Editor’s note: Due to the outages internet speeds are very slow, though we’re not sure the specific. As a result we are drastically limiting the number of photos and videos in this post. We will put photos on Facebook instead.
UPDATE 12:51 a.m. — The sheriff has reduced all evacuation orders to warnings, but the warnings remain in effect:
“This is the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office with an evacuation warning update. All evacuation warnings will remain in effect until further notice. The evacuation order for Highway 20 east of Potter Valley Road to the Lake County Line has been reduced to an EVACUATION WARNING. Please be aware of your surroundings and maintain preparedness. Updates to be provided when available.”
UPDATE 7:40 p.m. — SR-20 from the 101 to Upper Lake has been re-opened with one-way traffic control in the immediate vicinity of the fire.
UPDATE 6:45 p.m. — The rate of growth on the Burris Fire slowed somewhat this evening, and the fire is currently 350 acres with 20% containment.
Some of the evacuation orders for the Burris Fire have now been downgraded to a warning: “VISTA DEL LAGO, HORSESHOE CIRCLE, KINGS RANCH RD, and ELLEDGE RANCH RD.” You can read the Nixle here. However, the other evacuation orders and warnings remain in place and people should remain vigilant and prepared to leave in case conditions change suddenly.
A shelter for evacuees has been set up at the Ukiah Veteran’s Hall, at 293 Seminary Ave. There is a large animal shelter at the Redwood Fairgrounds on North State Street as well.
Sheriff Tom Allman shared several brief Facebook Live videos this afternoon providing a short overview of the fire, about a minute or two each. In the latest video (watch here), Allman appears with Lake County Sheriff Brian Martin, who regularly provides Lake County residents with live updates. The Burris Fire is straddling both counties, and there is another fire in Cobb right now, and both counties are currently out of power.
UPDATE 5:05 p.m. — The fire has grown to 350 acres with 10% containment, and firefighters on the ground are working hard to stop it, aided by several aircraft making frequent retardant drops.
Also a large animal shelter has been opened up at Redwood Fairgrounds in Ukiah at 1055 North State Street. They ask that people enter through the back gate on Ford Street.
UPDATE 4:55 p.m — The fire is currently spreading to the south and east, but conditions may change. MCSO has established a 24/7 non-emergency number: “For non-emergency concerns or questions 24/7, please call the Sheriff’s Offfice Communication Center at (707) 463-4086.”
UPDATE 4:05 p.m. — Forward progress has been stopped on the Twin Fire in Covelo, as of 2 p.m. The fire is currently at 6.9 acres in size and has reached 50% containment, according to the MCSO. They have also issued an even further clarification of the Burris Fire evacuation warning: “It’s like a box. 20 to the north Lake co to the East, Russian River to the West, 175 to the south.”
UPDATE 3:55 p.m. — The Sheriff has clarified the evacuation warning, which is for a huge area of the county east of Ukiah:
Clarification on previous evacuation warning: The Sheriff’s Office has issued an EVACUATION WARNING for areas between Highway 20 and Highway 175, and between the Lake County line and the east side of the Russian River.
MCSO
UPDATE 3:35 p.m. — The Burris Fire blown up to 200 acres and maintains a fast rate of spread, and the evacuation orders and warnings have expanded significantly.
Here is the new evacuation ORDER, meaning get out now:
EVACUATION ORDER FOR HIGHWAY 20 TO LAKE COUNTY LINE
MCSO
The area of the Lake Mendocino Bridge, Del Lago Area are now under Evacuation order. Please exit the area towards Highway 101 and continue North on Highway 101. Again, the only direction of travel will be West on Highway 20 and North on Highway 101. Updates to follow when available.
Instructions:
EXIT TO HIGHWAY 20 WEST AND CONTINUE NORTH ON HIGHWAY 101
There is also an evacuation warning areas, which seems to encompass areas to the east of the fire, as well as areas all the way to Russian River. We know that the following message is a bit confusing and we’re trying to get some clarification:
EVACUATION WARNING
MCSO
This is the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office with an evacuation warning for the following areas: Russian River to the West, Lake County Line to the East, Highway 20 to the North, Highway 175 to the South. Information will be updated once available.
Instructions:
THIS A WARNING AT THIS TIME. PLEASE TAKE TIME TO PREPARE IN THE EVENT OF AN EVACUATION ORDER.
UPDATE 3:25 p.m. — A new evacuation warning has been issued by the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office for the Burris Fire — that means people in this area should be prepared to leave if conditions feel unsafe. Here’s the full Nixle warning: “Russian River to the West, Lake County Line to the East, Highway 20 to the North, Highway 175 to the South. Information will be updated once available.”
People needing to evacuate on SR 20 can go west towards Ukiah although the road is closed to eastbound traffic. We’ll update as more information is available.
UPDATE 3:15 p.m. — The fire, which is being called the Burris Fire, is now at 50 acres and growing, and is now listed on the Cal Fire current incidents page. Here are the mandatory evacuation orders from the MCSO:
EVACUATION ORDER FOR HIGHWAY 20 TO LAKE COUNTY LINE
MCSO
This is an evacuation order for all residences on Highway 20 to Blue Lakes due to a wildland fire. The area of Redemeyer Road and Deerwood Road is under evacuation warning at this time, however it is subject to change. Please exit the area towards Highway 101 and continue North on Highway 101. Again, the only direction of travel will be West on Highway 20 and North on Highway 101. Updates to follow when available.
Instructions:
EXIT TO HIGHWAY 20 WEST AND CONTINUE NORTH ON HIGHWAY 101
THIS IS AN EVACUATION ORDER FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS DUE TO WILDLAND FIRE IN THE AREA ELLIDGE RANCH RD, KINGS RANCH RD, HORSESHOE CIR PLEASE EVAC IMMEDIATELY OUT POTTER VALLEY RD TO HWY 20 TOWARDS UKIAH
MCSO from Nixle
The fire is now 50 acres and in a brief interview Battalion Chief Paul Duncan of the Mendocino Cal Fire Unit explained that the fire is growing fast. Several aircraft have engaged the fire with retardant drop. There are 11 or 12 departments responding and 100 to 120 firefighters.
There is no estimate on containment.
Duncan said that the wind is strong up on the ridges but less strong down in the canyon into which the fire is expanding, which is slowing down rate of spread a little bit, but still active on top ridges.
On a note of good news, Duncan said that the fire that was burning in Covelo earlier today, the Twin Fire, has had its forward progress stopped at about 7 acres.
However, in both cases the the wind is the deciding factor, and if the wind kicks up again things can change very rapidly.
UPDATE 2:32 p.m. — The fire continues to grow and now three tanker planes are making drops, here is the location of the tankers and planes, the fire appears to be near the entrance to Potter Valley from the 20. Scanner chatter indicates that the fire is about half a mile north and uphill of the 20 and heading south and downhill.
UPDATE 2:18 p.m. — An evacuation order has been issued by Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office for the following areas:
“THIS IS AN EVACUATION ORDER FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS DUE TO WILDLAND FIRE IN THE AREA ELLIDGE RANCH RD, KINGS RANCH RD, HORSESHOE CIR PLEASE EVAC IMMEDIATELY OUT POTTER VALLEY RD TO HWY 20 TOWARDS UKIAH”
MCSO from Nixle
ORIGINAL
10/27/19 — The fire that began this morning in at Cold Creek Compost in a compost pile has flared up significantly in the last hour and is spreading rapidly to the west and south. A chief with Cal Fire said that the fire is now 20 to 30 acres with a “dangerous rate of spread,” as of 2:10 p.m., and Cal Fire and local departments are working hard to send many resources.
Cal Fire has also sent at least one tanker aircraft to make drops. It is possible that this fire will result in evacuations, please be aware of the risk and be ready to respond, but remain calm.
We’ll continue to update.
Thank You so much for this information!!
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