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Even though California gas prices remain the highest in the nation, abundant supplies of gasoline have contributed to starkly lower gas prices statewide during this summer driving season.
This week's state prices are registering at $ 2.66 on average for a gallon of unleaded gasoline-that’s $0.22 less than prices since AAA Northern California’s latest monthly gas survey of July 12.
Northern California’s average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is $2.63 – that’s $0.19 less than last month’s AAA reported price on July 12. The highest recorded price ever registered in the state of California was in October 2012, at $4.67 a gallon for unleaded regular.
The least expensive average price in Northern California can be found in Marysville, where regular unleaded gasoline is $2.25 per gallon. Of all metro areas tracked by AAA in Northern California, San Francisco, registering at $2.83 per gallon of unleaded regular, and South Lake Tahoe at $2.91 per gallon, are showing the two highest gas prices.
“With gasoline supplies high and oil prices low, pump prices are likely to remain relatively cheap through the remainder of the summer and into the fall,” said Cynthia Harris, AAA Northern California spokesperson. “Provided the next month does not bring a major market-moving event, like a major hurricane or escalating geopolitical tensions overseas, prices are likely to remain at relatively low levels.”
West Coast pumps feature both the highest prices in the country and the most dramatic yearly savings. The largest year-over-year declines in the nation are seen in California (-95 cents).
Contributing to these substantial yearly savings is the fact that there have been relatively few refinery issues this summer compared to a number of regional issues in the summer of 2015.
The national average price of gas has held relatively steady over the past week and has declined on just one of the past four days. The national average price for regular unleaded gasoline is $2.12 per gallon, which is the lowest price for this date since 2004.
Strong global oil production and a strengthening U.S. dollar have contributed to West Texas Intermediate crude oil trading near lows not seen since Spring.
Recent news suggests that OPEC may again consider production limits by cartel members in an effort to boost oil prices by curbing supply.
Similar efforts earlier this year were unsuccessful, as members opted to preserve market share by maintaining production, which has preserved the global state of oversupply and resulted in low oil prices.
If OPEC members agree to limit production, crude oil prices could again rise as demand moves into balance with supply.
At the close of Friday’s formal trading session on the NYMEX WTI was down 13 cents to settle at $41.80 per barrel.
To get the best mileage possible, AAA recommends keeping tires at the proper pressure suggested by the vehicle manufacturer, performing routine maintenance and making sure fluids are clean and belts and hoses are in good repair. The way you drive can also impact fuel economy. Smooth driving to avoid sudden stops and starts, combining trips and lightening your load also help conserve gasoline.
AAA’s Fuel Gauge Report is the most comprehensive retail gasoline survey available, with over 100,000 self-serve stations surveyed every day, nationwide. Data is provided in cooperation with OPIS Energy Group and Wright Express, LLC.
AAA Northern California offers a wide array of automotive, travel, insurance, DMV, financial services and consumer discounts to more than 4.5 million members. AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers since it was founded 116 years ago.
LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Firefighters on Wednesday fully contained the last of two wildland fires that had broken out the previous evening in Lake County as well as a fire in Napa County.
Cal Fire said the Kugelman fire in Lower lake was fully contained on Wednesday evening at 45 acres.
It had first been reported shortly before 5:30 p.m. Tuesday off of Kugelman Street at Highway 53.
It destroyed one structure and had resulted in evacuations, as well as a power outage that lasted several hours and impacted several thousand area residents, as Lake County News has reported.
A second fire, the Canyon, which was located off of Seigler Canyon Road and Highway 29, was reported just minutes after the Kugelman incident. The Canyon had been fully contained on Tuesday night at 14 acres, according to Cal Fire.
Cal Fire said fire crews had worked through the night and much of the day Wednesday to fully contain the Kugelman incident and to extinguish exterior hot spots.
Resources remaining committed to the incident on Wednesday evening included 10 engine companies, two water tenders, two fire crews and a total of 75 personnel, including overhead or command staffers, Cal Fire said.
In neighboring Napa County, the Knoxville fire also was fully contained Wednesday evening, burning a total of 36 acres, Cal Fire said.
Cal Fire said the Knoxville incident was first reported just after 6 p.m. Tuesday on Berryessa-Knoxville Road near Lake Berryessa.
No structures were damaged or destroyed in the fire, officials reported.
Approximately 54 fire personnel, five engine companies and two fire crews remained on scene Wednesday evening, according to Cal Fire.
Cal Fire said investigators are still working to determine the causes of the Kugelman and Knoxville fires.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – On Wednesday Cal Fire officials said the Valley fire – the third most destructive in California's history – was the result of faulty wiring.
The announcement came at a Wednesday afternoon press conference at Cal Fire's Middletown station that the agency had called only a few hours beforehand.
Cal Fire said its investigators were dispatched as part of the initial response to the fire 11 months ago and immediately began working to determine the origin and cause of the fire.
The ensuing investigation, which Cal Fire said was comprehensive, uncovered evidence that a residential electrical connection arced and ignited surrounding dry grass.
Cal Fire said it is submitting its investigation report to the Lake County District Attorney’s Office for review. A copy of the final report can be found at http://calfire.ca.gov/fire_protection/fire_protection_firereports .
Cal Fire's release of the results of its investigation came just a month short of the Valley fire's one-year anniversary.
The fire erupted in the area of High Valley Road on Cobb on the afternoon of Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015, sweeping through southern Lake County and also burning into Napa and Sonoma counties.
State Sen. Mike McGuire said the fire's damage in Lake County alone is estimated at $1.2 billion.
At the height of the fire nearly 20,000 people – or close to one-third of Lake County's population – were forced to evacuate from the communities of Anderson Springs, Clear Lake Riviera, Cobb, Hidden Valley Lake, Loch Lomond, Twin Lakes and Middletown.
The Valley fire resulted in four confirmed fatalities.
Altogether, the Valley fire burned 76,067 acres and destroyed 1,955 structures, among them approximately 1,349 residences, according to Cal Fire's final damage estimates.
At its peak, more than 4,000 firefighters battled the blaze which cost nearly $57 million to extinguish. Four firefighters with Copter 104 from the Boggs Mountain Helitack were seriously injured in the initial attack.
The incident was fully contained on Oct. 6, 2015.
A full story on the press conference and report will be posted later on Lake County News.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Firefighters continued their work overnight on two wildland fires that burned in Lower Lake beginning on Tuesday evening, resulting in evacuations and power outages.
The Kugelman and Canyon fires were reported minutes apart shortly before 5:30 p.m., as Lake County News has reported.
Firefighters first responded to the Kugelman fire at Kugelman Street and Highway 53, with the Canyon fire occurring in the area of Seigler Canyon Road at Highway 29.
Cal Fire issued a late Tuesday night report putting the Kugelman's size at 45 acres with 70 percent containment. The Canyon burned 14 acres and was fully contained by about 9:30 p.m.
Each of the fires burned one structure, according to Cal Fire.
When firefighters first arrived at the scene of the Kugelman incident, they found it was rapidly spreading and threatening structures, resulting in evacuations for Morgan Valley Road to Bonham Road. The nearby Lake County Social Services building also was evacuated, based on reports from the scene.
In addition, firefighters reported lines down, with power later shut off at the request of incident command.
At the peak of the outages, Pacific Gas and Electric reported that nearly 9,100 customers were without power in the fire areas.
Cal Fire and the Lake County Sheriff's Office reported that, as of 10:15 p.m. Tuesday, the mandatory evacuation orders had been lifted.
Road closures also had been lifted, except for one-lane traffic remaining in effect on Seigler Canyon Road late Tuesday, Cal Fire said.
In addition to Cal Fire and Lake County Fire, agencies involved in responding to the incidents included Lakeport Fire, Kelseyville Fire, the Lake County Sheriff's Office, California Highway Patrol and Lake Evacuation and Animal Protection.
Resources assigned to the incidents late Tuesday included 15 engine companies, five volunteer companies, four water tenders, four fire crews, two bulldozers and 150 personnel, including 10 overhead personnel, Cal Fire said. Air resources had been utilized on Tuesday evening.
Cal Fire said firefighters would remain assigned to both incidents through the night and into Wednesday. On the Kugelman fire, firefighters were working to establish containment lines and extinguish interior hot spots, while mop up was taking place on the Canyon incident.
The causes of both fires remain under investigation, Cal Fire said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
Betty W. Nitka died Aug. 8, 2016, age 88 in Tucson, Ariz.
Betty is survived by her husband of 64 years, Joseph Nitka; children, Russell Davis (Shirley) of College Park, GA, John Nitka (Mary-Ann) and Michael Nitka (Heidi) of Tucson, Dr. James Nitka (Melanie) of Greensboro, NC, Paul Nitka (Gigi) and Larry Nitka (Shawnda) of Tucson; grandchildren Robbie Harper and Linda Davis Fryer of College Park, Ga., Sally Renee Peterson of Middletown, Calif., Gary Bunch Jr. of Panama City, Fla., Aaron Bunch of Middletown, Adrianna Nitka, Mikey Nitka and Joey Nitka of Tucson, Caleb Nitka of Greensboro, Nicky Van Houten, Charlie Nitka, Emily Nitka, Tyler Nitka and Alyssa Nitka, all of Tucson; numerous great- and great-great grandchildren, friends and other relatives.
She was preceded in death by her daughters, Laura Davis and Lisa Davis Bunch; daughter-in-law, Bonny Bock Nitka; and son-in-law, Gary Bunch.
Rosary and viewing will be held at 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 14, with a funeral Mass at 1 p.m. Monday, Aug. 15, both at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Tucson.
Burial will take place at Middletown Rancheria in California at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 19. A viewing will be held on the evening of Thursday, Aug. 18, at Jones & Lewis Clear Lake Memorial Chapel, located at 16140 Main St. in Lower Lake.
Chadwick Amos Arnold Sr.
July 18, 1967 – Aug. 7, 2016
HOPLAND, Calif. – Visitation for Chad will be held at the Robinson Rancheria Gymnasium starting Thursday, Aug. 11, through Friday, Aug. 12.
Visitation will continue at the Hopland Band of Pomo Indians Tribal Center on Saturday, Aug. 13, at 11 a.m. with a funeral service following at 1 p.m. Interment at Hopland Tribal Cemetery.
For further information please contact Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary at 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com .