Cal Fire Unit Chief George Gonzalez at the Hopkins Fire Burn Zone

September 14, 2021--CalFire Mendocino Unit Chief George Gonzales took KZYX's Alicia Bales on a tour of the 257 acres of the Hopkins Fire burn zone. The toll of this fire is evident as soon as you cross the Moore Street Bridge over the Russian River to Eastside Calpella Road, where half a dozen houses were lost right along the river. From Eastside Calpella Road, they took Marina Drive up to Rubicon Court, Black Oak Drive, and Lake Ridge Road, and down to the Pomo Recreation Area where the fire burned right up to the water’s edge of Lake Mendocino. Just around the time this story aired, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office announced they had arrested a 20-year old man for arson who they suspect started the Hopkins Fire intentionally.