UPDATE 7/19/17 10pm — CalFire investigators have determined that Range Fire was caused by target practice at the rifle range on Cow Mountain. Here’s some safety tips they provided about gun safety during fire season:
#MEURangeFire Update:
CAL FIRE Wildland Fire Investigators have determined that the Range Fire was caused by target shooting pic.twitter.com/5n0p1AUv6x— CAL FIRE Mendocino (@CALFIRE_MEU) July 20, 2017
7/19/17 10:30am — The Range fire is now 90% contained and remains at 20 acres, according to the most recent update. CalFire expects the fire to be full contained by Thursday, July 20.
7/18/17 7:20pm – After more accurate mapping, CalFire has announced the Range Fire is currently at 20 acres and is 85% contained.
7/18/17, 10am — The Range Fire is now at 28 acres and is 45% contained, according to this morning’s CalFire update. The Mendocino County Sheriff Office posted, “There is now line around the entire fire. Cal Fire will be working on the fire throughout today.” We’ll update as more information becomes available.
7/17/17, 4:10PM: The Range Fire stands at about 20 acres, with 15% containment. No additional resources are being requested, and not structures are threatened. The VLAT (very large air tanker), which is either a specially modified DC-10 or a C130, is still dropping retardant.

Smoke plume from the Range Fire, above Cow Mountain – photo by Kate Maxwell
UPDATE 7/17/17, 2:30PM: The Range Fire stands at 20 acres and is moving east, into an unpopulated area, so no structures threatened. However, the area only a single narrow access road. Firefighters are currently working on creating more access.
Currently there are four air tankers, two copters, a couple “call when needed” copters operated by private contractors.

Smoke from the Range Fire rising over Cow Mountain. This photo was taken from the Redwood Empire Fairground – Kate Maxwell
UPDATE, 7/17/17, 1:30PM: Additional resources have been called to the Range Fire. Potter Valley Fire and Redwood Valley Fire have each been asked to send a water tender.
Last update over the scanner put the fire at 10 acres. The fire began either at, or near, the Cow Mountain Rifle Range.
Smoke is now visible from the Ukiah Airport, and the Redwood Empire fairgrounds.
We’ve also got a video showing some smoke:

Location of the Range Fire.
MENDOCINO Co., 7/17/17, 1:10PM — A new fire has begun burning near the gun range at Cow Mountain near Ukiah, it is being called the “Range Incident.” Some crews and resources are being pulled off of the Grade Fire in Redwood Valley to respond to this new fire.
The fire has a moderate rate of spread and and stands at 10 acres. Ukiah Valley Fire and CalFire responding. So far two tankers, one copter, a water tender, one dozer and four engines have been dispatched.

A photo of the plume of smoke coming off the Range Fire, near Ukiah. Courtesy of CalFire.
I was on the 1981 Cow Mountain Fire for a week, and got in trouble with one of my Captains because a Reporter took my Picture, and qouting me in a News Story in either the Ukiah News Paper or the Press Democrat
Well we weren’t alive then, so I assure none of us was that reporter.
That’s funny.
*VLAT
oops, thanks, we’ll correct it!