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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Memorial Day proved a busy day for firefighters in Lake and its neighboring counties, with personnel responding to both commercial and wildland incidents.
The day’s most critical incident was the fire that destroyed the Hardester’s Market and Hardware store in downtown Middletown, which was first reported shortly after 2:15 p.m. Monday, as Lake County News has reported.
Earlier in the day, state, local and federal firefighters responded to a wildland fire near Indian Valley Reservoir east of Clearlake Oaks.
Northshore Fire Deputy Chief Mike Ciancio said the Reservoir fire was first reported at around 11:30 a.m.
Initially it was dispatched as a smoke check, but as crews got closer, they realized it was a wildland fire, Ciancio said.
The fire was located about two to three miles west of Indian Valley Reservoir on Bartlett Springs Road, he said.
Ciancio said Cal Fire, the US Forest Service, Lake County Fire and Northshore Fire responded to the fire, which burned about five acres.
Only wildland burned, Ciancio said, noting there were no structures damaged and no injuries. The cause is under investigation.
Radio reports indicated the incident was terminated just before 8 p.m., although officials expected a crew would remain at the scene overnight.
Later in the day in Clearlake there were concerns that a fire might break out due to a downed power pole, however, no fire resulted, according to Lake County Fire Protection District Chief Willie Sapeta.
The pole, located at Uhl Avenue and Golf Street in Clearlake, was sheared off due to a vehicle crash shortly after 3:30 p.m., according to radio reports. When firefighters arrived, they found the vehicle’s occupant was gone.
The Clearlake Police Department sent out an alert directing residents on Uhl between Mullen and Pearl to remain indoors.
Reports from the scene said that about six blocks around the crash site had been blocked off because it was a major pole that had the potential to impact other power poles and lines.
Also on Monday, in neighboring Glenn County the Chrome fire was reported along Highway 162 and Forest Highway 7, northwest of Elk Creek.
Cal Fire said the Chrome fire was 50 acres and 25-percent contained as of Monday night.
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
The day’s most critical incident was the fire that destroyed the Hardester’s Market and Hardware store in downtown Middletown, which was first reported shortly after 2:15 p.m. Monday, as Lake County News has reported.
Earlier in the day, state, local and federal firefighters responded to a wildland fire near Indian Valley Reservoir east of Clearlake Oaks.
Northshore Fire Deputy Chief Mike Ciancio said the Reservoir fire was first reported at around 11:30 a.m.
Initially it was dispatched as a smoke check, but as crews got closer, they realized it was a wildland fire, Ciancio said.
The fire was located about two to three miles west of Indian Valley Reservoir on Bartlett Springs Road, he said.
Ciancio said Cal Fire, the US Forest Service, Lake County Fire and Northshore Fire responded to the fire, which burned about five acres.
Only wildland burned, Ciancio said, noting there were no structures damaged and no injuries. The cause is under investigation.
Radio reports indicated the incident was terminated just before 8 p.m., although officials expected a crew would remain at the scene overnight.
Later in the day in Clearlake there were concerns that a fire might break out due to a downed power pole, however, no fire resulted, according to Lake County Fire Protection District Chief Willie Sapeta.
The pole, located at Uhl Avenue and Golf Street in Clearlake, was sheared off due to a vehicle crash shortly after 3:30 p.m., according to radio reports. When firefighters arrived, they found the vehicle’s occupant was gone.
The Clearlake Police Department sent out an alert directing residents on Uhl between Mullen and Pearl to remain indoors.
Reports from the scene said that about six blocks around the crash site had been blocked off because it was a major pole that had the potential to impact other power poles and lines.
Also on Monday, in neighboring Glenn County the Chrome fire was reported along Highway 162 and Forest Highway 7, northwest of Elk Creek.
Cal Fire said the Chrome fire was 50 acres and 25-percent contained as of Monday night.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council will hold a special meeting to discuss budget and classification issues.
The council will meet in closed session at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, May 29, to discuss labor negotiations before it meets in open session at 5:45 p.m. in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
On the agenda is a new job classification for the city council to approve, an electrical mechanical technician to be included in the 2018-19 budget.
The council also will hold a workshop on the budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
The council will meet in closed session at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, May 29, to discuss labor negotiations before it meets in open session at 5:45 p.m. in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
On the agenda is a new job classification for the city council to approve, an electrical mechanical technician to be included in the 2018-19 budget.
The council also will hold a workshop on the budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
052918 Lakeport City Council special meeting agenda packet by LakeCoNews on Scribd
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – A well-known Middletown store caught fire on Monday afternoon and was continuing to burn by early evening as authorities closed roadways around the site.
The Middletown Hardester’s Market and Hardware, located at 21088 Calistoga Road, was first reported on fire at about 2:20 p.m. in the compressor room in the rear of the building, according to radio reports.
“The fire is still going,” Sheriff Brian Martin told Lake County News just before 5 p.m. “They haven’t started the investigation yet.”
He confirmed that the fire started somewhere in the back of the building.
The fire injured one firefighter and a California Highway Patrol officer, Martin said.
Martin said the CHP officer received minor burns while helping to rescue the injured firefighter.
He said the firefighter was flown out, and was reported to have second- and third-degree burns.
“All the employees are accounted for,” said Martin.
The sheriff said there were no reports of anyone in the building, but that authorities would still need to go through the structure to make sure there are no casualties.
Highway 29 in front of the building is expected to be closed for several hours; Martin didn’t have an estimated time of reopening.
Martin said county roads behind the building also will be closed for a day or so while cleanup takes place.
A number of community members captured images and video of the fire, including Oly Mendoza, whose video is embedded below with permission.
Additional information on the incident will be published as it becomes available.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Sunday, the organizers of the second annual Lakeport Sprint Boat Grand Prix said they have postponed the event.
The races had been scheduled to take place off of Library Park on Saturday, June 2, and Sunday, June 3.
“It is with great sadness that this event will not take place this weekend as originally planned,” said Jack Long of Clear Lake Motorsports Enterprises LLC, the race promoter, in a written statement issued Sunday.
“We are committed to making this event happen at a later date this year. We thank our sponsors, vendors and the community for their continued support and understanding as we continue to work diligently to ensure this event takes place,” said Long.
Long’s statement said that the cancellation resulted from “contractual issues with the boat race sanction board.”
On the event’s Facebook page, organizers offered additional explanation. “To our surprise, we were advised by the sanction body, Southern California Speedboat Club, that they have voided their contract for the event.”
Earlier this month, Long has received the Lakeport City Council’s approval of his use of city facilities downtown during the sprint boat races.
At that time, he said he expected the 2018 event would be better than the year previous, when they had lost two of the biggest racing classes.
Sheriff Brian Martin also had confirmed to Lake County News that his agency had been scheduled to meet with Long to discuss event permit requirements.
Those who already have purchased tickets are encouraged to emailThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 707-278-9677.
Future event information will be provided as details are confirmed, organizers said.
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
The races had been scheduled to take place off of Library Park on Saturday, June 2, and Sunday, June 3.
“It is with great sadness that this event will not take place this weekend as originally planned,” said Jack Long of Clear Lake Motorsports Enterprises LLC, the race promoter, in a written statement issued Sunday.
“We are committed to making this event happen at a later date this year. We thank our sponsors, vendors and the community for their continued support and understanding as we continue to work diligently to ensure this event takes place,” said Long.
Long’s statement said that the cancellation resulted from “contractual issues with the boat race sanction board.”
On the event’s Facebook page, organizers offered additional explanation. “To our surprise, we were advised by the sanction body, Southern California Speedboat Club, that they have voided their contract for the event.”
Earlier this month, Long has received the Lakeport City Council’s approval of his use of city facilities downtown during the sprint boat races.
At that time, he said he expected the 2018 event would be better than the year previous, when they had lost two of the biggest racing classes.
Sheriff Brian Martin also had confirmed to Lake County News that his agency had been scheduled to meet with Long to discuss event permit requirements.
Those who already have purchased tickets are encouraged to email
Future event information will be provided as details are confirmed, organizers said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – County Librarian Christopher Veach announced that 31 new public computers have been installed at all four branches of Lake County Library to replace computers that were more than 5 years old.
Jake Reinke and Wes Thurner of the Lake County Information Technology Department installed the Dell Optiplex 7050 computers.
The new computers take advantage of the high speed, lightning-fast Internet connection which is also available through the library’s free public WiFi.
The library invites the public to use the free computers by signing in with their Lake, Sonoma or Mendocino County library card numbers or guest passes. There is a nominal charge for printing.
The new state-of-the-art computers have a Windows 10 operating system, internet access and the latest version of Microsoft Office.
The library makes public computers available so that the public can access the wealth of information that is available on the Internet. The library also wants to help increase the digital literacy of residents.
Digital literacy is one component of being digital citizens, people who are responsible for how they utilize technology to interact with the world around them. Digital technology allows people to interact and communicate with family and friends on a regular basis due to the busy constraints of today’s world.
The Lake County Library is on the Internet at http://library.lakecountyca.gov and Facebook at www.facebook.com/LakeCountyLibrary.
Jan Cook is a technician with the Lake County Library.
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – A new event called “First Fridays” is beginning in June in Middletown.
First Fridays is composed of a host of public parties in downtown Middletown this summer on the first Friday of each month. The community is invited.
The parties begin this Friday, June 1, and continue through September.
They run from 6 to 9 p.m. and feature businesses open late, local artists and artisans, live music in several locations, street food available for purchase, and a theme for each Friday:
• June 1: Middletown Community Car Show;
• July 6: Splash Zone Water Fun;
• Aug. 3: Wellness Café;
• Sept. 7: Lake County Fashion Show.
Start your evening by picking up a treasure map at the Middletown Art Center or another participating business. Follow the map to meet the artists, collect tokens and be entered in a drawing to win prizes.
On Friday, June 1, the Middletown Community Car Show will showcase local treasured cars and a People’s Choice award. The cars will be in place by 5 p.m. so you can come early to view them, talk to the owners, and vote for your favorite.
First Fridays is a collaboration of several organizations to showcase the diverse talents of our local artists and entrepreneurs and support our south Lake County economy.
First Fridays is brought to you by Phoenix Collaborative, in partnership with the Middletown Area Merchants Association, the Middletown Art Center and the Middletown Community Farmers’ Market.
For more information about First Fridays please visit Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/phoenixcollaborative/.
In addition, the Middletown Community Farmers’ Market will sell locally grown produce on the corner of Highways 175 and 29 at the Middletown Art Center every Friday, June to October, from 5 to 8 p.m.
First Fridays is composed of a host of public parties in downtown Middletown this summer on the first Friday of each month. The community is invited.
The parties begin this Friday, June 1, and continue through September.
They run from 6 to 9 p.m. and feature businesses open late, local artists and artisans, live music in several locations, street food available for purchase, and a theme for each Friday:
• June 1: Middletown Community Car Show;
• July 6: Splash Zone Water Fun;
• Aug. 3: Wellness Café;
• Sept. 7: Lake County Fashion Show.
Start your evening by picking up a treasure map at the Middletown Art Center or another participating business. Follow the map to meet the artists, collect tokens and be entered in a drawing to win prizes.
On Friday, June 1, the Middletown Community Car Show will showcase local treasured cars and a People’s Choice award. The cars will be in place by 5 p.m. so you can come early to view them, talk to the owners, and vote for your favorite.
First Fridays is a collaboration of several organizations to showcase the diverse talents of our local artists and entrepreneurs and support our south Lake County economy.
First Fridays is brought to you by Phoenix Collaborative, in partnership with the Middletown Area Merchants Association, the Middletown Art Center and the Middletown Community Farmers’ Market.
For more information about First Fridays please visit Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/phoenixcollaborative/.
In addition, the Middletown Community Farmers’ Market will sell locally grown produce on the corner of Highways 175 and 29 at the Middletown Art Center every Friday, June to October, from 5 to 8 p.m.