President Trump declares Lake County disaster in Mendocino Complex fires

President Donald Trump on Friday issued a major disaster declaration for Lake County, which for three weeks has been ravaged by the Ranch and River fires.

Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, announced the president’s declaration Friday evening. He said the move makes federal funds available to Lake County fire survivors struggling to recover and rebuild following the largest wildfire in California history.

As of Friday evening, the River and Ranch fires, collectively known as the Mendocino Complex fires, had devastated 379,720 acres; killed one firefighter and injured two others; and destroyed 157 homes and 120 other structures. Most of that devastation was caused by the now 330,800-acre Ranch fire.

“For the fourth year in a row, Lake County has been battered by fire, but once again our community is demonstrating its strength and resiliency in full force,” Thompson said in a press statement. “Today’s announcement is another important step on our road to recovery.”

Thompson thanked firefighters, first responders and law enforcement officers who have spent long hours battling the fires and evacuating tens of thousands of residents from dozens of communities threatened since the start of the fires on July 27.

According to FEMA’s website, the president’s declaration makes available Individual Assistance funding, which may include “grants to help pay for temporary housing, emergency home repairs, uninsured and underinsured personal property losses, and medical, dental and funeral expenses caused by the disaster, along with other serious disaster-related expenses.”

News of the president’s disaster declaration came on a day that saw little growth in the giant Ranch fire, a blaze that was devouring tens of thousands of acres a day. From Aug. 3 to Aug. 4 the Ranch fire consumed 53,482 acres.

In contrast, on Friday the historic fire grew only 1,000 acres between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. The Ranch fire, which is most active in the Snow Mountain Wilderness in the Mendocino National Forest, is 76 percent contained, while the River fire has been fully contained for several days.

“All things being considered, it was a good day,” said Cal Fire spokesman Daron Wyatt.

Cal Fire officials said that getting to 76 percent containment is an almost herculean effort for such a large fire.

“We’re continuing to make progress, it’s a huge challenge to put in that much fire line ... when you think about the containment number that’s 76 percent, we’re talking about a 330,000-acre fire. It just takes time,” Cal Fire Capt. Derek Tisinger said.

Cal Fire noted Friday morning that damage assessment teams located an additional 13 homes or structures that had been damaged or destroyed by the fire.

As of Friday evening, the Ranch fire still threatened 1,025 homes, Cal Fire said. The Ranch fire turned deadly on Monday, when a Utah battalion chief was struck by a falling tree near the Lake Pillsbury area. He later died at a local hospital.

Earlier this month, Thompson, along with Reps. John Garamendi, D-Davis, and Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, penned a bipartisan letter to President Trump, urging him to issue the disaster declaration. Thompson’s office has prepared a disaster guide to help Lake County residents through the grant process.