CLEARLAKE, CA., 2/15/26 – Mendocino County fire resources have been prepositioned in Lake County ahead of a significant storm system expected to impact the region this week, the Lake County Fire Protection District said Sunday.
The district organized a task force through the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services that will be staged in the county from 5 p.m. Sunday through 5 p.m. Thursday.
Among the additional resources is a dozer from Mendocino County, along with strike team support from agencies including Hopland Fire Protection District, Ukiah Valley Fire Authority, Anderson Valley Fire Department, Brooktrails Fire and Redwood Coast Fire.
All of Lake County is under a winter weather advisory. The National Weather Service is forecasting up to 4 inches of snow above 2,500 feet, along with wind gusts as high as 35 mph. Heavy rain and hail are also possible.
The weather conditions are expected to impact travel and could lead to power outages.
According to the district, Lake County stations in Clearlake and Lower Lake typically respond to about 32 calls during a 48-hour shift. During major storm events, that number has climbed to as many as 107 calls in the same timeframe, prompting officials to stage additional resources to maintain response times.
In addition to supporting Lake County, extra Mendocino County fire engines and other resources have been prepositioned in areas of Mendocino County expected to be heavily impacted by the winter storm, according to the Governor’s OES.
Correction, February 16, 2026 9:09 AM: This article has been updated to reflect that there are also additional resources positioned in Mendocino County to support response efforts locally.