Less than a mile away from the Redwood Empire Fairgrounds in Ukiah, Calif., is the massive staging area for firefighters battling the Mendocino Complex Fire.
Attendance is slightly below average because of the nearby fires, but the 85th fair is a success, said CEO Jennifer Seward.
"Most of Lake County is evacuated, many of the people that live in Lake County are over here in this area including some of my family members,” Seward said.
Erica Illg, 18, of Kelseyville, is participating in the livestock show at the fair. She and her family were forced to evacuate from the Mendocino Complex Fire.
"We had 61 goats to get out and two dogs so we started packing up early and right when we got the advisory evacuations we were out of there,” Illg said.
She says working at the fairgrounds has helped keep her mind off the fires.
The fair runs through Sunday evening.
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