News

CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – As containment rose on the Pawnee fire on Wednesday, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said Spring Valley Lakes residents will be allowed to return home later in the afternoon.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office had implemented the mandatory evacuation order for the Spring Valley Lakes subdivision, located east of Clearlake Oaks, on Saturday evening, within hours of the fire beginning.

Officials said all areas of Spring Valley, New Long Valley and Old Long Valley will be open at 4 p.m. Wednesday.

However, the mandatory evacuation order for the Double Eagle Ranch subdivision, located to the east of Spring Valley, remains in effect, as do road closures on Walker Ridge Road at Highway 20 and Mule Skinner Road at Highway 20, the sheriff’s office said.

The combined evacuation orders have impacted an estimated 1,500 residents and 600 homes, officials said.

The Spring Valley evacuation order was lifted hours after the fire’s size was reported to have reached 13,500 acres – a 500-acre increase since the night before – with containment jumping to 25 percent.

Cal Fire said the number of burned structures remains at 22, with damaged structures still at four.

Resources assigned to the fire on Wednesday included 2,700 firefighters, 235 engines, 25 water tenders, 15 helicopters, 58 hand crews and 69 dozers, Cal Fire said.

Flight tracking also shows tankers at work in the fire area.

Also on Wednesday, the Colusa County Sheriff’s Office lifted the advisory evacuations for areas east of Walker Ridge, north of Highway 20 accessed by Bear Valley Road, Bear Valley and Brim Road, and Leesville and Bear Valley Road.

The Colusa County Sheriff’s Office authorized the removal of the roadblocks in those areas, but said access will only be granted to residents, who will be required to show identification.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – For the second time in as many years, the streets of downtown Lakeport will be transformed this weekend into the newest stop in the Northern California‐Nevada Cycling Associations criterium racing calendar.

The free event, dubbed the RPP Hobby Lakeport Twilight Criterium presented by Chevron and Power Market, will offer impressive bicycle road racing in Lakeport on Saturday, June 30.

A criterium, or “crit” for short, is a road bicycle race held on closed downtown city streets in front of thousands of cheering fans and spectators.

This year the schedule for the Lakeport downtown criterium has been adjusted so that the premier categories will be racing under the lights, adding a real “party atmosphere” to the event for spectators and a rare opportunity for the athletes that will be performing in front of large local crowds.

Amy Moor, a member of the Northern California Nevada Cycling Association Board of Directors, said the event is notable for the fact that all prizes are equal between the men’s and women’s racing categories.

World class athletes will race the 0.6-mile long loop that traverses Main Street turning right on Armstrong Street, then right again onto the short but steep pitch of Forbes street before descending at speeds in excess of 40 miles per hour into the 90-degree right-hand turn onto Fourth Street and then right back onto Main Street.

The short yet steep climb up Forbes Street will provide some of the best viewing action for spectators as it often serves as a launch pad for the strongest riders to “attack” the field in attempt to separate themselves from their competitors.

Following a rider or group riders attack, the rest of the field must find the impetus to chase those riders down and bring him or her back the group or risk losing the overall race.

Often times the impetus to chase down the leaders is provided by the officials ringing a cowbell and announcing to the passing group of athletes that the next lap is a “Prime” lap (pronounced “preme”).

On a prime lap, the first rider back across the start finish line on that LAP wins a prize that may be anything from bottle of local Lake County wine or up to $250 cash.

Prime laps are used by the officials to control the tempo of a race and to disrupt individuals or teams from getting away from the rest of the racers by “going off the front” and riding away with an easy win. Prime laps keep the action high enhancing the spectator experience.

Each criterium class or cycling “category” begins as a timed event, with officials keeping track of the average lap times. Using those average lap times, the officials will calculate how many laps the field will make by the end of the preset time.

When the calculations indicate there are approximately 10 laps to go, the race converts to laps and the officials will display “lap cards” to the field letting them know how many laps remain before the end of the race. It is usually at this point that the over tempo and speed of the race begins to climb as the excitement of a pack sprint finish builds.

The fastest lap times of this year’s course are expected to be in the 1 minute 20 second range, which means the pro categories could be doing over 60 laps

The inaugural Lakeport Downtown Criterium was held in July 2017. Athlete attendance was on the low side due mainly to the fact that the contingent of criterium racers on the west coast had no idea the tiny lakefront town of Lakeport even existed and July was extremely hot.

The athletes and teams that did attend in 2017 were greeted with hospitality rarely seen at any other event, as well the beauty of downtown Lakeport and Clear Lake. Those athletes left Lakeport last year vowing to report back to others of this amazing new downtown crit and the diamond that was found in Lakeport and Lake County.

Through social media, images and reviews of Lakeport and the downtown criterium spread like wildfire, with athletes making early plans to attend in 2018.

New for 2018 is a schedule change and rebranding the event as the “RPP Hobby Lakeport Twilight Criterium presented by Chevron & Power Market.” By revising the race schedule so that the premier professional categories will start their racing at sunset, the event is now known as a “twilight crit.”

Downtown “twilight” or “sunset” crits are becoming increasingly rare in the United States with Lakeport now being only one of two in Northern California. The biggest West Coast sunset criterium is the San Rafael Sunset Criterium held every July in downtown San Rafael, which is the event that the Lakeport Twilight Criterium is modeled after.

Also new for 2018 will be a free race for kids sponsored and hosted by the Lake County Deputy Sheriff’s Association. Local deputy sheriffs will be on hand to pass out official race bib numbers, ice cream and popsicles, medals and even cash prizes for the kids that make the “podium.”

Additionally, Chevron and Power Market will be raffling off a new bike to one lucky spectator. Come down to the Chevron booth to get your name in the drawing.

This year’s event will feature local professional announcer Martin Scheel alongside Charles “Chuck” Hutcheson, former elite cyclist well know cycling personality from the Herbalife24/MarcPro Strava Race team, calling all the action while playing some great music.

O’Meara Brothers brewery is the official beer of the Lakeport Twilight Criterium and will be featured along with several Lake County wineries providing beer and wine at the beer garden. VIP access passes will be available for sale that gives spectators access to covered trackside seating on the start finish line and includes hosted beer, wine and pizza delivered by Stonefire Pizza.

Join the party on Saturday afternoon, get a free cowbell, and other schwag, line Main Street and the Forbes Street climb and be witness to some of the best free sporting entertainment Lakeport has to offer.

To learn more visit www.lakeportcrit.com and follow @lakeportcrit on instagram and RPP Hobby Lakeport Twilight Criterium on Facebook for up-to-the-minute information.

CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – The Pawnee fire experienced more growth on Tuesday, but at the same time firefighters raised containment on the blaze.

In its third day, the Pawnee fire – which began in the Spring Valley Lakes subdivision Saturday afternoon – rose to an estimated 13,000 acres, with containment up to 17 percent.

Mendocino National Forest spokeswoman Punky Moore said the fire had burned approximately 658 acres of forest land on the Upper Lake Ranger District as of Tuesday night.

The estimate of burned structures remained at 22, which officials said breaks down to 12 residences and 10 outbuildings. Another four structures have been damaged.

A substantial increase in resources on the incident occurred on Tuesday, with the number of firefighting personnel nearly doubling to 2,700.

In addition, there are 235 engines, 25 water tenders, 15 helicopters, 58 hand crews and 69 dozers.

There is so far no estimated time of full containment, and the cause remains under investigation, Cal Fire said.

Mandatory evacuations remain in effect for 1,500 residents and 600 homes in both the Spring Valley Lakes and Double Eagle Ranch subdivisions, officials said.

An evacuation shelter remained open at Lower Lake High School, 9430 Lake St.

The Red Cross, which is operating the shelter, has had about 26 overnight stays and served more than 50 meals, according to spokeswoman Kathryn Hecht.

“Most importantly, the Red Cross is on location, staffed, stocked and ready to serve,” she said. “Additional cots, blankets and emergency relief supplies are being mobilized now to support relief efforts in case there are additional needs.”

Hecht said the Red Cross is also working closely with government and community partners to coordinate relief efforts. Some of the partners we are working with include The Salvation Army, Catholic Charities and Lake County Animal Care and Control.

More evacuees are reported to be sheltering at the Clearlake Oaks Moose Lodge.

The Colusa County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday issued an advisory warning for east of Walker Ridge area, Wilbur Springs area, Bear Valley and Brim Road.

Road closures remaining in effect are as follows:

Lake County

• New Long Valley Road at Highway 20.
• Old Long Valley Road at Highway 20.
• Walker Ridge at Highway 20.
• Mule Skinner Road at Highway 20.

Colusa County

• Bear Valley Road is closed at Highway 20.
• Bear Valley Road is closed at Brim Road.
• Leesville Lodge Road is closed at Brim Road.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif.– The county of Lake announced the permanent appointment of two county department heads.

At the board’s meeting on Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors unanimously appointed David Cowan as Water Resources director and Michalyn DelValle as Community Development director, effective immediately. Both had been named interim directors in April.

DelValle is a nearly life-long Lake County resident, with a strong commitment to public service.

Her bachelor’s degree in management and 10 years’ experience serving in Community Development have prepared DelValle to lead with precision.

In April, DelValle stepped into a challenging situation, with understaffing and workload delays, and immediately began to take insightful and positive steps.

In just over two months, she has brought stability to her department, and set building blocks in place for a vibrant future.

DelValle acknowledges the work is just beginning: “We have many opportunities, from small adjustments to improve the experience of our customers to substantive changes to our land use plans and zoning ordinances to create a more business friendly environment. I look forward to leading Community Development, and working with staff to revitalize and enrich Lake County’s diverse communities.”

Cowan recently came to the county of Lake, bringing more than 20 years of experience in watershed protection, water program management, aquatic biology and fisheries.

He has a Master of Science in aquatic biology, and his strong leadership and communication skills have already made Cowan a valuable partner to county staff and community leaders, alike. Many have particularly remarked upon the improvements made to Highland Springs Park.

“I am excited to continue working with the great people in our Water Resources Department and members of the community to ensure that Clear Lake and our other waterways remain a vital and resilient resource in the future,” said Cowan. “This is a truly beautiful and exceptional area, and it is wonderful to be here and contribute.”

County officials said Cowan and DelValle are “dynamic and collaborative leaders” and the future of their departments is bright.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Summer in California is a time for many people to enjoy road trips, see the sights and visit new places.

The California Highway Patrol reminds everyone to put safety first and prepare for travel so summer fun does not become summer disaster.

“Good planning will make your trip safer for everyone – the driver, passengers, and other motorists,” said CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley. “Be sure you and your vehicle are both ready for your summer adventures.”

Summer driving can be more dangerous than winter for several reasons. Vacationing motorists, unfamiliar with an area, may create more traffic and drive unpredictably, either admiring scenery or trying to find their way.

More teenagers, who are inexperienced drivers, are likely to be on the road. Road construction occurring during the summer also requires caution.

The CHP offers these tips to help ensure roadway safety:

• Make sure your vehicle is ready for summer. Check the tires, lights, and radiator system. Summer temperatures place extra stress on your vehicle and all systems should be in good condition for safe travel.

• Know your route. Before you leave, research road conditions and construction. The California Department of Transportation has a mobile app for traffic information, or visit http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov for highway conditions.

• Cell phones can only be used hands-free. However, it is much safer to stop before making or taking calls, even hands-free. Program any mapping devices before you leave.

• Buckle up! Be sure everyone in your vehicle is wearing a seat belt. Check that young passengers are using the correct child safety seat for their height and weight.

• Never leave pets, children, or the elderly alone in a car for any length of time. California laws address how to handle situations in which children or animals are left in vehicles. However, the best approach if you see an unattended child or animal is to call 9-1-1.

• If your vehicle has a problem, such as a flat tire, move it to a safe location, if possible off of the highway. The shoulder of a roadway, no matter how wide, is not a safe place for repair work.

The mission of the California Highway Patrol is to provide the highest level of safety, service, and security.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Air quality and health officials reported Tuesday that the Pawnee fire is the source of the smoke plumes and haze that can be seen throughout Lake County.

Smoke was noticeable throughout Lake County in the overnight hours, with most areas experiencing light smoke or haze, according to the Lake County Air Quality Management District.

The agency said some areas close to the fire and at higher elevation may have been in the moderate to unhealthy for sensitive individual ranges.

Weather forecasts indicate “good” to “moderate” conditions should return by mid-afternoon through most of lake county air basin.

Officials said all residents should be prepared for smoke to settle into the area during the overnight hours until the fire is out.

The Lake County Quality Management District reported on Tuesday that air quality conditions remained in the good range for most of the county.

However, the overnight forecast indicates a potential for settling of smoke into the basin. In areas that become impacted by smoke “moderate” to “unhealthy” air quality may be experienced.

Similar conditions are expected Wednesday, though north by north east winds are forecast Tuesday night into Wednesday, which could bring more smoke into the basin. Slight variations in the wind direction can result in significant smoke impacts.

Conditions can change quickly from “good” to “unhealthy,” and this may be the pattern for the next few days, officials said.

Localized areas may experience intermittent particulate levels in the “moderate” to “unhealthy” range. All areas of Lake County may be significantly impacted should meteorological conditions worsen, the air district reported.

Lake County Public Health Officer Dr. Sara Goldgraben advised residents to be cautious in resuming normal outdoor activities when smoke is present in your area.

“Variable weather conditions and ongoing fire activity may result in localized areas of reduced air quality, which could still pose health risks to people with underlying health conditions. Since we can’t always predict when and where ‘pockets’ of poor air quality may occur, it is prudent to be careful until conditions stabilize,” she said.

Smoky conditions can cause irritation of the eyes, nose and air passages, which can be hazardous in young children, the elderly, individuals with heart conditions or chronic lung disease such as asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory conditions.

Individuals with asthma, bronchitis, emphysema and other lung or heart diseases should carefully adhere to their medical treatment plans and maintain at least a five-day supply of prescribed medications. They should limit outdoor activity and unnecessary physical exertion. Air conditioning that recirculates indoor air should be used, when available. Drinking plenty of water to avoid drying of the airways is recommended, unless restricted for medical reasons.

Dust masks are not protective against the most harmful pollutants caused by wildfire smoke that drifts to nearby areas. They are useful in filtering out the ash and larger particles that are encountered in burn areas. Air purifying respirators, such as N-95 filtering face pieces, may be effective in reducing harmful particulate matter, but also increase the work of breathing, can lead to physiologic stress, and are not recommended as a general protective measure.

The “good” to moderate” air quality forecast results from lower levels of fine particulates in the smoke and the possibility of increased ground level ozone. These are generated when combustion products in the smoke combine with the high temperatures, sunlight, and humidity. Other chemical reactions reduce visibility by forming secondary particulates. Localized areas of unhealthy air, regional haze, and particulate from this fire can be expected until the fire is out.