This was written by staff at the nonprofit newsroom CalMatters. It was republished by The Mendocino Voice in partnership with CalMatters to bring relevant nonpartisan news to Mendocino County readers. Learn more about CalMatters here.
LAKE CO., 9/26/2026 — As the Lucas Fire tore through Mendocino and Lake Counties, two portable fire hydrants sprouted from Lake County’s Keeling Park, pumping water directly from Clear Lake.
It was the first test of a homegrown solution to a problem the state is only beginning to reckon with: water systems never built to fight climate-fueled wildfire, with no specific guidance, mandate or funding to adapt…