LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A fire that began early Friday afternoon in the Cow Mountain area had scorched several hundred acres within just a few hours.
The Scotts Fire was reported at about 1:10 p.m. west of Scotts Valley Road on Cow Mountain, east of Ukiah.
The incident initially was believed by Cal Fire to be in Mendocino County. Later in the afternoon, however, Cal Fire said the incident was located in Lake County, which Lakeport Fire Chief Ken Wells, who was monitoring the fire, confirmed.
At about 4 p.m. Wells said the fire was estimated to have burned 450 acres. Within the hour the size was believed to have gone as high as 500 acres, based on reports from the air.
The fire is located in a remote area west of Lakeport, where it was reported to be was running up drainages and ridgetops, and spotting frequently.
Firefighters were accessing the fire up through the Hendricks Ranch, Wells said.
Wells said a local strike team hadn’t been called, with the fire located in the State Responsibility Area covered by Cal Fire.
Radio traffic indicated the US Forest Service also had send firefighters to the incident.
Wells said there were no structures threatened at that point, adding, “They’re making pretty good progress on it.
Air resources worked the fire aggressively throughout the afternoon, with five tankers and a helicopter assigned, and more resources ordered, according to radio reports.
Visibility had been an issue for pilots, and radio reports also indicated that the Ukiah airbase was down to 5,000 gallons of retardant.
The green arrow on the map below shows the coordinates for the head of the Scotts Fire.
Additional details will be posted as they become available.
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