LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Monday proved to be a frenzied day of action for firefighters around Northern California who responded to numerous new fire incidents, including one in Lake County.
In Lake County, the Murphy fire south of Lower Lake began at around 2:30 p.m. Monday along Highway 29 near Agua Dulce Drive.
Local fire agencies and Cal Fire responded to the incident, with air resources – including a very large air tanker – being used on the fire.
Incident command had called in the air resources due to the critical situation at the scene, which included high winds pushing the fire to the southeast toward homes.
By evening, however, the fire was being brought closer to control, with no structures damaged, officials reported.
Cal Fire Division Chief Greg Bertelli said that updated mapping put the fire’s size at 33.5 acres and 75-percent containment. Cal Fire did not issue any updates on size or containment late Monday.
One-way traffic control remained in effect in the fire area overnight, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Challenging firefighters responding to the Murphy fire was the drawdown on resources because of the Grade fire, burning since Sunday afternoon off Highway 101 five miles northwest of Redwood Valley in Mendocino County.
Air resources were again assigned to the Grade fire on Monday, which Cal Fire said had been held to 900 acres, with containment up to 30 percent by Monday night.
That fire also has not destroyed or damaged any structures, with one injury reported on Monday, Cal Fire said.
On Sunday the Grade fire had sent large amounts of drift smoke in Lake and Napa counties, which largely appeared to have dissipated by day’s end Monday, except for a bright orange tinge to the sunset.
Cal Fire said fire crews are patrolling the scene, extinguishing interior spots and strengthening control lines.
Resources assigned to the Grade fire as of Monday night included 40 Cal Fire and eight local government engines, 25 Cal Fire crews, 11 Cal Fire and five private hire bulldozers, one Cal Fire helicopter, six local government water tenders, five overhead personnel and 433 firefighting personnel, Cal Fire said.
In other news from around the region, on Monday a small wildland fire, called the Range fire, began on Cow Mountain west of Ukiah in Mendocino County. Cal Fire’s last report on the fire Monday was that it had burned 10 acres.
In neighboring Colusa County, Cal Fire said the Sand fire began just after 1:15 p.m. Monday in the area of Sand Creek Road, west of Arbuckle.
By Monday night the Sand Fire had burned 70 acres and was 70 percent contained, Cal Fire said.
Cal Fire said 76 firefighters, 10 engines, four fire crews, five air tankers, two helicopters, four bulldozers and three water tenders, were assigned to the Sand Fire.
Other incidents that occurred on Monday included the 15-acre Centerville fire in Modoc County; the Maria fire that burned 55 acres in Calaveras County; the 20-acre Fox fire in Tulare County; and the Park fire, which has burned 500 acres in Fresno County, Cal Fire reported.
The state’s largest ongoing fire incidents include the Detwiler fire in Mariposa County, which is threatening 300 homes and has destroyed one already, burned 11,200 acres and was 5-percent contained as of Monday night; the Garza fire in Kings County, at 48,233 acres and 90-percent contained; and the Whittier fire in US Forest Service jurisdiction in Santa Barbara County, which has burned 18,311 acres and is 49-percent contained, according to Cal Fire.
In other fire news, the Wall fire in Butte County was fully contained as of Monday morning, Cal Fire said.
The Wall fire began July 7 north of Bangor. It burned 6,033 acres, destroyed 41 residences, damaged three other homes, and destroyed or damaged 57 other structures, according to Cal Fire.
The article has been corrected to show 300 homes threatened and one destroyed by the Detwiler fire.
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Firefighters battle blazes around the state; Murphy fire nearing full containment
- Elizabeth Larson
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