Moose Fire hits 225 acres, containment at 25% — major progress on fire — evacuation warnings lifted (updated 5:15 p.m.)

Editor’s note: This is a developing situation and we will be updating continuously. Scroll down for more info and the original article, and come back for more.

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UPDATE 5:15 p.m. — The Mendocino County Sheriff Office, has lifted all evacuation warnings:

All Evacuation Warnings for the Moose Fire in the Hopland Area have been lifted. There are no longer any Evacuation Warnings or Evacuation Orders in place.
The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank all of the fire agencies involved in the response to this incident.

MCSO

UPDATE 3:15 p.m. — Firefighters are continuing to make good progress against the fire, and tie in their containment lines. The smoke as also mostly stopped and disapated, though there is occasionally a whiff of smoke as far as Ukiah, as can be seen in the picture below, much progress has been made.

Here is the full press release concerning the lifting of evacuation orders from the MCSO, scroll past this press release for more info on the fire:

DATE:  “August 13, 2019” 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

Incident Number: 
Moose Fire – McNab Ranch Road Area 

Crime/Incident: 
Fire Incident with Evacuations 

Location: 
Moose Road and Bus McGall Road northwest of Hopland, CA 

Date of Incident: 
08-12-2019 

Time: 
5:30 P.M. 

Victim(s):  

Suspect(s):  

Written By: 
Sergeant Quincy Cromer #2651 

Synopsis: 
On 08-12-2019 at approximately 5:30 P.M., the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office was requested to assist with evacuations relating to a fire incident in the area of Moose Road and Bus McGall Road northwest of Hopland, CA.

The Moose Fire was reportedly burning southeast from Moose Road in the area known as McNab Ranch, north of Hopland. The fire was primarily burning in brush and woodland areas to include steep terrain. Structures were threatened by this fire, so deputies were requested to assist with evacuation orders for residents in the area.

Sheriff’s deputies responded to assist with the evacuation efforts for residents in the area of McNab Ranch. An evacuation order was issued for the areas of Moose Road, Bus McGall Road, and Valley View Drive.

The Sheriff’s Office Communications Center utilized the reverse 911 system, Nixle notification system, and social media sites to notify residents in the area of the above evacuation orders. Road closures were also utilized in the area to assist with evacuation efforts and to limit traffic congestion for firefighters working in the area.

Evacuation warnings were also issued for the McNab Ranch Road Area, north end of Feliz Creek Road, and Feliz Creek Drive so residents were aware of the potential to evacuate if needed.

On 08-13-2019 at approximately 10:25 A.M., the Sheriff’s Office Communication Center was notified that the evacuation orders for this fire were reduced to evacuation warnings. Residents in these areas are still encouraged to remain diligent and conscious of their surroundings as the evacuation orders and warnings can change at any time depending on the fire activity.

The Moose Fire is being listed as approximately 25% contained at this time. The fire is reportedly 225 acres and a total of 10 structures have been threatened, but no structures have been destroyed by the fire.  

Additional information regarding this fire and the evacuation warnings can be found at the following websites:

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire): 

https://www.fire.ca.gov/
incidents/2019/8/12/moose-fire/

CalFire Incident Report: 
https://www.fire.ca.gov/media/
8724/2019-am-moose-incident-
update-cal-fire-meu-8-133-19-am.pdf

Register for Emergency Notifications / Information: 

Residents can sign up for emergency alerts at www.MendocinoCounty.org/MendoAlert and can receive updates at www.Facebook.com/MendocinoSheriff.Emergency notifications can also be received from Nixle by signing up athttps://local.nixle.com/register/ or by sending a text to 888777 with your zip code.

Additional information regarding the Moose Fire will be released as it becomes available.
  

Approved by: 
Captain Gregory L. Van Patten  #1184

MCSO

UPDATE 10:45 a.m. — The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office has rescinded the evacuation orders, though those areas remain under and evacuation warning. Good progress is being made on the fire. Roads have re-opened, there is some kind of line (though not a full containment line) all the way around the fire, and the smoke is sparse and diffuse.

Some sources are now reporting that the fire was caused by a generator.

Here is the Nixle alert the MCSO sent out:

The Evacuation Orders for the Moose Fire in the Hopland area have been reduced to an Evacuation Warning. Moose Rd, Bus McGall Rd, Valley View Rd, Feliz Creek Drive, and the north end of Feliz Creek Rd are all still currently under an Evacuation Warning.

UPDATE 8:45 p.m. — To our knowledge evacuation orders and warnings have not been changed overnight. Here is the list:

Evacuation order: McNab Ranch Area, Valley View Road, Bus McGall Road, Moose Road.

Evacuation warning: McNab Ranch Area, North end of Feliz Creek Road, Feliz Creek Drive.

Road Closures: Bus Mcgall Road at Valley View Road.

And here is a video of a retardant drop, taken yesterday afternoon, by our photographer Josh Bowers.

HOPLAND, 8/13/19 — As of this morning Cal Fire is stating that the Moose Fire, which began yesterday at around 5:00 p.m. northwest of Hopland, has grown to 225 acres and is 25% contained. So far there have been no substantial injuries, or structures destroyed though several structures remain threatened. Reports from the scene indicate that conditions are much improved from last night, with no substantial smoke column.

Growth of the Moose Fire has substantially slowed overnight, with firefighters succeeding in getting some kind of “line” around the fire, whether that be dozer line, or a narrow swath of hand-cut line, but fire authorities are not yet confident in saying that forward progress of the fire has been completely stopped, only slowed. And weather today is not on their side, with temperatures expected to reach 100 today, and 106 tomorrow, and a steady northwesterly wind blowing, and sometimes gusting up to 19 mph*. Said one firefighter in response to the weather report, “We’re getting fire weather.”

This means that the fire has some potential to continue growing towards the south and east — still, there is no immediate danger to Hopland, or U.S. Route 101.

The fire began late yesterday afternoon, on Moose Rd., hence the name, near McNab Ranch, about three miles northwest of Hopland, and was being reported at 85 acres by yesterday evening.

However, fire’s jump in size, from 85 acres yesterday evening, to 225 today, was attributed to poor initial estimates of the fire’s size. Cal Fire spokesperson Tricia Austin explained that the steepness of the terrain and smoke meant that aircraft had very limited visibility.

During the morning briefing, which was held at Hopland Fire’s station 2, the fire chiefs explained to the assembled firefighters that the terrain in which the fire is burning is extremely rugged and difficult. Said one chief, “It’s some of the ugliest oak woodland I’ve seen in a long time.” Another added later, half jokingly, “Be careful on some of these knife-edge ridges — you’ll fall right into Hopland if you trip.”

The chiefs also cautioned firefighters to be careful on the road, noting that locals drive the roads “like locals,” and meaning all us locals should exercise caution in these situations and make way for fire engines to pass.

*Correction: An earlier version of this article gave the wind speed in knots, when they should have been in miles per hour. The text has been corrected.