Elk Fire to the rescue (again!)
Elk Fire to the Rescue (Again!)
A blaze near the old Fashauer Ranch on Greenwood Ridge broke out last Tuesday night. Luckily, Chad Falleri was headed home to Cloverdale fromhis family’s vacation home in Elk and saw the fire and called it in. Local volunteer firefighters Eric Bloyd and Ronnie Karish were quick to respond from the Greenwood Ridge Fire Station, less than a mile up the road. John Ross was also on hand, as the ranch is where the horses are pastured for Ross Ranch Horseback Tours.
According to Fire Chief Bob Matson, the fire started close to the road and moved up a small hill. The Department responded with three engines and the water tender. Cal Fire from Boonville was also there to assist. It took about an hour and a half to quell the flames, which burned about a quarter of an acre.
“Wildfires are what we train all summer for and it all went really
smoothly,” said the Chief.
Free COVID-19 Testing
There are now two health care facilities on the coast offering free COVID-19 testing on a regular basis. Redwood Coast Medical Services in Gualala has been offering testing for several months now at least two weekend days a month. You can check for testing days and book an appointment at rcms-healthcare.org.
Additionally, Mendocino Coast Clinics in Fort Bragg is offering free tests as well. You can call for an appointment at (707) 964-1251. Both services are drive-up and results usually arrive in three days.
Out of 58 counties in the state, Mendocino County is one of only ten California counties that are currently in the mostrestrictive Purple Tier. Wearing masks, practicing social distancing, testing and contact tracing are all necessary strategies for moving us to a less restrictive tier.
From Carolyn Carleton-Browe:
“You may have noticed a few white buckets labeled ‘Cans & Bottles’ along Greenwood Road. I am distributing them to pullouts along our road to hopefully encourage drivers and hikers to deposit beverage cans and bottles in these buckets instead of throwing them along the road. I have requested nearby neighbors to monitor ‘ their’ buckets and to regularly empty the recyclables. I amhappy to distribute more of these buckets if there are any more Elk residents who would be willing to take on the responsibility of emptying the bucket, as needed, located closest to their house. Call me at (707) 877-3540.”