[ UPDATE 6:38 a.m.] Fire Along Hwy 101 South of Willits

Fire along 101

[All photos courtesy of Humboldt Nation]

A fire in a motorhome truck and trailer that started about 2:45 p.m. south of Willits about mile marker 37 on Hwy 101 has spread closing all north bound lanes. The motorhome vehicle fire has been quenched, according to the witness who sent us these photos but the hillside is still burning.

As of 3:45 p.m., more equipment is being requested from Laytonville.

Fire along 101

Fire along 101

Fire along 101
UPDATE 3:52 p.m.:
Here’s a view from Perkin’s Street in Ukiah.
fire from PErkins street in Ukiah

UPDATE 4:43 p.m.: The fire has reached 50 acres, according to info on the scanner. Here’s a photo posted on our Facebook page by Julie Johansen. It shows the burned vehicle that started this.
Burned truck and trailer

UPDATE 4:50 p.m.: Scanner traffic indicates that crews are firing around a home near Heart Arrow Trail to protect it. They have two residents with the crews.
UPDATE 5:03 p.m.: Traffic is moving in both directions on Hwy 101 according to the Mendocino Voice that has live video from the scene:

UPDATE 5:09 p.m.: Here’s the truck and trailer as the truck was just beginning to burn. Photo provided by Joe Mathewson.:
Truck and trailer on fire.

UPDATE 5:16 p.m.: The crews are fighting a spot fire on the south flank near some structures. “We just got beat up,” reports one of the crews trying to fight back the fire.

UPDATE 5:24 p.m.: Crews are trying to protect Redwood Valley. They are trying to get dozers to stop the flames.

UPDATE 5:45 p.m.: Cal Fire is reporting that the Grade Fire is 100 acres and 5% contained. The Bakers Creek Subdivision is being evacuated.

UPDATE 6:09 p.m.: A firefighter with “stabbing” chest pains is being brought down to an ambulance code 3–emergency.

UPDATE 6:13 p.m.: According to the scanner, the fire is now estimated to be 250 acres.

UPDATE 6:47 p.m.: Evacuations warnings are being issued for everything west of West and Tomki Road to 101. This is just a warning but please prepare to leave. Here are some suggestions from Cal Fire:

Evacuation check list

UPDATE 7:10 p.m.: Four more helicopters have been requested, according to scanner traffic.

UPDATE 7:13 p.m.: Cal Fire tweeted about 7:10 p.m. that the fire is now “300 acres and 5% contained.”

UPDATE 7:20 p.m.: Cal Fire’s Mendocino unit tweeted, “ firefighters are battling a 400 acre fire near the community of Redwood Valley on the Ridgewood grade…evacuations in progress”

UPDATE 7:30 p.m.: This Flight radar site shows where the flight path of Tanker 133 dropping retardant on the fire. This screengrab of the site helps visualize where the fire is:

Flight path of a tanker on a fire.

UPDATE 7:40 p.m.: About 7:35 Cal Fire tweeted, “#GradeFire [update] northwest of Redwood Valley (Mendocino Co) is now 350 acres and 10% contained. Evacs in place.”

The incident update page states, “Evacuations are in place for Baker Creek Subdivision. Evacuation advisory for above the Valley floor.”

UPDATE 8:09 p.m.: As the light dims, the aircraft is going to have to return to base. Fire command is going to bring in VLAT (912) to hit the head of the fire to close out the day. They might also bring in other tankers.

UPDATE 8:28 p.m.: For those evacuating with animals, the Redwood Empire Fairgrounds is available. Call 272-2299 or 463-4086 for more information.

Those evacuating needing help can call the American Red Cross at 1-866-272-2237.

UPDATE 8:36 p.m.: Information from the Mendocino County Office of Emergency Services:

The #GradeFire is currently burning along Highway 101 about 5 miles northwest of Redwood Valley. Based on the current Calfire estimates the fire is roughly 800 acres. Evacuations are currently in place for the Baker Creek Subdivision, and advisory evacuations have been issued for the area west of Westside Road to Highway 101- not including the valley floor.

Evacuations notifications will be submitted via the County’s Citizen Alert and Notification system. Residents can sign-up athttps://member.everbridge.net/index/892807736722865#/signup

UPDATE 8:48 p.m.: According to a commander on the fire, “It appears that the forward progress hasn’t stopped.” He estimates that the fire is 650 to 700 acres.

UPDATE 8:50 p.m.: Mendocino Cal Fire just tweeted, “#MEUGradeFire Update: 1000 acres 10 % contained.”

UPDATE 9:26 p.m.: Medocino Cal Fire updated. They tweeted, “#GradeFire [correction] NW of Redwood Valley (Mendocino County) is now 900 acres & 10% contained. Reduced acreage due to better mapping.”

UPDATE 9:35 p.m.:

UPDATE: Monday’s post on the fire is here: The Grade Fire: What’s Happening With the Blaze Burning South of Willits?

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74 Comments
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Douglas Esget
Guest
Douglas Esget
6 years ago

Traffic at a crawl North bound, South bound clear.

Cowabunga
Guest
Cowabunga
6 years ago

Maybe stop and get a burger at In-N-Out and wait for the road to open again.

G-MAS
Guest
G-MAS
6 years ago
Reply to  Cowabunga

Yummy!!🍔

Perspective
Guest
Perspective
6 years ago
Reply to  Cowabunga

Care to tell us where there is an In-n-Out anywhere close to this?

Gma flowers
Guest
Gma flowers
6 years ago
Reply to  Perspective

Willits

Katie
Guest
Katie
6 years ago
Reply to  Gma flowers

Nope, it is in Ukiah. Not Willits.

Veterens friend
Guest
Veterens friend
6 years ago
Reply to  Katie

Yeah, with the bypass, Willets is just a memory.

ROW ROW
Guest
ROW ROW
6 years ago

yeah < you forget how to spell Willetts after awhile .

Veterans friend
Guest
Veterans friend
6 years ago
Reply to  ROW ROW

You blew it as well. 🤣🤣🤣

Diesel DRW - Curb Weight 7762 lbs
Guest
Diesel DRW - Curb Weight 7762 lbs
6 years ago

Willits is an important, and evolving population center on highway 101. It has many things that no place in SoHum has, like culture, some class, and a terrific new hospital!
Just quit about the bypass! Let’s let bypasses be bypasses! Soon, Willits will be so totally awesome, you will wish you lived here! Ted Kazcynski indeed!

Veterans friend
Guest
Veterans friend
6 years ago

Thank you for the correct spelling and your beautiful fantasy. You could have done it without slaming another struggling community though.

Betty Bolton
Guest
Betty Bolton
6 years ago
Reply to  Perspective

Ukiah state street off ramp going south

Perspective
Guest
Perspective
6 years ago
Reply to  Betty Bolton

Thank You Betty

Cowabunga
Guest
Cowabunga
6 years ago
Reply to  Cowabunga

Address: 1351 N State St, Ukiah, CA 95482
Phone: (800) 786-1000

Sarah
Guest
Sarah
6 years ago

Northbound now 1 way controlled traffic as of about 4:00

Common Sense
Guest
Common Sense
6 years ago

When traffic is at a stop and there is an emergency ahead please leave a lane open for emergency personnel!!! They can’t make it safe for you to pass if you don’t let them get to the emergency!

Douglas Esget
Guest
Douglas Esget
6 years ago

Truck with a trailer started fire. Truck and trailer completely destroyed. Norhbound traffic crawling up 1 lane! Fire has moved East up hill.

Leorio
Guest
Leorio
6 years ago

Anyone know how far south it’s moving? We’re getting evacuation warnings in redwood Valley

Sarah Day
Guest
6 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

GRADE FIRE – all info is per CDF website

Grade Fire Incident Information:
Last Updated: July 16, 2017 5:30 pm
Date/Time Started: July 16, 2017 2:51 pm
Administrative Unit: CAL FIRE Mendocino Unit
County: Mendocino County
Location: Hwy 101, 5 miles northwest of Redwood Valley
Acres Burned – Containment: 100 acres – 5% contained
Evacuations: Evacuations are in place for Baker Creek Subdivision.
Road Closures: Controlled traffic on Hwy 101
Long/Lat: -123.28825/39.30125

Guest
Guest
Guest
6 years ago

Man what a bummer, I hope they have good insurance. Can you imagine going on a trip with your trailer then losing it your truck and belongings, and also starting a huge fire. Shitty day.☹️

diddy
Guest
diddy
6 years ago
Reply to  Guest

Can you imagine your house burning to the ground with all of your possessions and memories inside because someone wasn’t prepared to put out a small fire in their vehicle?

Veterans friend
Guest
Veterans friend
6 years ago
Reply to  diddy

A fire extinguisher is a very inexoensive life saver. I have one in every vehicle. Everyone ought to think about it.

Cowabunga
Guest
Cowabunga
6 years ago

That is good advise. Thank you!

Bystander
Guest
Bystander
6 years ago

The family was prepared – they had three fire extinguishers and water and used all of it trying to put out the fire. Sorry for their loss, and best of luck to them making their way home, and best of luck for all of those whose homes are threatened by the fire.

Bystander at the scene
Guest
Bystander at the scene
6 years ago

Hey there, the truck owner expended 2 fire extinguishers and 7 gallons of water trying to put it out. He had 1 in the truck and 1 in the rv.

Bystander at the scene
Guest
Bystander at the scene
6 years ago

Hey there, the truck owner expended 2 fire extinguishers and over 7 gallons of water trying to put it out. He had 1 in the truck and 1 in the rv. As stated below- the hood release was unable to be opened despite repeated effort-
They attempted to use shovel- also from the truck to contain the fire- the officer commented that they did everything right that could have been done to prevent the fire from spreading past the truck-
Thank you all for being respectful around a horrible event

Guest
Guest
Guest
6 years ago
Reply to  diddy

Yes I can that’s why I carry a fire extinguisher.

Andrea
Guest
Andrea
6 years ago
Reply to  diddy

I just bought my house in Redwood Valley now I’m in tears watching the fire nearby!😪

Russell McCutcheon
Guest
Russell McCutcheon
6 years ago

WHERE is Baker Creek is the problem. Can anyone give me a road nearby, or something Google Maps will identify as an actual place? Seems the fire is shifting towards my house, but no map has ever heard of “Baker Creek”

Albert Lee
Guest
Albert Lee
6 years ago

Baker Creek runs from Laughlin way in Redwood Valley, straight North, running parallel to where is fire is. That must be why they were evacuated early.
We all had problem locating it. But I found it by expanding google map.

Bob Pierce
Guest
Bob Pierce
6 years ago

Find Laughlin and zoom in. Bakers Creek Rd runs north-south.

Jess
Guest
Jess
6 years ago

Should people in t.v. on east road be gathering their stuff?

atomicthumbs
Guest
atomicthumbs
6 years ago
Reply to  Jess

It’s better to be safe than sorry.

Lori
Guest
Lori
6 years ago

The smoke has gotten thick in upperlake, also all around Lake County. Stay safe Firefighters

MendocinoMamma
Guest
MendocinoMamma
6 years ago

Took off very rapidly!

MendocinoMamma
Guest
MendocinoMamma
6 years ago

Caught this on the way to Ukiah. Thank you firefighters!

malamutemomma
Guest
malamutemomma
6 years ago

Will they continue to fight the fire into the evening? How contained is it? Curious as to whether or not leave Laughlin Way

Brooke
Guest
6 years ago

Thank you for being so informative kym! Your constant updates are great

Brooke
Guest
6 years ago

Thank you Kym for being so informative! Yout site is my go to!

Crime stopper
Guest
Crime stopper
6 years ago

You can carry all the fire extinguishers you think you’d need and then not be able to release the hood latch and raise the hood. This very scenario happens lots of times and catches motorists and firefighters off guard. It is a shame no one was able to disconnect the truck/trailer and safely drag the trailer backwards and away.

John Ripper
Guest
John Ripper
6 years ago

The people with the pickup & trailer that started the fire were most likely stoned on the devil weed. They were so stoned they didn`t realize their rig was on fire until it was too late; then couldn`t find their fire extinguisher. More death, dismemberment and destruction from the devil`s lettuce. We need to eradicate it at all cost. All growers and users need to be sterilized so they don`t pass on their defective genes.

coug
Guest
coug
6 years ago
Reply to  John Ripper

Are you kidding me? Is this really the time or place for your tirade against something that has nothing to do with this fire? Seriously… how about some compassion for the people whose homes are in jeapordy, or some constructive advise. You disgust me.

John Ripper
Guest
John Ripper
6 years ago
Reply to  coug

My posting was entirely satire — I would think this would be realized immediately. Unlike others who post ludicrous statements about
“devil’s lettuce” that are apparently not satirical.

the misadventures of bunjee
Guest
the misadventures of bunjee
6 years ago
Reply to  John Ripper

Comments like these just need to be deleted, kym.

Mike
Guest
Mike
6 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Really

John Ripper
Guest
John Ripper
6 years ago

Come on, lighten up! Don`t you understand my post was satire?

Bill Johnston
Guest
Bill Johnston
6 years ago
Reply to  John Ripper

Oh dude get a life

Guest
Guest
Guest
6 years ago
Reply to  John Ripper

Only a lettuce head could post such a heartless comment at this time. Satans cilantro robs them of their senses, makes them comment things from paranoia and psychosis.

MARYJO ANNE
Guest
MARYJO ANNE
6 years ago

Is this real??… I just can’t… seriously..

Redwood Tree
Guest
Redwood Tree
6 years ago

Could you please give updates about any 101 closures? thanks.

Liz
Guest
Liz
6 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Mendocino Sheriff’s Facebook… “One lane of Highway 101 is now closed; additional Highway 101 closures are expected.”

Country Grown
Guest
Country Grown
6 years ago

At least the cal fire station is litterly right next to this.

Best vibes to the fighters and residents in that area.

Russell McCutcheon
Guest
Russell McCutcheon
6 years ago

From what I’ve noticed, coordination and information has really sucked. The Sheriff’s department took hours to post outdated information about the fire size. Calfire is using two different twitter accounts to refer to two different fires burning at the same time as the “grade fire.” One even says the fire is contained and not advancing, and our fire is still going uncontained. I’m glad the areas up here aren’t densely populated, or the misinformation, and in some cases, lack of information, could be a problem. So far they keep changing the number of acres, but I’ve seen no references to the direction of fire, present location, speed, any shifts, advisories, nothing. This site has done a far better job than anything else local as far as keeping people informed. It’s shameful.

Mendingwheel
Guest
Mendingwheel
6 years ago

Please tell me why vehicles catch on fire?
I been riding and driving cars, trucks, trailers, campers, all my 72 years and never came close to having any catch on fire.

I know careful care of butane or propane fuel tanks and lines… But why are SOOO many vehicles burning down lately? I never heard of so many as there are all the time everywhere lately.

Are the computers in the vehicles messing up and shorting out something causing cars to blow up?

Guest
Guest
Guest
6 years ago
Reply to  Mendingwheel

Can start from anything really, cars nowadays are all plastic and electronic, battery shorting on something, pulley bearing overheating, anything touching the exhaust manifold, catalytic converter, short in the wiring, dropping your roach in your lap, ect. ect.

Joe Mathewson
Guest
Joe Mathewson
6 years ago
Reply to  Mendingwheel

I drove right by this when it was on fire it was either the transmission overheated, catalytic converter, or the engine threw a rod and the fuel was spilling on the cylinder. Here is a picture of the truck. Flames were underneath. The driver and his wife were panicked and doing everything they could to stop it. This was an accident and it happened. Pretty much out of control of things like this. All one can do is hope our brave fire fighters can get ancci solid fire line going. The wind had just picked up also when it was on fire making the situation much more uncontrollable. Stay safe to everyone fighting the fire and people in its path.

Anon Forrest
Guest
6 years ago
Reply to  Mendingwheel

Good to see you, Mendingwheel! Stay safe.

HotCoffee
Guest
HotCoffee
6 years ago

For more info don’t forget about Broadcastify

http://www.broadcastify.com/listen/ctid/205

for Mendocino County.

Irish
Guest
Irish
6 years ago

Is South 101 open?

Russell McCutcheon
Guest
Russell McCutcheon
6 years ago

Mendocino Sheriff
4 hrs ·
** Evacuation Order for Baker Subdivision is still in effect. The advisory for the area west of West Road, from Tomki to State Street HAS BEEN LIFTED.**
Conditions can change rapidly so please continue to monitor this page as well as @CAL_FIRE’s incident page.

So apparently things are improving. A shame how poor information is. This is the only source of information indicating a fire even exists today. Since Kym went to bed, we’ve heard nothing at all. I just happened upon that bit of information checking their facebook page.

DewDude19
Guest
DewDude19
6 years ago

The grade fire heading towards willits?

ED Denson
Guest
ED Denson
6 years ago

Reading the updates as the fire caught hold and spread was extraordinary. It was like watching a disaster in slow motion. Great reporting.

Worried Mother
Guest
Worried Mother
6 years ago

Is there any info about it this morning?? Containment? Acreage? Possibility of it spreading out closer to the valley?

Worried Mother
Guest
Worried Mother
6 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Thank you!