LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Firefighters dealt with two fast-moving wildland fires on Thursday afternoon, while Cal Fire announced it was suspending outdoor burning permits due to the season's very dry conditions.
On Thursday, firefighters contained two wildland fires: the Borax fire in Clearlake and the Harvey fire, off Highway 20 in Clearlake Oaks, as Lake County News has reported.
Units were clearing the Borax fire late Thursday, but the Harvey fire remained at 50-percent containment, according to Cal Fire.
Both of the fires burned less than 10 acres and remain under investigation, officials said.
Cal Fire also announced on Thursday that, as drought conditions continue to increase fire danger in the region, it was suspending all burn permits for outdoor open residential burning within the State Responsibility Area of Colusa, Lake, Napa, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo counties.
This suspension takes effect Monday, June 29, and bans all residential outdoor burning of landscape debris including branches and leaves, the agency said.
Cal Fire said it may issue restricted temporary burning permits if there is an essential reason due to public health and safety. Agriculture, land management, fire training and other industrial-type burning may proceed if a Cal Fire official inspects the burn site and issues a special permit.
Campfires within organized campgrounds or on private property that are otherwise permitted will be allowed if the campfire is maintained in such a manner as to prevent its spread to the wildland, Cal Fire said.
“With conditions as dry as they are throughout the area, residential burning is no longer a safe option,” said Cal Fire Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit Chief Scott Upton. “We are asking the public to be extra cautious when clearing and maintaining defensible space around their homes.”
“With record-setting drought conditions we must take every step possible to prevent new wildfires from starting,” said Chief Ken Pimlott, Cal Fire director.
Cal Fire said 2015 is looking like 2014 in that the agency's firefighters have responded to significantly more wildfires this year than the annual average.
Fire officials are asking residents to be prepared for wildfires. Key to that is maintaining 100 feet of defensible space around every home.
To do that, officials urge residents to clear all dead or dying vegetation 100 feet around all structures, landscape with fire resistant/drought tolerant plants, and find alternative ways to dispose of landscape debris like chipping or hauling it to a biomass energy facility.
In other fire news, Cal Fire spokesman Daniel Berlant said Thursday that increased temperatures across the state the previous day – including triple digits in many areas – allowed for increased fire activity on several fronts.
“As several new large wildfires were sparked, and several current wildfires continued to grow, firefighters did make progress on containment on several others,” he said.
Berlant said a fire weather watch has been issued for much of the northeast California including the Northern Sierra due to thunderstorms, strong winds and the possibility of dry lightning.
“While all residents are urged to be cautious outdoors to prevent sparking a wildfire, those in the Fire Weather Watch area must take extra precautions,” Berlant said.
To learn about wildland fire preparedness, visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org .
A rundown of major incidents around the state follows, with size estimates through late Thursday night.
Cal Fire incidents
– Corrine fire: Began June 18 in Madera County; 920 acres, 100-percent contained. Three outbuildings destroyed, evacuations lifted. Cause is under investigation.
– Loma fire: Began June 24, Contra Costa County, 533 acres, 100-percent contained.
– Tesla fire: Began June 25, Alameda County, 53 acres, 100-percent contained.
Unified command fires
– Lake fire: Began June 17 in San Bernardino County; 25,599 acres, 19-percent contained. Evacuations remain in effect with additional evacuations added Wednesday; 500 structures threatened. Cause is under investigation.
Federal incidents
– Saddle fire: Began June 10 in Trinity County; 1,542 acres, 100-percent contained. Caused by lightning.
– Sky Fire: Began June 18 in Madera County; 500 acres, 95-percent contained. Caused by a vehicle.
– Washington Fire: Began June 19 in Alpine County; 16,490 acres, 15-percent contained. Caused by lightning.
Other incidents
– Calgrove fire: Began June 24, Los Angeles County; 415 acres, 95-percent contained.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.