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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – As dozers continued to cut fire line around the Pawnee fire and tankers worked from overhead on Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors ratified a local emergency declaration for the fire.
Sheriff Brian Martin had originally made the local emergency declaration on Sunday, the day after the Pawnee fire began in the Spring Valley Lakes subdivision east of Clearlake Oaks.
The Board of Supervisors is required to ratify the declaration, which they did with California Office of Emergency Services representatives in attendance.
At the time the board voted, Cal Fire had an estimate of 11,500 acres and 5 percent containment on the fire, up by 1,000 from the size given Monday night.
More than 1,400 firefighting personnel are assigned, along with 110 engines, 10 water tenders, 15 helicopters, 35 hand crews and 58 dozers, Cal Fire reported.
The number of destroyed structures remains at 22, with four additional structures damaged, based on the Cal Fire damage assessment team’s work.
Click on the planes for information and flight path. Featured with permission of Flightradar24, www.flightradar.com .
Spring Valley and the nearby Double Eagle Ranch subdivision both remain under mandatory evacuation orders, officials said, with 600 structures threatened and about 1,500 residents impacted by the evacuations.
Also on Tuesday, the fire’s smoke settled into a thick haze over much of Lake County .
In addition to the assigned helicopters, numerous air tankers have been flying over the incident, based on radio traffic.
The dozers continued on Tuesday working around the fire, including cutting safety zones and fire line north of the fire on Hough Ridge.
Cal Fire said the fire continued to burn actively overnight.
On Monday night, the fire jumped Walker Ridge and moved into the Bear Valley area in eastern edge of Colusa County, according to reports from the scene.
Overnight Wilbur Hot Springs was reported to have been fully evacuated.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Colusa County Sheriff’s Office issued an immediate evacuation advisory warning for areas east of Walker Ridge, the Wilbur Springs area, Bear Valley and Brim Road.
Cal Fire also reported on a number of Pawnee fire-related road closure updates on Tuesday.
In Lake County, Old Long Valley Road, New Long Valley Road, Walker Ridge and Mule Skinner Road are all closed at Highway 20.
In Colusa County, Bear Valley Road at Highway 20, Bear Valley Road at Brim Road and Leesville Lodge Road at Brim Road are closed.
Cal Fire said road closures in those areas are staffed by law enforcement personnel and public access won’t be granted.
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CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – Cal Fire and local officials gave community members impacted by the Pawnee fire an update on conditions and firefighting operations during a Monday evening meeting.
About 40 people attended the community meeting at the Clearlake Oaks Moose Lodge, hosted by Cal Fire Incident Management Team 3, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Northshore Fire Protection District.
The Pawnee fire was first reported on Saturday evening in the Spring Valley Lakes subdivision east of Clearlake Oaks.
That same evening, Spring Valley was placed under a mandatory evacuation order which remains in effect.
Since then, with the fire moving to the east, mandatory evacuations also have been ordered for the nearby Double Eagle Ranch subdivision. Power has been cut to both communities due to downed power lines and trees.
Incident Management Team 3 Operations Chief Geoff Belyea said that on Monday crews made good progress on the southern portion of the incident, which had started as a spot fire at Spring Valley’s south end.
He said they buttoned up the southern end of the fire and were working to finish putting in control line on the north end of that spot fire along New Long Valley Road in order to fortify Spring Valley.
Along the fire’s western edge, Belyea said crews were making good progress, with bulldozers, hand crews and engine companies laying down fire hose.
In the area of Chalk Mountain, there was an unburned “island” of fuel – or vegetation – that ignited on Monday, sending up a lot of spoke. Having that fuel burn out actually was helpful, Belyea said.
On Monday evening, he said the main push of the fire was away from Spring Valley and toward the Walker Ridge area, located at the border of Lake and Colusa counties. He said hand crews, engines and dozers were working in the Double Eagle Ranch nearby.
Belyea noted that the fire had grown on its north end, and was burning northeasterly toward Indian Valley.
Incident Management Team 3 Assistant Chief Billy See said that damage assessment teams have been in the field counting the burned structures.
The count as of Monday night remained at 22 destroyed structures, of which 12 were residences and 10 outbuildings, See said.
See said the damage assessment was expected to be completed within 36 hours.
At that time, the fire had burned 10,500 acres and was 5 percent contained, with that containment near the impacted communities, he said.
The fire at that point was not active in Spring Valley, with the main fire growth pushing to the east and northeast, he said.
“Each day we’re fighting Mother Nature now,” he said, explaining that the weather was see-sawing between red flag warnings for low humidity and high temperatures, to delta-influenced conditions, with higher humidity and winds.
When asked about when evacuees might be able to return home, Sheriff Brian Martin said he hoped it would be this week. He said 1,500 people from 500 to 600 homes were impacted by the evacuations.
Before people can return home, he explained that Pacific Gas and Electric has to restore power, with power lines still down and other hazards throughout the community, including trees across roads.
“The primary concern is we make it as safe as we possibly can,” Martin said.
Martin also reported that the second Wolf Creek bridge further into the subdivision had been compromised by the fire, but that Lake County Public Works Director Scott De Leon may have an option to install a bailey bridge. He said the first Wolf Creek bridge remains open.
He also reported that the Spring Valley Pantry, the community center and Cowboy Church all survived the fire. PG&E had dropped in and hardwired a generator at the market, which is continuing to remain open and has supplied first responders with meals.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – Authorities on Monday arrested a Ukiah man found with marijuana and a concealed weapon in the Pawnee fire evacuation zone in Spring Valley Lakes.
Christian Hiran Campos, 30, was taken into custody on Monday afternoon, according to Lt. Corey Paulich of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
All of Spring Valley Lakes has been under mandatory evacuation since Saturday evening, when a fire erupted on the northern end of the subdivision and threatened the entire community, as Lake County News has reported.
Paulich said the Lake County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from local law enforcement agencies to assist with patrolling the evacuated areas.
The responding agencies included the Lakeport Police Department, Clearlake Police Department, California State Parks, California Fish and Wildlife and the California Highway Patrol, Paulich said.
He said those agencies are patrolling for unauthorized people in the area and contacting them to determine their reason for being in the area.
On Monday at 1:40 p.m. Lakeport Police Officer Andrew Welter was assisting the Lake County Sheriff’s Office with patrolling the Spring Valley area when he observed a black Toyota 4Runner traveling on Spring Valley Road with expired license plate tags, Paulich said.
Paulich said Welter conducted a traffic stop and contacted the driver, who identified himself Campos, and said he was working in the Spring Valley community but was unable to identify who he was working for or what he was doing.
Welter determined Campos was an unlicensed driver, Paulich said. A consensual search of Campos’s vehicle revealed he was in possession of approximately 2 pounds of marijuana and a loaded handgun. Other items found inside the Toyota were a small weighing scale and binoculars.
Campos was arrested and booked at the Lake County Jail for being an unauthorized person in disaster zone, possession of more than 28.5 grams of cannabis, possession of cannabis for sale, transportation of cannabis for sale, possession of a concealed firearm in vehicle, unlicensed driver.
Jail records showed that his bail was set at $5,000, with a Wednesday arraignment set.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Fire crews continue to battle the Pawnee fire, and with thousands of residents already ordered evacuated from their homes, the county of Lake has received requests for information on the most effective way to make donations to assist fire Survivors and their families.
Officials said cash donations are most helpful at this time. They allow those supporting disaster relief efforts to direct assistance where it is most needed.
The county is unable to accept in-kind donations, such as clothing, household goods and other supplies.
In-kind donations require significant time and financial resources to distribute.
If someone close to you needs clothing or other everyday items, please provide them directly, if you can. If you are able to help the broader disaster response and relief effort, cash is best.
Those who are able, please make cash donations at: https://www.ncoinc.org/.
Officials said cash donations are most helpful at this time. They allow those supporting disaster relief efforts to direct assistance where it is most needed.
The county is unable to accept in-kind donations, such as clothing, household goods and other supplies.
In-kind donations require significant time and financial resources to distribute.
If someone close to you needs clothing or other everyday items, please provide them directly, if you can. If you are able to help the broader disaster response and relief effort, cash is best.
Those who are able, please make cash donations at: https://www.ncoinc.org/.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – California Attorney General Xavier Becerra on Monday issued a consumer alert following Gov. Jerry Brown’s declaration of a state of emergency in Lake County due to the Pawnee fire east of Clearlake Oaks.
Attorney General Becerra reminds all Californians that price gouging during a state of emergency is illegal under Penal Code Section 396.
“Families in Lake County are in the midst of dealing with a devastating wildfire. They should not have to worry about whether they’re being illegally cheated out of fair prices,” said Becerra. “Our state’s price gouging law protects people impacted by an emergency from illegal price gouging on housing, gas, food, and other essential supplies.”
He encouraged anyone who has been the victim of price gouging, or who has information regarding potential price gouging, to immediately file a complaint through his office’s Web site or call 800-952-5225, or to contact their local police department or sheriff’s office.
California law generally prohibits charging a price that exceeds, by more than 10 percent, the price of an item before a state or local declaration of emergency. This law applies to those who sell food, emergency supplies, medical supplies, building materials and gasoline.
The law also applies to repair or reconstruction services, emergency cleanup services, transportation, freight and storage services, hotel accommodations and rental housing. Exceptions to this prohibition exist if, for example, the price of labor, goods, or materials has increased for the business.
Violators of the price gouging statute are subject to criminal prosecution that can result in a one-year imprisonment in county jail and/or a fine of up to $10,000.
Violators are also subject to civil enforcement actions including civil penalties of up to $5,000 per violation, injunctive relief and mandatory restitution.
Attorney General Becerra and local district attorneys can enforce the statute.
Attorney General Becerra reminds all Californians that price gouging during a state of emergency is illegal under Penal Code Section 396.
“Families in Lake County are in the midst of dealing with a devastating wildfire. They should not have to worry about whether they’re being illegally cheated out of fair prices,” said Becerra. “Our state’s price gouging law protects people impacted by an emergency from illegal price gouging on housing, gas, food, and other essential supplies.”
He encouraged anyone who has been the victim of price gouging, or who has information regarding potential price gouging, to immediately file a complaint through his office’s Web site or call 800-952-5225, or to contact their local police department or sheriff’s office.
California law generally prohibits charging a price that exceeds, by more than 10 percent, the price of an item before a state or local declaration of emergency. This law applies to those who sell food, emergency supplies, medical supplies, building materials and gasoline.
The law also applies to repair or reconstruction services, emergency cleanup services, transportation, freight and storage services, hotel accommodations and rental housing. Exceptions to this prohibition exist if, for example, the price of labor, goods, or materials has increased for the business.
Violators of the price gouging statute are subject to criminal prosecution that can result in a one-year imprisonment in county jail and/or a fine of up to $10,000.
Violators are also subject to civil enforcement actions including civil penalties of up to $5,000 per violation, injunctive relief and mandatory restitution.
Attorney General Becerra and local district attorneys can enforce the statute.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The American Red Cross is working alongside partners to provide shelter, food, and comfort for people forced to leave their homes with little notice during the Pawnee fire, burning east of Clearlake Oaks.
The fire has already scorched thousands of acres and forced more than a thousand of people to evacuate. An estimated 1,200 people have been ordered to evacuate and hundreds of structures are in the path of the fires.
For the latest evacuation information, visit the Lake County Sheriff Office’s Web site at http://www.lakesheriff.com/.
Red Cross disaster workers have opened a shelter at Lower Lake High School, 9430 Lake St., where people can find safe refuge from the fires. Additional supplies and volunteers are being mobilized now.
The Red Cross is also providing meals, health services, comfort and other support for affected residents.
Additional cots, blankets and emergency relief supplies are being mobilized now to support relief efforts. Volunteers from across Northern California are now traveling in the area to support sheltering, feeding, logistics and planning efforts.
The Red Cross is also working closely with government and community partners to coordinate relief efforts. Some of the partners they are working with include The Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, Lake County Social Services and Lake County Animal Care and Control.
Lake County Animal Care and Control’s LEAP program is helping with sheltering of evacuated animals at Lower Lake High School. Large animal staging is located at Social Service Center, 15975 Anderson Ranch Parkway, Lower Lake.
For additional animal needs, call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278. This is also the same number to call for urgent boarding of large and small animals.
You can help people affected by disasters big and small, like the California wildfires and countless other crises, by making a donation to support Red Cross Disaster Relief.
Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to, and help people recover from disasters big and small. Call, click, or text to give: visit redcross.org, call 1-800 RED CROSS or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
In-kind donations discouraged
Americans are generous and want to do everything they can to help after a disaster.
Unfortunately, collecting and sending food, clothing and other household items often does more harm than good. Instead, the best way to support disaster victims is with a financial donation.
It takes time and money to store, sort, clean and distribute donated items, which diverts limited time and resources away from helping those most affected.
In contrast, financial donations can be accessed quickly to support those affected, and be put to use right away. With a financial donation, individuals can buy what they need and want.
Storing donated items can also result in thousands of dollars in warehousing, cleaning, transportation and handling fees – whereas financial donations allow us to be flexible to give those directly affected by wildfires what they need most.
American Cross’ first priority is the safety and well-being of those affected by disasters. Unfortunately, some well-intentioned donations of clothing or other items may be inadvertently soiled or dirty, which can cause illness.
Financial donations don’t pose any health risks and can be used right away to replace items like medications and reading glasses.
Before collecting or dropping off donations of food, clothing or household items, please call to see if these items are needed. On some occasions, the Red Cross will accept donations, except for homemade food, at its shelters.
How to volunteer
Trained Red Cross volunteers are currently staffing shelters and supporting residents. As the disaster continues to evolve, the Red Cross will assess how community volunteers can best support the operation.
Please apply online to become a Red Cross volunteer https://tinyurl.com/ARCPawnee if you are interested in helping with this response or responses like this in the future.
Stay connected with loved ones
Visit the Red Cross Safe and Well Web site at http://www.redcross.org/safeandwell to reconnect with loved ones.
The site allows individuals and organizations to register and post messages to indicate that they are safe or to search for loved ones. The site is always available, open to the public and available in Spanish.
Registrations and searches can be done directly on the website. Registrations can also be completed by texting SAFE to 78876.
You can also use the “I’m Safe” feature of the Red Cross Emergency App to let loved ones know your status.
Wildfire safety steps
The Red Cross urges everyone to follow evacuation orders from local law enforcement and to have an emergency kit ready to go.
Listen to your local media for updates on the fire and be ready to leave quickly. Back your car into the garage or park it in an open space facing your direction of escape.
Keep your pets in one room so you can find them quickly if you have to evacuate.
Arrange for a temporary place to stay outside the threatened area.
Keep your indoor air clean – close windows and doors to prevent the smoke outside from getting in your home.
Use the recycle mode on the air conditioner in your home or car. If you don’t have air conditioning and it’s too hot to be inside, seek shelter somewhere else.
If smoke levels are high, don’t use anything that burns and adds to air pollution inside such as candles, fireplaces and gas stoves.
Don’t go home until fire officials say it is safe. Be cautious about entering a burned area – hazards could still exist.
Avoid damaged or downed power lines, poles and wires.
Keep your animals under your direct control. Hidden embers and hot spots could burn them.
Wet down debris to minimize breathing dust particles.
Wear leather gloves and shoes with heavy soles.
Throw out any food that has been exposed to heat, smoke or soot.
Recheck for smoke or sparks throughout your home for several hours after the fire, including in your attic. Wildfire winds can blow burning embers anywhere so check for embers that could cause a fire.
The fire has already scorched thousands of acres and forced more than a thousand of people to evacuate. An estimated 1,200 people have been ordered to evacuate and hundreds of structures are in the path of the fires.
For the latest evacuation information, visit the Lake County Sheriff Office’s Web site at http://www.lakesheriff.com/.
Red Cross disaster workers have opened a shelter at Lower Lake High School, 9430 Lake St., where people can find safe refuge from the fires. Additional supplies and volunteers are being mobilized now.
The Red Cross is also providing meals, health services, comfort and other support for affected residents.
Additional cots, blankets and emergency relief supplies are being mobilized now to support relief efforts. Volunteers from across Northern California are now traveling in the area to support sheltering, feeding, logistics and planning efforts.
The Red Cross is also working closely with government and community partners to coordinate relief efforts. Some of the partners they are working with include The Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, Lake County Social Services and Lake County Animal Care and Control.
Lake County Animal Care and Control’s LEAP program is helping with sheltering of evacuated animals at Lower Lake High School. Large animal staging is located at Social Service Center, 15975 Anderson Ranch Parkway, Lower Lake.
For additional animal needs, call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278. This is also the same number to call for urgent boarding of large and small animals.
You can help people affected by disasters big and small, like the California wildfires and countless other crises, by making a donation to support Red Cross Disaster Relief.
Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to, and help people recover from disasters big and small. Call, click, or text to give: visit redcross.org, call 1-800 RED CROSS or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
In-kind donations discouraged
Americans are generous and want to do everything they can to help after a disaster.
Unfortunately, collecting and sending food, clothing and other household items often does more harm than good. Instead, the best way to support disaster victims is with a financial donation.
It takes time and money to store, sort, clean and distribute donated items, which diverts limited time and resources away from helping those most affected.
In contrast, financial donations can be accessed quickly to support those affected, and be put to use right away. With a financial donation, individuals can buy what they need and want.
Storing donated items can also result in thousands of dollars in warehousing, cleaning, transportation and handling fees – whereas financial donations allow us to be flexible to give those directly affected by wildfires what they need most.
American Cross’ first priority is the safety and well-being of those affected by disasters. Unfortunately, some well-intentioned donations of clothing or other items may be inadvertently soiled or dirty, which can cause illness.
Financial donations don’t pose any health risks and can be used right away to replace items like medications and reading glasses.
Before collecting or dropping off donations of food, clothing or household items, please call to see if these items are needed. On some occasions, the Red Cross will accept donations, except for homemade food, at its shelters.
How to volunteer
Trained Red Cross volunteers are currently staffing shelters and supporting residents. As the disaster continues to evolve, the Red Cross will assess how community volunteers can best support the operation.
Please apply online to become a Red Cross volunteer https://tinyurl.com/ARCPawnee if you are interested in helping with this response or responses like this in the future.
Stay connected with loved ones
Visit the Red Cross Safe and Well Web site at http://www.redcross.org/safeandwell to reconnect with loved ones.
The site allows individuals and organizations to register and post messages to indicate that they are safe or to search for loved ones. The site is always available, open to the public and available in Spanish.
Registrations and searches can be done directly on the website. Registrations can also be completed by texting SAFE to 78876.
You can also use the “I’m Safe” feature of the Red Cross Emergency App to let loved ones know your status.
Wildfire safety steps
The Red Cross urges everyone to follow evacuation orders from local law enforcement and to have an emergency kit ready to go.
Listen to your local media for updates on the fire and be ready to leave quickly. Back your car into the garage or park it in an open space facing your direction of escape.
Keep your pets in one room so you can find them quickly if you have to evacuate.
Arrange for a temporary place to stay outside the threatened area.
Keep your indoor air clean – close windows and doors to prevent the smoke outside from getting in your home.
Use the recycle mode on the air conditioner in your home or car. If you don’t have air conditioning and it’s too hot to be inside, seek shelter somewhere else.
If smoke levels are high, don’t use anything that burns and adds to air pollution inside such as candles, fireplaces and gas stoves.
Don’t go home until fire officials say it is safe. Be cautious about entering a burned area – hazards could still exist.
Avoid damaged or downed power lines, poles and wires.
Keep your animals under your direct control. Hidden embers and hot spots could burn them.
Wet down debris to minimize breathing dust particles.
Wear leather gloves and shoes with heavy soles.
Throw out any food that has been exposed to heat, smoke or soot.
Recheck for smoke or sparks throughout your home for several hours after the fire, including in your attic. Wildfire winds can blow burning embers anywhere so check for embers that could cause a fire.