Editor’s note: Due to the outages internet speeds are very slow, though we’re not sure the specific reason why. As a result we are drastically limiting the number of photos and videos in this post. We will put photos on Facebook instead.
UPDATE 9:20 p.m. — The MCSO has issued a evacuation warning, not and order, saying that people should be prepared to leave Potter Valley, including the valley floor, in case the Burris Fire which is still smoldering in spots including the Cold Creek Compost plant, escapes containment. This is just a warning urging people to be vigalant, prepared, and take precautions.
Here is the message:
THE MENDOCINO COUNTY SHERIFF IS ADVISING RESIDENT OF POTTER VALLEY OF AN EVACUATION WARNING. THERE IS THE POTENTIAL THAT THE BURRIS FIRE AT COLD CREEK COMPOST FACILITY COULD ESCAPE CONTAINMENT AND MOVE INTO POTTER VALLEY DEPENDING ON WINDS. RESIDENTS ARE PUT ON NOTICE THAT THERE IS A POSSIBILE NEED TO EVACUATE. PREPARE YOURSELF AND FAMILY TO LEAVE QUICKLY SHOULD THE EVACUATION ORDER BE GIVEN. USE BEST JUDGEMENT ON CHOSEN EGRESS PATH
MCSO
Instructions:
PREPARE YOURSELF AND FAMILY MEMEBERS TO LEAVE QUICKLY IF THE ORDER IS GIVEN TO EVACUATE. USE BEST JUDGEMENT ON CHOSEN EGRESS PATH
UPDATED 8:30 p.m. — The Burris Fire has held steady at 350 acres with 50% containment by Monday evening at 7 p.m., and 1008 personnel are currently fighting the blaze. State Route 20 remains open, but an evacuation warning remains in place for “Highway 20 south to Highway 175, east of the Russian River, and west of the Lake County line.”
There have so far been no injuries, nor any structures damaged or destroyed, but 40 structures remain under immediate threat.
However, Cal Fire is expecting increased winds beginning tomorrow morning, which could result in spotting in the area due to “extreme winds and lo RH,”, and so teams are strategically placed to address those conditions.
You can read the full evening Cal Fire report in this tweet.
10/28/19 — The Burris Fire, which started at Cold Creek Compost in Potter Valley early yesterday morning then flared up in the afternoon, is holding steady at 350 acres with 20% containment and forward progress of the fire stopped. The fire appears to have begun in a compost pile, though the official start has not been confirm. Still, that compost pile continues to smolder and give off smoke.
Though the fire spurred the mandatory evacuation of nearby areas, all evacuations orders have now been lifted, though advisories remain in place in anticipation of forecasted strong winds tomorrow.
By late yesterday afternoon firefighters, along with several Cal Fire aircraft, had made substantial progress in slowing the grow of the fire, and managed to continue to establish control lines over night, as well as targeting internal hot spots, such that the forward progress of the fire had been halted by this morning.
Cal Fire Public Information Officer said this afternoon that after all the efforts the fire, “looks great,” and that the smoke plume visible earlier today was coming off the smoldering compost pile. Winds had reduced down to 4 mph to 8 mph, giving firefighters a “perfect window of opportunity,” to get control lines around the fire and have it bottled up before the winds pick back up tomorrow.