Quiet on the fire front in Mendocino and Lake Counties today, but the weekend could bring new challenges. The forecast calls for isolated thunderstorms through Saturday, and with then the risk of lightning-caused fires.
No significant change for the massive Park Fire in Butte and surrounding counties. It is barely a quarter containment over its almost 400,000 acres. In perspective, crews are spread out over a 200-mile active fire front. A straight 200-mile line from Ukiah north takes you to the Oregon line. The forecast isn’t calling for much relief there, with highs around 103, lower humidity, and stronger wind could cause the fire to grow in new directions quickly.
New numbers from Cal Fire’s Sonoma/Lake/Napa unit show what a busy fire season it has been. From January 1 through July 31, fires in the territory it covers have burned 23,679 acres..compared to just 381 acres over the same period last year. There have been 13 Red Flag warnings compared to the first half of 2023 and crews have dropped 1.3 million gallons of water, compared to less than 200,000 by this time last year. Those figures all exceed the five-year average for the period.
A large tractor manufacturer has selected a school in Hopland for a $10,000 grant. Kubota picked the Shanél Valley Academy’s Ag Alley project as one of the 20 grant recipients nationwide as part of its Hometown Proud program. The company says the award will rise to $50,000 if the project gets the most votes in a sponsored online vote.
