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The California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection and Cal Fire said their organizations are working to address the state’s mounting wildland fire concerns and the changing conditions of California’s fire season.

With over 1.3 million acres burned and over 10,000 structures destroyed across California over the past several months, the impacts from wildfires across the state during this fire season are devastating.

Cal Fire and the board said they recognize the changing conditions of the state’s fire season.

California now often experiences a year-round fire season, with an increase in both the number and the intensity of large, damaging wildfires over the last decade. This is the “new normal” of the state’s wildfire environment.

In addition to having a strong response model, these “new normal” conditions require the state to continue to engage in wildfire prevention to protect lives and property.

“The citizens of this state should understand that the 2017 fire season does not preclude people from living in reasonable safety within the California environment. All aspects of pre-fire planning, including fire prevention activities, building codes and land-use planning are equally important to assist the state in managing the costs and economic losses associated with these wildfires,” said Dr. Keith Gilless, chair of the board.

The “new normal” has swiftly escalated the challenges faced by firefighters and resource management professionals. The Board of Forestry and Cal Fire said they recognize that aggressive fire prevention and forest health programs can help address the factors influencing the occurrence of large, damaging wildfires.

“Cal Fire is focused on increasing the pace and scale of fire prevention activities, including vegetation management, across the state,” said Chief Ken Pimlott, Cal Fire director and California’s state forester. “These activities play a critical role in helping reduce the impacts large, damaging wildfires have on our communities.”

In response to the clear need for increased fire prevention activities, the board has developed a Statewide
Programmatic Environmental Impact Report titled “California Statewide Vegetation Treatment Program,” known as the VTP PEIR.

The project will provide California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA, compliance for Cal Fire and other public agencies’ vegetation management projects. This VTP PEIR is intended for vegetation management activities that lower the risk of catastrophic wildfires on nonfederal lands by managing vegetation to modify/reduce hazardous fuels.

“Cal Fire, working in collaboration with other public, private and academic organizations, is looking forward to implementing even higher levels of prevention activities under the VTP PEIR across California to assist communities in reducing risks of wildfire impacts by being more defensible during suppression efforts,” said Chief Pimlott.

The board has been very deliberate in its efforts in preparing the VTP PEIR, taking into consideration the complex concerns expressed by the public.

“We have worked hard at preparing a project that balances the concerns expressed by the public, while supporting an increased level of vegetation management activities as a means of wildfire prevention within the state,” said Dr. Gilless.

The board recently published a draft of the VTP PEIR for full recirculation under CEQA for public comment.

The comment period closes at 5 p.m. Jan. 12, 2018.

A copy of the project can be located on the board’s Web site at http://bofdata.fire.ca.gov/ .

A supplemental disaster funding package for those affected by the California wildfires which delivers $81 billion in additional disaster relief has been introduced in Congress.

On Tuesday, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan announced that the supplemental funding package would be added to the continuing funding resolution.

“I’m happy to see the House put forth this supplemental disaster funding package that delivers the much-needed additional disaster relief for survivors of the California wildfires. It is unfortunate that the Republican leadership is playing political games and tacking it on to their end-of-the-year spending package,” said Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-05).

This year’s fires are the worst in California history, burning 1.3 million acres and destroying more than 10,000 structures, as well as taking dozens of lives.

“The road to recovery for those affected will be a long one, but I’m glad our federal government is doing its part to help,” said Thompson.

“I’m pleased to see the state of California’s request for which I have been pushing is being granted to give us the tools we need to begin the long process of rebuilding the communities affected by the fires. I look forward to continuing to work with my House colleagues to ensure we have all the resources necessary for full recovery,” Thompson said.

He added, “This disaster package should get a clean up or down vote. Instead, Republicans are pairing it with a bill that kicks the can of fiscal responsibility and funding the government down the road. Our survivors are not political pawns. They have real, urgent needs. They deserve a clean vote.”

Thompson represents California’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties, areas that have been among the hardest hit in the recent wildland fires.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – New Clearlake Police officers met the Clearlake City Council on Thursday, and special honors were given to another officer who saved the life of a city residence.

Acting Police Chief Tim Celli made the introductions and gave the commendation at Thursday’s city council meeting. The presentation begins at 6:38 in the video above.

Celli first introduced new city animal control officers Melinda Wymer and John Moretz.

Wymer began her job with the city in August, while Moretz came on board the week before the meeting, Celli said.

Celli said Wymer spent most of her life in Lake County, then left in 2003. In 2014, she and her husband returned, and are raising their three children here.

She began her involvement with the police department in 2015 through a citizens academy. Celli said Wymer later became a police volunteer before she was hired as a part-time kennel tech.

Wymer then left and put herself through the basic police academy. Celli said her goal is to eventually become a police officer.

Moretz came from a small town in North Carolina. When he was a child, his family moved to the Petaluma area and then later to Lake County, Celli said.

Celli said Moretz has two sons, and he and his girlfriend – who is a dispatcher – recently bought a home here.

Celli then introduced Officer Mauricio Barreto, who was born in Bogota, Colombia and moved to the United States with his mother when he was a child.

Barreto attended school in Sonoma County and later put himself through the police academy, Celli said.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office hired Barreto in 2009. He was a K9 handler for four years, seizing more than half a million dollars in narcotics, Celli said.

Celli said Barreto’s actions during the Valley fire also earned him awards and commendations.

Officer Jonathon Reynolds was raised in Lakeport and put himself through the Santa Rosa Junior College Police Academy. Celli said Reynolds may be the first officer in the department’s history to graduate in a Clearlake Police uniform.

Reynolds is married and previously raced mini stocks at the Lakeport Speedway, Celli said.

The department’s third new officer is Calli Batz, who at age 20 is the youngest officer they’ve ever hired, said Celli.

Celli said Batz, who comes from Stirling City, graduated from the police academy in June and was hired in November. She has a young daughter.

The chief ended his introductions with a special presentation to Officer Chris Kelleher, who has been with the agency since early 2016.

Celli said that police, firefighters and first responders do wonderful things every day. “And oftentimes the things that they do get overlooked as just going part of their job.”

However, in this case, Celli said Kelleher deserved special praise for heroic actions he took on July 7.

On that day, Kelleher responded to a report of a structure fire, Celli said.

When Kelleher got to the scene, Celli said he saw smoke and found out than an elderly woman was still in the residence.

Kelleher went into the residence, found the woman and carried her out to safety as firefighters were arriving, Celli said.

Celli said that, thanks to Kelleher’s quick actions, the woman was uninjured.

“It’s a tough call for a police officer on a fire because they’re not equipped for handling those types of situations,” said Celli.

Nonetheless, he said Kelleher went into the dangerous situation without hesitation and without thought for his own safety.

Kelleher received a standing ovation from the council and the audience as Chief Celli handed him the commendation.

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.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Rapid progress is being made on the cleanup of properties burned in the October Sulphur fire.

On Thursday, City Manager Greg Folsom gave the Clearlake City Council an update on the cleanup effort, which in Lake County is being overseen by the US Army Corps of Engineers and the US Environmental Protection Agency.

Nearly 170 structures burned in the fire, according to city officials.

Folsom said the city received 151 rights-of-entry forms from property owners allowing for the government-lead cleanup on their land.

In addition, Folsom said there were eight cleanups conducted by property owners themselves and five county cleanups.

He said the city had to move forward with six summary abatements and the county had one.

By that point, the US Army Corps of Engineers reported that it had cleaned 85 sites and were waiting for test results to ensure that all contaminated materials have been removed, he said.

Folsom said 15 sites had been signed off as cleaned after test results were returned.

The US EPA also has removed asbestos-containing materials on 32 sites, with some sites remaining to be cleaned, he said.

As of Thursday, approximately 15,337 tons of debris had been removed from the Sulphur fire area, Folsom said.

Folsom also reported that the US Army Corps of Engineers’ debris removal contractor had been ECC, but another firm, AshBritt, is now taking over.

He said the cleanup is on track to be completed by the end of January.

In other fire-related updates, Folsom said the city is seeking to have four precipitation gauges installed in the fire area because of concerns that rain could cause slippage on the burned hillsides.

He said the disaster recovery center that had been located at the community center closed on Dec. 11, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency has located 10 mobile housing units at Clearlake Resort.

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.

CLEARLAKE PARK, Calif. – A disabled local veteran received an extra measure of help from Habitat for Humanity Lake County in the wake of the Sulphur fire.

Earlier this year, Habitat for Humanity Lake County, in conjunction with the Home Depot Foundation’s Veteran Repair Program, installed a 12-foot lift for disabled Army veteran Al Plyley in order to allow him access in and out of his Clearlake Park home.

Little could anyone know how valuable that lift would prove to be.

On the night of the October Sulphur fire, Plyley woke up when the alarm on his CPAP went off, alerting him to the electricity being off in his home. The battery backup failed, forcing him to get out of bed to investigate.

He turned on his scanner and began to dress; that was when the first reports of fire on Sulphur bank came in.

By the time he was fully dressed, the fire was reported to have reached 75 acres, prompting Plyley to load his valuables into a laundry basket, catch his cat and get out of his home.

With only one way in and out of his street, he knew evacuation would be necessary. The new lift allowed him to get himself, his valuables, and his cat out of his home before the danger really set in.

After a night spent in his car at Austin Park, Habitat for Humanity staff tracked Plyley down to make sure he had gotten out safely.

He spent two nights in the Habitat office before finding a hotel room for the remainder of the evacuation.

As residents began to be allowed to return to the area, Plyley was sure he would not have a home to return to. Investigation by Habitat staff, however, revealed that Plyley’s home still stood, with only minor damage sustained to the exterior of the structure and the loss of two sheds.

It was later learned that one of Habitat’s many volunteers, along with a couple of friends, knew of the work that Habitat had done for Plyley and were the individuals responsible for saving Plyley’s home.

“I’m lucky the house was saved, and that Habitat’s kindness and generosity allowed me to get out and have a place to go. They helped me when I didn’t know what else to do; I’m very grateful for everything they’ve done to help me,” Plyley said.

If you would like to support the work Habitat for Humanity does here in Lake County, either through donating or by volunteering, visit www.lakehabitat.org, call the office at 707-994-1100 or come by the office at 15312 Lakeshore Drive, Clearlake.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The National Weather Service said a cold, fast-moving storm system is set to arrive on Tuesday, bringing rain plus mountain snow.

The agency’s Sacramento office reported that a band of rain is expected to spread over the region from late Tuesday through early Wednesday.

The heaviest precipitation is expected early Wednesday morning.

The National Weather Service’s storm models show rain arriving in Lake County on Tuesday night and clearing before 1 a.m. Wednesday.

Rain amounts across Lake County are forecast to average between a tenth of an inch and a quarter of an inch on Tuesday night.

Wind gusts ranging between 20 miles per hour – in parts of the county including Lakeport and Cobb – and 34 miles per hour in the mountains north of Upper Lake area also are forecast.

The forecast said Lake County’s higher elevations such as near Alder Springs, north of Upper Lake, also could see a new snow accumulation of less than a half an inch.

Conditions on Wednesday through Friday are forecast to be clear and sunny, with mostly clear conditions through the weekend.

The forecast for Christmas day so far calls for mostly sunny conditions.

Temperatures this week are expected to fall. Daytime temperatures will range as high as the high 50s, but nighttime conditions to drop into the low 20s.

The coldest nighttime temperatures of the week are forecast in the Lakeport area, where temperatures are expected to drop to the low 20s at night on Wednesday, rising to the high 20s later in the week.

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.