Two months after more than 100,000 residents fled, as wind-whipped wildfires ripped through Northern California and parts of Southern California, state Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones revealed the latest statewide total of insured losses.
Jones said those losses now top $9.4 billion in residential and commercial claims from the October wildfires, which are now counted among the most deadly and costly in the state's history.
The North Bay fires account for $9 billion in claimed losses alone, Jones reported Wednesday.
"These numbers not only represent staggering losses to tens of thousands of Californians," said Jones. "The October wildfires that devastated whole communities and tragically cost 44 people their lives have now proven to be the most destructive and deadliest in our state's history."
For residential property, the losses break down as follows in Northern California, according to details the Department of Insurance provided to Lake County News:
– Lake County: Number of claims, 258; number of claims resulting in total loss, 96; direct incurred losses, $51,906,422; amount paid to date, $16,130,962.
– Alameda County: Number of claims, nine; number of claims resulting in total loss, three; direct incurred losses, $3,627,701; amount paid to date, $603,494.
– Mendocino County: Number of claims, 545; number of claims resulting in total loss, 190; direct incurred losses, $153,996,885; amount paid to date, $55,269,975.
– Napa County: Number of claims, 2,470; number of claims resulting in total loss, 447; direct incurred losses, $1,099,707,466; amount paid to date, $398,098,816.
– Solano County: Number of claims, 180; number of claims resulting in total loss, five; direct incurred losses, $3,387,617; amount paid to date, $1,738,456.
– Sonoma County: Number of claims, 14,686; number of claims resulting in total loss, 4,785; direct incurred losses, $6,902,401,719; amount paid to date, $2,371,899,061.
The Department of Insurance said this is the commercial breakdown of claims to date in Northern California:
– Lake County: Number of claims, four; number of claims resulting in total loss, one; direct incurred losses, $171,604; amount paid to date, $0.
– Alameda County: Number of claims, 20; number of claims resulting in total loss, six; direct incurred losses, $14,315,647; amount paid to date, $1,909,992.
– Mendocino County: Number of claims, 57; number of claims resulting in total loss, five; direct incurred losses, $17,567,432; amount paid to date, $3,266,879.
– Napa County: Number of claims, 587; number of claims resulting in total loss, 40; direct incurred losses, $127,734,869; amount paid to date, $21,305,861.
– Solano County: Number of claims, 19; number of claims resulting in total loss, zero; direct incurred losses, $246,389; amount paid to date, $171,955.
– Sonoma County: Number of claims, 1,595; number of claims resulting in total loss, 127; direct incurred losses, $480,328,308; amount paid to date, $128,853,110.
The latest report is the result of a formal data call in which more than 260 insurers reported their total claims as of Dec. 1 and includes the destruction and damage for more than 21,000 homes, 2,800 businesses, and more than 6,100 private autos, commercial vehicles, and 788 losses involving other lines of insurance such as agricultural equipment and watercraft.
Commissioner Jones visited the wildfire zones throughout Northern California and met with residents at local assistance centers where he heard first-hand the harrowing stories of loss from victims who escaped with only minutes to spare.
Jones took extraordinary steps to assist wildfire victims by dispatching detectives from the department's law enforcement team to educate residents about how to avoid being victimized by scam artists who prey on vulnerable residents after disasters and sending consumer services teams to every local assistance center to personally meet with consumers and help them begin the claims process and answer insurance-related questions.
As of Dec. 1, the department's consumer services team assisted more than 2,000 individuals across the state, the majority of which were in Northern California.
On Dec. 9, the Department of Insurance will host the Insurance Recovery Workshop for North Bay residents at the Glaser Center-Unitarian Universalist Church in Santa Rosa from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The workshop will include department experts and insurers to provide wildfire victims with one-on-one assistance with their specific insurance claim questions.
Consumers will also find experts from the Contractors State License Board and FEMA offering assistance, as they work toward recovering and rebuilding their homes and their lives.
Consumers that have any difficulty with their insurer will find the department's consumer services team stands ready to assist at 800-927-4357.
The department has recovered more than $300 million dollars for consumers since Jones took office in 2011.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Clearlake Animal Control has three dogs waiting for new homes this week.
This week’s available dogs include mixes of shepherd and pit bull.
To meet the animals, call Clearlake Animal Control at 707-994-8201 and speak to Marcia at Extension 103 or call Extension 118, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday, or leave a message at any other time.
Below are this week's available pets.
“Clyde” is a male pit bull terrier mix. Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Clyde’
“Clyde” is a male pit bull terrier with a short coat.
Shelter staff said Clyde is a staff favorite. He likes to play with toys, likes to go for walks and loves to smile.
He is one of the dogs that came in after the Sulphur fire, and he needs a home with lots of love.
“Nellie” is a female shepherd mix. Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Nellie’
“Nellie” is a female shepherd mix with a short tan coat.
Shelter staff said she is sweet and very smart.
“Teddy” is a male shepherd mix. Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Teddy’
“Teddy” is a male shepherd mix with a long black and tan coats.
Shelter staff said he is ready for his new family.
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. – The disaster recovery center, or DRC, that opened in Lake County following the Sulphur fire will close at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9.
The DRC, jointly operated by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is located at the Clearlake Senior Community Center at 3245 Bowers Ave. in Clearlake.
The center will remain open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Friday, Dec. 8, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9.
Residents of Butte, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Sonoma and Yuba counties who had damage and losses caused by the wildfires in October can register for disaster assistance or get help with their application by going online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service may call 800-621-3362. The toll-free numbers are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.
Survivors can continue to receive in-person help at the local assistance center in Napa County and three other DRCs in Mendocino and Sonoma counties.
To find the closest DRC, go online at www.fema.gov/drc or text 43362 with the message DRC and your ZIP Code. Standard message and data rates apply.
The deadline to register for disaster assistance is Monday, Dec. 11.
Debra Ann Windholz, age 59, of Napa, Calif., was arrested on Wednesday, December 6, 2017, for arson. Photo courtesy of Cal Fire. NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – A Napa County woman was arrested on Wednesday for setting wildland fires near Lake Berryessa.
At 6:30 a.m. Wednesday Cal Fire law enforcement officers and Napa County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Debra Ann Windholz, age 59, of Napa for committing arson to forest land.
Officials said Windholz was booked into the Napa County Jail on 11 counts of arson to forest land and is being held on $500,000 bail.
Windholz is suspected of lighting wildland fires around the north end of Lake Berryessa, Cal Fire reported.
Cal Fire said Windholz was not responsible for any of the devastating fires that began during the night of Oct. 8 across Napa, Sonoma and Lake counties.
“We will not tolerate arson of any type and will track down those suspected of causing harm to our communities,” said Cal Fire Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit Chief Shana Jones.
The investigations into the origin and cause of the October Fires are ongoing, as investigators continue to work to conclude their investigations, Cal Fire reported.
Cal Fire said residents should be vigilant in their preparedness and aware of suspicious persons when a fire does start. Suspicious activity should be reported including the time, individual’s physical description, and a vehicle description, including the license plate number. Always contact law enforcement, never approach a suspicious person.
Anyone with information about arson is urged to contact the Cal Fire Arson Hotline at 1-800-468-4408. Callers can remain anonymous.
Alex Michael Castillo, 22, of Nice, Calif., is facing more than five and a half years in prison for his plea in an August 2017 domestic violence case that involved him fighting with sheriff’s deputies, one of whom died a short time later following a vehicle crash. Lake County Jail photo. LAKEPORT, Calif. – A Northshore man who fought with deputies during a domestic violence call shortly before one of them died in late August has reached a plea with the District Attorney’s Office.
Alex Michael Castillo, 22, of Nice pleaded guilty to making threats, resisting an officer, felony child endangerment and felony inflicting corporal injury on another person with a prior conviction, according to District Attorney Don Anderson.
On Aug. 22, Lakeport Police officers and Lake County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a domestic violence call in the city of Lakeport where Castillo had assaulted his girlfriend and tried to walk off with his young child, as Lake County News has reported.
Deputies Nate Newton and Rob Rumfelt struggled with Castillo and apprehended him. A short time later, as he was leaving the scene in his patrol vehicle, Rumfelt crashed into a tree. He was transported to Sutter Lakeside Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Castillo initially had been arrested for manslaughter on the theory that the struggle may have led Rumfelt to having a medical emergency such as a heart attack, but Anderson concluded that pursuing such charges would be difficult to prove.
Instead, Anderson’s office moved forward with the domestic violence case against Castillo, who previously was convicted of assaulting the same woman.
When he’s sentenced, Castillo – who has remained in jail since his August arrest – faces a maximum of five years and eight months in prison, “which is what we will be arguing for,” Anderson said.
Anderson said he is still working to complete his investigation and findings on the cause of Rumfelt’s death.
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.
NORTH COAST, Calif. – Mendocino College invites all Mendocino and Lake County residents to join the annual strategic planning retreat.
A community forum will be held on Thursday, Dec. 7, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Mendocino College Little Theatre on the Ukiah Campus.
Who should attend this forum?
This forum is open to all Lake and Mendocino County residents, community agencies, local business employees and owners, and all other community members interested in the offerings at Mendocino College. Mendocino College would like to hear from you.
Additionally, Mendocino College will be hosting forums for specific community groups as outlined below.
Thursday, Dec. 7
AMERICAN INDIAN FORUM: Thursday, Dec. 7, 10 to 11:30 a.m., Mendocino College Little Theatre. Who should attend? For American Indians, members of the native communities, tribal council chairs and council members, community agencies, advocates, tribal education staff, and agencies serving the American Indian community.
STUDENT FORUM: Thursday, Dec. 7, 12:30 to 2 p.m., Mendocino College Little Theatre. Who should attend? For students who attend Mendocino College and students who attend any high school in Lake and Mendocino counties.
LATINO FORUM: Thursday, Dec. 7, 3:30 to 5 p.m., Mendocino College Room 1200, MacMillan Hall. Who should attend? Members of the Latino community, community agencies, advocates, and all members of organizations serving our native Spanish speakers.
Friday, Dec. 8
BUSINESS FORUM: Friday, Dec. 8, 7 to 8:30 a.m., Mendocino College Board Room. Who should attend? For business owners, residents of Lake and Mendocino Counties who own businesses, those who are employed locally, Chamber members and staff, local business assistance agencies.
EDUCATORS FORUM: Friday, Dec. 8, 9:30 to 11 a.m., Mendocino College Board Room. Who should attend? For educational leaders, K-12 teachers and administrators, Mendocino College faculty and administrators, advocates, counselors and community agencies involved in education.
If you find you also serve one of the above groups listed, please join the Mendocino-Lake Community College District in developing a long-term vision for their future and the future of those they serve.
For more information, please call 707-468-3012.
Mendocino College is located at 1000 Hensley Creek Road in Ukiah.
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