Here’s our latest update on the Lodge Lightning Complex fires in Mendocino County. Evacuation orders are still in place for homes in the wildlands between Leggett and Laytonville, including: Camp Seabow, Elder Place, Tan Oak Park, Bald Mountain Ranch, Mad Creek, Elk Creek east of Brush Mountain The Hunt Ranch and Bowman Ranch area may be in danger too, according to Sheriff Thomas Allmann. He spoke on KMUD radio earlier today and emphasized that some rumours in the community need to be quashed concerning the Bureau of Land Management. Allman said it was a rumour that BLM was prohibiting mechanized equipment on the fire. Also, he said it was a rumour that BLM was not allowing retardant to be used on the air. Allman said BLM actually handed all firefighting decisions over to Calfire and their command team. Today firefighters on the Lodge Complex ARE using retardant – for the first time since the fire started. Public Information Officer Carlos Guerrero says water has been better for the fire situation so far, because it cools the fire down as it filters down the tall trees. But retardant is the prescription today. It won’t extinguish fire, but will retard it’s activity. Yesterday the fire burned further up Hogshead Creek to the east and up and over the Brush Mountain ridgetop. A40 foot fireline was breached and eight firefighters were injured and evacuated to the burn center at UC Davis. Today Sheriff Almann told KMUD he believes the burns weren’t major. The firefighters have all been released from the burn center. All the woodland homes between Leggett and Laytonville are considered in danger. Firefighters hope the use of the retardant east of the perimeter will help them hold their lines. If the new dozer and fire containment lines hold tight this afternoon and overnight, when the winds usually pick up, those homes in communities between Leggett and Laytonville would remain safe. These are still the latest statistics. We don’t expect another update until about 7 or 8pm. The fire is over 7,000 acres in size, which is about eleven square miles. Containment is 30%. There are close to 2,000 firefighting personnel still at work. An evacuation center was set up yesterday at Leggett Valley School. The Red Cross volunteers want those impacted by the fire to sign up for assistance. Here’s a phone number if you prefer to call in to register. (707) 577-7633. You can also visit their website for information at redcross.org. Again, the evacuation center is at Leggett Valley School. If you need to have to have questions answered about the fire, you can contact the Public Information Office located near Laytonville at the fire camp, by calling (626) 622-7927. We will keep you updated on the progress of firefighter working to contain the Lodge Lightning Complex Fire here in Mendocino County.
Posted on: Sun, 10 Aug 2014 01:12:53 +0000
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