued for areas along Old River Rd. east of the Russian River. The has grown to 20 acres and is burning a few miles south of Talmage, east of Old River Rd. apparently the evacuation warning area includes the Ukiah Rancheria.

A CalFire spokesman said that both fires have potential to continue growing rapidly, noting that, “It’s very hot out there, it’s very rugged terrain, and there’s a wind.” Adding that though no structures are currently imperiled everyone should remain, “vigilant and prepared,” and that it’s, “pretty aggressive fire behavior.”

Local CalFire officials can be heard on the scanner asking for more resources. Mendocino County often receives aircraft from Redding, but of course, the Carr Fire in Redding is taking up a lot of CalFire’s aircraft capacity. There’s currently no danger of Hwy. 20 being closed.

Advertisements

At about 3:28 p.m. a call went out over the scanner for all aircraft on the Ranch Fire to divert over to the River Fire.

Advertisements

Here’s the latest fact-sheet on the River Fire from CalFire:

RIVER FIRE Incident Update 7-27-18

UPDATE 2:57 p.m. — CalFire has released new information on the Ranch Fire. According to their fact sheet the Ranch Fire has grown to 175 acres, and still has 0% containment. So far there are no hard road closures, or evacuation warnings, but caution should be used on Hwy. 20, and conditions can change quickly. There is some scanner chatter indicating that the fire continues to move east and northeast, towards the Blue Lakes Area.

An evacuation warning has been issued for areas near the River Fire, around Old River Rd. east of the Russian River. Also, Old River Rd. has been closed at Talmage and potentially all the way down to the roundabout near Hopland.

Here is the fact sheet, scroll down for more information and our earlier coverage:RANCH FIRE Incident Update

 

UPDATE 2:45 p.m. — The Ranch Fire near Potter Valley is still growing, and CalFire in Mendocino is asking for more resources. An evacuation warning, NOT a mandatory evacuation, just a warning, is being issued for areas to the east of Old River Rd. in the area of River Fire.

Advertisements

UPDATE 2:22 p.m. — A hard closure is being requested for Old River Rd. at Talmage Rd. We have no yet heard any notice of any evacuations, or advisory. But we are monitoring and will continue to update.

UPDATE 1:54 p.m. — Firefighters are making progress on both the River Fire and the Ranch Fire, though resources, including air resources, have been split somewhat between the fires. The Ranch Fire seems to be about 10% contained, and is heading northeast. More resources continue to be sent to the fire, from as far away as Covelo. Some private dozers have also sent to the fires.

Frankly, with all the cross chatter between the two fires it is somewhat difficult to make out exactly what’s going on. But firefighters are hitting it hard and making progress.

UPDATE 1:17 p.m. — A new fire seems to have broken out near the City of 10,000 Buddhas in Talmage. We’re watching both. There’s substantial tanker traffic, with CalFire aircraft flying over Lake Mendo to attack the Ranch Fire. The Ranch Fire has reached 30 acres and is heading north up the hill towards Potter Valley.

The fire near Talmage is being called the “River Incident,” probably due to its proximity to Old River Rd. It’s grown to 10 to 15 acres, with a moderate rate of spread, and some tankers are being diverted to the River Fire from the Ranch Fire, to try to cut it off early.

Advertisements

CalFire also tweeted out some pictures of the incident:


UPDATE 12:55 p.m. — Firefighters are hitting the “Ranch Fire” near Hwy. 20 hard, with several departments sending ground resources and a substantial CalFire air attack. The fire has grown rapidly to 30 acres and has crested the hill.

Advertisements

Scanner chatter indicates that one firefighter has received a heat related injury, and an ambulance has been called on a “code 3,” meaning lights and siren.

MENDOCINO Co., 7/27/18 — A small wildfire has broken out along Hwy. 20, roughly a mile east of Potter Valley Rd. and the entrance to Potter Valley. The fire had grown to about five acres, as of about 12:30 p.m., and firefighters are describing a moderate rate of spread. Several local departments and CalFire have responded along with aircraft.

The fire is burning to the north of the highway, and it does not appear that it is affecting traffic.

Advertisements

Here’s a tweet sent out by Mendocino CalFire just now:

By Adrian Fernandez Baumann, [email protected]
Reporting contributed by Kate Maxwell

3 thoughts on “Mandatory evacuation near River Fire — River Fire now 5600 acres, Ranch Fire is 2700 acres”

  1. What does anyone know about witnesses to direct energy beam weapons during last wild fires in October? This is not normal. Very odd that the fires target prime Candida real estate & that big corporations are buying up burned lots on the cheap. Wake up California. Multinational corporations have declared war & our politicians are all bought out.

    Reply ↓

    • Thank you for your bravery in posting this!
      I just wanted to add that I know this to be true as well. You are not alone. California is waking up quickly which is why we are being used as hostages by the deep state! I love the chess move that PG&E has made recently (who owns PG&E????) by shutting down power “pre-emptively”. Now, we cannot even receive the evacuation warnings that are necessary to save our lives!!!!!!! Smart move deep-state! Only when we stand together as neighbors and friends in “full disclosure” will the deep state (and those affiliated) truly tremble… and the matrix shall finally crumble!
      We must stand by our neighbors. We must ban together across any and all party / racial / gender / age lines.
      We are of one family; humanity, and it is time to make our voices known!

  2. Same question i keep posing to Humboltians – WHERE IS CALIFORNIA’S WORLDS LARGEST 19,000 gal, 30 min refill, sprays a mile and a half, SUPERTANKER? Hmmmm?

    One month ago, there were 30, “Don’t know how they started” firestorms.Today there are 62.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Qtr5apIUfM <<<the fast blink of a plane spraying retardant at the 10 sec. mark is not The World’s Largest Firefighting Aircraft Grounded by U.S. gov’t.

    https://www.cbsnews.com/news/worlds-largest-firefighting-aircraft-grounded-by-u-s-govt/ Sept. 5, 2017

    It shocks the conscious that our California Boeing 747 firefighter tanker sits idle in an air force base, while people are scrambling for their lives. Commiefornia.

    Reply ↓

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *