UPDATE: Fire crews gained some ground on the LNU Lightning Complex Fire during the night, achieving 15 percent containment even as the blaze grew to nearly 315,000 acres in size.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reported Saturday morning that nearly 1,500 personnel have been assigned to the five-county incident, a series of lightning-sparked fires that so far are blamed for four deaths, four injuries and the destruction of damage of nearly 700 structures.
Yolo County officials announced Saturday that residents who were notified of an advisory or mandatory evacuation will be receiving a daily update on their zone evacuation.
This notification will occur through Yolo-Alert by text and email around 5 p.m. each day, officials aid. Check your contact information or sign up for Yolo-Alert at http://www.yolo-alert.org/.
For additional information about evacuations and road closures, visit the Cal Fire incident website.
Friday, Aug. 21:
The five-county LNU Lightning Complex Fire now stands at 215,000 acres in size with zero containment, despite a nightlong battle involving hundreds of fire personnel assigned to the front lines.
A total of 480 structures lie destroyed and another 70 damaged from the flames, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reported Friday morning.
Visit Cal Fire’s incident website for information about evacuations and road closures.
Previous story:
Yolo County’s air quality remained poor and unhealthful Thursday as fire crews continued their battles against a series of wildfires burning in five counties.
The LNU Lightning Complex Fire — a series of fires ablaze in parts of Yolo, Solano Napa, Sonoma and Lake counties — had scorched 131,000 acres with zero containment as of about 5:30 p.m. Thursday, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s incident website.
“Extreme fire behavior with short- and long-range spotting are continuing to challenge firefighting efforts,” the website says. “Fires continue to make runs in multiple directions and impacting multiple communities.”
The fires — started Monday by lightning strikes — have destroyed or damaged at least 175 structures, threatened another 30,500 and triggered numerous road closures and evacuation orders, with multiple evacuation zones established in western Yolo County.
Highway 128 west of Winters remained closed from County Road 87 to just east of the Canyon Creek Resort. While some rural residents have evacuated their homes, no evacuation orders were underway within the Winters city limits, officials said.
Similarly, Davis fire officials assured the community via social media Thursday that evacuations are neither underway nor expected in the city.
An evacuation center in Guinda opened at 9 a.m. Thursday at the corner of Highway 16 and Forrest Avenue. For further evacuation information: Yolo County Current Emergencies and Incidents.
The Yolo County Sheriff’s Office advised residents in need of assistance with moving or housing animals — large and small — to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 530-666-8282 or Yolo County Animal Services at 530-668-5287.
Meanwhile, the Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District recommends staying indoors with doors and windows shut, and to limit outdoor activity, to protect against the effects of wildfire smoke drifting into the region. Resident also should keep their indoor air clean by avoiding smoking, burning candles, frying foods and vacuuming.
For more air quality information: https://www.ysaqmd.org/outdoor-physical-activity/.
Yolo County prepared for possible evacuations on the west side of the county Wednesday, and posted a map of the evacuation zones and rally points on its social media platforms: Fire Evacuation Zones.
From the Winters Police Department: “Due to mandatory evacuations taking place near the City of Winters, the Emergency Operation Center Room (EOC) located at 702 Main Street, Winters, CA will be open as a Rally Center. The Rally Center will be available to gather, get information and make arrangements.”
Those and other wildfires burning across the state prompted Gov. Gavin Newsom to declare a statewide emergency Tuesday:
“We are deploying every resource available to keep communities safe as California battles fires across the state during these extreme conditions,” Newsom said in a news release. “California and its federal and local partners are working in lockstep to meet the challenge and remain vigilant in the face of continued dangerous weather conditions.”
Read the proclamation here.
Read more:
Davis, UCD crews battle California wildfires