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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The City of Clearlake and the county of Lake are teaming up with local first responders, community and national organizations, and state agencies to offer an informational meeting for Sulphur fire survivors.
The Sulphur Fire Community Recovery meeting will take place beginning at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 18, at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
Attending this meeting can help many take important and organized steps toward recovery, officials said.
“It is essential that all of those affected by the Sulphur Fire can get back on their feet as soon as possible,” said Clearlake City Manager Greg Folsom. “We want to do everything we can to give people a leg up, and we are very pleased that so many outstanding people and so many resources are being made available to the people of Clearlake.”
Among the presenters will be Folsom, County Administrative Officer and Valley Fire Recovery Coordinator Carol Huchingson, Clearlake Mayor Russ Perdock and council and board members from both the city and county.
Experts in a wide range of specific recovery areas will be present, as well.
The meeting will begin with a comprehensive update of the status of the fire and recovery effort, which will include contributions from law enforcement officials, Cal Fire Division Chief Greg Bertelli, and representatives from the California Office of Emergency Services and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
County and state officials and a representative from the National Resources Conservation Service will then offer insights on the practical steps you should take to ensure successful and healthy cleanup of wildfire debris.
Representatives from the American Red Cross, the county and North Coast Opportunities will then offer information on care, shelter, and housing, including suggestions for those with animals.
Following those updates, many representatives will be available to answer questions from Sulphur fire survivors.
“This is a great opportunity to get information,” said Huchingson. “If you have a key question that will help you with your personal recovery journey, there will be someone in the room that can either directly help or reliably point you in the right direction. We hope that many people will take advantage and attend the Sulphur Fire Community Recovery meeting.”
For more information, call Clearlake City Hall at 707-994-8201.
The Sulphur Fire Community Recovery meeting will take place beginning at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 18, at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
Attending this meeting can help many take important and organized steps toward recovery, officials said.
“It is essential that all of those affected by the Sulphur Fire can get back on their feet as soon as possible,” said Clearlake City Manager Greg Folsom. “We want to do everything we can to give people a leg up, and we are very pleased that so many outstanding people and so many resources are being made available to the people of Clearlake.”
Among the presenters will be Folsom, County Administrative Officer and Valley Fire Recovery Coordinator Carol Huchingson, Clearlake Mayor Russ Perdock and council and board members from both the city and county.
Experts in a wide range of specific recovery areas will be present, as well.
The meeting will begin with a comprehensive update of the status of the fire and recovery effort, which will include contributions from law enforcement officials, Cal Fire Division Chief Greg Bertelli, and representatives from the California Office of Emergency Services and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
County and state officials and a representative from the National Resources Conservation Service will then offer insights on the practical steps you should take to ensure successful and healthy cleanup of wildfire debris.
Representatives from the American Red Cross, the county and North Coast Opportunities will then offer information on care, shelter, and housing, including suggestions for those with animals.
Following those updates, many representatives will be available to answer questions from Sulphur fire survivors.
“This is a great opportunity to get information,” said Huchingson. “If you have a key question that will help you with your personal recovery journey, there will be someone in the room that can either directly help or reliably point you in the right direction. We hope that many people will take advantage and attend the Sulphur Fire Community Recovery meeting.”
For more information, call Clearlake City Hall at 707-994-8201.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The National Weather Service is forecasting that rain will arrive over five-ravaged Northern California this week, a development that fire officials said will help if enough rain falls.
In a video posted on Monday, meteorologist Eric Kurth of the National Weather Service’s Sacramento office said the first significant widespread wet weather of this fall season is in this week’s forecast.
The rain is expected to occur beginning on Thursday night and continuing through Friday, the forecast said.
“This is the start of our wet season,” he said, with up to an inch of rain – and possibly some snow – expected in Northern California’s mountains.
The forecast also calls for temperatures that are 10 to 15 degrees cooler than normal, the agency said.
Forecast models predict up to a quarter of an inch in Lake County when the rain starts to arrive on Thursday night and Friday.
Conditions are then forecast to clear through the weekend and into early next week.
Nighttime lows in Lake County this week should range down into the mid-30s in some areas, rising to the low 80s during daytime hours, based on the forecast.
As for how helpful the rain could be, during a Monday briefing on the Central LNU Complex burning in Napa and Sonoma counties, Cal Fire Operations Section Chief Steve Crawford said they are hoping to get at least a half an inch of moisture out of the rains.
He said of the rain reports, “That’s not always perfect for us.”
Storms sometimes end up bringing more wind – and sometimes erratic winds – than rain, which then creates more of a fire front, Crawford said.
If a lot of rain falls, it could become a matter of fire trucks getting stuck, but Crawford said they would deal with that possibility.
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.
In a video posted on Monday, meteorologist Eric Kurth of the National Weather Service’s Sacramento office said the first significant widespread wet weather of this fall season is in this week’s forecast.
The rain is expected to occur beginning on Thursday night and continuing through Friday, the forecast said.
“This is the start of our wet season,” he said, with up to an inch of rain – and possibly some snow – expected in Northern California’s mountains.
The forecast also calls for temperatures that are 10 to 15 degrees cooler than normal, the agency said.
Forecast models predict up to a quarter of an inch in Lake County when the rain starts to arrive on Thursday night and Friday.
Conditions are then forecast to clear through the weekend and into early next week.
Nighttime lows in Lake County this week should range down into the mid-30s in some areas, rising to the low 80s during daytime hours, based on the forecast.
As for how helpful the rain could be, during a Monday briefing on the Central LNU Complex burning in Napa and Sonoma counties, Cal Fire Operations Section Chief Steve Crawford said they are hoping to get at least a half an inch of moisture out of the rains.
He said of the rain reports, “That’s not always perfect for us.”
Storms sometimes end up bringing more wind – and sometimes erratic winds – than rain, which then creates more of a fire front, Crawford said.
If a lot of rain falls, it could become a matter of fire trucks getting stuck, but Crawford said they would deal with that possibility.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council is set to hold a hearing related to an affordable housing project and get an update on the upgrades to the Carnegie Library.
The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 17, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
During the public hearing the council will consider adopting a proposed resolution to approve the Martin Street Apartments Affordable Housing Project’s financing by the California Municipal Finance Authority.
The project is to be located at 1255 Martin St.
In other business, Community Development Director Kevin Ingram will update the council on upgrades to the city’s historic Carnegie Library, located across Park Street from City Hall.
Staff also will seek direction from the council on how to proceed with completion of the project.
In other business, the council will consider authorizing the issuance of the 2017 obligations and the corresponding refunding of the prior bonds; consider authorizing the city manager to enter into a service agreement with Network Innovations Inc. for the purchase and installation of a new phone system and authorize the recommended budget adjustment, and adopt a resolution establishing an ad hoc advisory committee for the selection of the members of its committees and commissions with terms expiring in 2017.
Items on the consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are ordinances; minutes of the council’s special meetings of Sept. 27, Oct. 2 and Oct. 3, and the regular meeting of Oct. 3; approval of Application No. 2017-030 with staff recommendations for the Fun Fest event to take place on South Forbes Street on Oct. 28; and approval of Application No. 2017-031 with staff recommendations for the Harvest Revelation event to take place on Mellor Drive on Oct. 31.
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 meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 17, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
During the public hearing the council will consider adopting a proposed resolution to approve the Martin Street Apartments Affordable Housing Project’s financing by the California Municipal Finance Authority.
The project is to be located at 1255 Martin St.
In other business, Community Development Director Kevin Ingram will update the council on upgrades to the city’s historic Carnegie Library, located across Park Street from City Hall.
Staff also will seek direction from the council on how to proceed with completion of the project.
In other business, the council will consider authorizing the issuance of the 2017 obligations and the corresponding refunding of the prior bonds; consider authorizing the city manager to enter into a service agreement with Network Innovations Inc. for the purchase and installation of a new phone system and authorize the recommended budget adjustment, and adopt a resolution establishing an ad hoc advisory committee for the selection of the members of its committees and commissions with terms expiring in 2017.
Items on the consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are ordinances; minutes of the council’s special meetings of Sept. 27, Oct. 2 and Oct. 3, and the regular meeting of Oct. 3; approval of Application No. 2017-030 with staff recommendations for the Fun Fest event to take place on South Forbes Street on Oct. 28; and approval of Application No. 2017-031 with staff recommendations for the Harvest Revelation event to take place on Mellor Drive on Oct. 31.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
101717 Lakeport City Council agenda packet by LakeCoNews on Scribd
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Air quality conditions showed more sign of improvement on Monday as firefighters made significant gains on the region’s wildland fires.
Lake County Air Quality Management reported that the smoke and haze dissipated has dissipated over the county.
The smoke from the Tubbs fire in Napa and Sonoma counties, the Pocket fire in Sonoma County and the Redwood fire in Mendocino County has not settled into the basin since Friday night, Gearhart said.
He said the “good” to “moderate” air quality forecast with a chance of “unhealthy for sensitive individuals” air quality results from the variable weather conditions experienced in Lake County and the region.
As containment improves on the fires, conditions should improve, Gearhart said.
Gearhart said smoke from these fires is likely to continue to impact Lake County intermittently through the week, with winds from the west being forecast for Tuesday.
Current particulate levels in Lake County are in the range from “good” in the Middletown and Hidden Valley Lake areas to “good” range in the northern portions of the county, Gearhart said.
He said all areas of Lake County may experience “unhealthy” air quality at times when conditions become unfavorable, though overall conditions are improving.
The smoke is expected to intermittently impact all of Lake County through the week, Gearhart said.
With air quality forecast to be in the “good” to “moderate”, all areas of the county should remain prepared for “unhealthy” conditions if conditions change, Gearhart said.
Lake County Air Quality Management reported that the smoke and haze dissipated has dissipated over the county.
The smoke from the Tubbs fire in Napa and Sonoma counties, the Pocket fire in Sonoma County and the Redwood fire in Mendocino County has not settled into the basin since Friday night, Gearhart said.
He said the “good” to “moderate” air quality forecast with a chance of “unhealthy for sensitive individuals” air quality results from the variable weather conditions experienced in Lake County and the region.
As containment improves on the fires, conditions should improve, Gearhart said.
Gearhart said smoke from these fires is likely to continue to impact Lake County intermittently through the week, with winds from the west being forecast for Tuesday.
Current particulate levels in Lake County are in the range from “good” in the Middletown and Hidden Valley Lake areas to “good” range in the northern portions of the county, Gearhart said.
He said all areas of Lake County may experience “unhealthy” air quality at times when conditions become unfavorable, though overall conditions are improving.
The smoke is expected to intermittently impact all of Lake County through the week, Gearhart said.
With air quality forecast to be in the “good” to “moderate”, all areas of the county should remain prepared for “unhealthy” conditions if conditions change, Gearhart said.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of death for teenagers, ahead of all other types of injury, disease, or violence.
To bring awareness to this epidemic and reduce the number of lives lost, the California Highway Patrol recognizes National Teen Driver Safety Week, Oct. 15 to 21.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that nationwide in 2015, 1,972 drivers, age 15 to 18, were involved in fatal collisions, resulting in 1,730 teen deaths nationwide.
In 2015, in California, 283 teens were behind the wheel at the time of fatal collisions, and 63 percent of those young drivers were at fault.
“This week is dedicated to focusing attention on setting rules for your teen driver before allowing them to get behind the wheel,” said CHP Acting Commissioner Warren Stanley. “Parents and guardians who set firm driving rules can impact their teen’s driving behavior and can be the difference between life and death.”
Inexperience is one of the leading causes of teen collisions. The most important thing you can do for your new teen driver is to stay involved in their driving life.
Frequent drives with teens allow parents and guardians to monitor their teen’s progress and reduce their being involved in deadly behaviors, such as alcohol consumption, driving without seat belts, speeding, carrying extra passengers, and driving distracted.
“Cell phone use continues to be a serious and often deadly distraction for all drivers, but it’s a significant problem among young, inexperienced drivers,” said Rhonda Craft, director of the California Office of Traffic Safety. “If you’re a parent, guardian, or mentor to a teen driver, lead by example and encourage them to put the phone down and focus on the road. No text message or social media post is more valuable than their lives or the lives of others around them.”
As part of its commitment to educating the motoring public, the CHP has developed several programs for teen drivers and their families:
Start Smart is a driver safety education class that targets new and future licensed drivers between the ages of 15-19 and their parents/guardians.
The CHP has released a mobile app for Start Smart, designed to assist young people through the process of obtaining their California driver license.
The app includes a step-by-step guide covering everything from the Department of Motor Vehicles Driver Handbook and the final steps for obtaining a provisional license, to ultimately achieving an unrestricted California driver license.
Every 15 Minutes focuses on high school juniors and seniors, challenging them to think about drinking, driving, personal safety, the responsibility of making mature decisions, and the impact their decisions have on family, friends, and many others.
The CHP also works with Impact Teen Drivers, a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives through evidence-based educational programs that support good decision-making strategies behind the wheel.
“Seventy-five percent of teen fatal car crashes do not involve drugs or alcohol. However, everyday behaviors become lethal when a new inexperienced driver chooses to engage in them behind the wheel – talking to friends, putting on makeup, texting, selfies, or social media posts are just some of the activities that are perfectly safe and legal to do, until you choose to do them behind the wheel,” said Dr. Kelly Browning, executive director of Impact Teen Drivers. “It will take a holistic approach that combines education, experiential learning, and enforcement to change the driving culture to one that is distraction-free.”
The CHP is aware of the importance of role models in a youth’s development. Education of new drivers and their families is regarded as a critical function by the CHP to help keep everyone safe on California’s roadways.
To bring awareness to this epidemic and reduce the number of lives lost, the California Highway Patrol recognizes National Teen Driver Safety Week, Oct. 15 to 21.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that nationwide in 2015, 1,972 drivers, age 15 to 18, were involved in fatal collisions, resulting in 1,730 teen deaths nationwide.
In 2015, in California, 283 teens were behind the wheel at the time of fatal collisions, and 63 percent of those young drivers were at fault.
“This week is dedicated to focusing attention on setting rules for your teen driver before allowing them to get behind the wheel,” said CHP Acting Commissioner Warren Stanley. “Parents and guardians who set firm driving rules can impact their teen’s driving behavior and can be the difference between life and death.”
Inexperience is one of the leading causes of teen collisions. The most important thing you can do for your new teen driver is to stay involved in their driving life.
Frequent drives with teens allow parents and guardians to monitor their teen’s progress and reduce their being involved in deadly behaviors, such as alcohol consumption, driving without seat belts, speeding, carrying extra passengers, and driving distracted.
“Cell phone use continues to be a serious and often deadly distraction for all drivers, but it’s a significant problem among young, inexperienced drivers,” said Rhonda Craft, director of the California Office of Traffic Safety. “If you’re a parent, guardian, or mentor to a teen driver, lead by example and encourage them to put the phone down and focus on the road. No text message or social media post is more valuable than their lives or the lives of others around them.”
As part of its commitment to educating the motoring public, the CHP has developed several programs for teen drivers and their families:
Start Smart is a driver safety education class that targets new and future licensed drivers between the ages of 15-19 and their parents/guardians.
The CHP has released a mobile app for Start Smart, designed to assist young people through the process of obtaining their California driver license.
The app includes a step-by-step guide covering everything from the Department of Motor Vehicles Driver Handbook and the final steps for obtaining a provisional license, to ultimately achieving an unrestricted California driver license.
Every 15 Minutes focuses on high school juniors and seniors, challenging them to think about drinking, driving, personal safety, the responsibility of making mature decisions, and the impact their decisions have on family, friends, and many others.
The CHP also works with Impact Teen Drivers, a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives through evidence-based educational programs that support good decision-making strategies behind the wheel.
“Seventy-five percent of teen fatal car crashes do not involve drugs or alcohol. However, everyday behaviors become lethal when a new inexperienced driver chooses to engage in them behind the wheel – talking to friends, putting on makeup, texting, selfies, or social media posts are just some of the activities that are perfectly safe and legal to do, until you choose to do them behind the wheel,” said Dr. Kelly Browning, executive director of Impact Teen Drivers. “It will take a holistic approach that combines education, experiential learning, and enforcement to change the driving culture to one that is distraction-free.”
The CHP is aware of the importance of role models in a youth’s development. Education of new drivers and their families is regarded as a critical function by the CHP to help keep everyone safe on California’s roadways.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The work of firefighters pushed fires in the Mendocino Lake Complex closer to full containment on Monday, with the remaining evacuees in Mendocino County allowed to return home.
Cal Fire said Monday that there was no new acreage growth on the Mendocino Lake Complex – which includes the Sulphur fire in Lake County and the Redwood fire in Mendocino County – and that containment continued to improve.
The overall complex is at 38,007 acres and 57-percent containment, Cal Fire said. That breaks down to 2,207 acres and 90-percent containment on the Sulphur fire and 35,800 acres and 55-percent containment on the Redwood fire.
Both fires began early on the morning of Oct. 9 during a fierce windstorm that battered Northern California. The cause of the fires remains under investigation.
Cal Fire said significant progress toward containment has continued throughout both fire areas. On Monday firefighters were moving forward on suppression repair while also continuing mop up.
Late on Monday afternoon firefighters responded in the Sulphur fire boundary to reports of areas that were smoldering or flaring up, based on radio reports.
In Mendocino County, the Redwood fire’s perimeter held as firefighters improved direct
fire line and continued mop up, Cal Fire said.
The situation in Mendocino County improved to the point where on Monday the remaining evacuation orders were lifted.
“Today was a good day. Today was a turning point for the county,” said Mendocino County Sheriff’ Tom Allman in a Monday afternoon briefing in which he was joined by officials from Lake County, the state and the federal government.
Allman said 8,000 evacuees were being allowed to go home or, in the case of those who lost residences, were able to return to see their properties.
No new destroyed structures were added to the complex’s standing count of 436, of which 136 were in the Sulphur fire, according to local officials.
As containment has risen, Cal Fire has begun to dial back resources on the complex. On Monday evening, the firefighter count was down to 2,096, with 119 engines, 26 water tenders, 10 helicopters, 61 crews and 32 dozers.
In other wildland fire news, the Central LNU Complex in Sonoma and Napa counties reached 101,403 acres on Monday, Cal Fire said.
That complex includes the Tubbs fire, 36,432, 75-percent contained; the Pocket fire, 12,430 acres, 45-percent contained; the Sonoma Nuns fire, 33,369 acres, and the Napa Nuns fire, 18,143 acres, with containment on those two fires at 53 percent; and the Oakmont fire, 1,029 acres and 16-percent contained.
The number of destroyed structures in that incident was raised to 4,078 on Monday, according to Cal Fire’s report.
The Southern LNU Complex in Napa and Solano counties was at 51,064 acres and 70-percent containment on Monday evening. Cal Fire said it has destroyed 360 structures.
Email Elizabeth Larson at