Firefighters are responding to Geysers Road near the Mendocino/Sonoma County line regarding a fire burning on the McCutchen Ranch, up the mountain near the ridgeline. The Incident Commander reports the Rock Fire is 30-40 acres and is getting pushed by winds on the ridgeline. Air resources are being dispatched to work the fire from above and ground resources are navigating the private, gated roads to access the fire.

There have been multiple lightning strikes in the area, according to scanner traffic.

Hopland Fire, Cloverdale Fire, and Cal Fire LNU have been dispatched to the scene and are reportedly staging near the Geysers Road exit as personnel collaborates with property owners to gain access to the blaze.

The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office issued a Nixle warning to area residents that read:

“THERE IS CURRENT FIRE AND LIGHTNING ACTIVITY SOUTH OF HOPLAND AND IN THE EASTERN HILL AREAS. FIRE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL ARE IN THE AREA ASSESSING THE SITUATION PLEASE USE SITUATIONAL AWARENESS AND STAY OUT OF THE AREA ADDITIONAL DETAILS TO FOLLOW AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE”

UPDATE 6:19 a.m.: As the night went on, firefighters were able to identify a clearer understanding of the Rock Fire’s location approximately three miles northwest of the Cloverdale Peak past known cellular towers.

MCSO issued another Nixle alert regarding the Rock Fire and associated lightning activity:

“ALL FIRE ACTIVITY NOTIFICATIONS FOR FIRE AND LIGHTNING ACTIVITY SOUTH OF HOPLAND HILL AREAS ARE CANCELED AT THIS TIME. THERE IS NO IMMINENT THREAT TO LIFE OR PROPERTY. FIRE PERSONEL MAY STILL BE IN THE AREA MONITORING PLEASE USE SITUATIONAL AWARNESS FOR FIRE EQUIPMENT AND PERSONNEL IN BURN AREAS.”

Please remember that this story is unfolding. Information is being reported as we gather it. However, some of the information coming from witnesses and initial official reports could be wrong. We will do our best to get the facts but, in the case that something is inaccurate, we will update with correct information as soon as we can.