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LAKEPORT, Calif. – County and state officials shared the latest developments on the Valley fire response and recovery efforts at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon.
The briefing was held at Library Park in Lakeport.
Speakers included District 5 Supervisor Rob Brown; Cal Fire Battalion Chief Mike Smith of Incident Management Team 3; Sheriff Brian Martin; Lake County Health Officer Karen Tait; Coastal Deputy Regional Administrator Ryan Arba, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services; and county public information officer, Jill Ruzicka.
An American Sign Language interpreter also has been added to the briefings in order to facilitate sharing the updates with the hearing impaired.
Video of the full press conference is featured above.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A day after Gov. Jerry Brown sought a presidential major disaster declaration to aid the Valley fire recovery effort, President Barack Obama granted the request, an action that makes federal assistance available to those hit hardest by the incident.
The president's Tuesday declaration immediately opens up the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Individuals and Households Program to help eligible Lake County residents begin the recovery process, the agency reported.
FEMA said the Individuals and Households Program provides financial help or direct services to those who have necessary expenses and serious needs if they are unable to meet the needs through other means.
To date, the Valley fire is listed as the third most damaging in California's history. It has burned more than 76,000 acres and during its course has displaced thousands of residents of communities including Cobb, Hidden Valley Lake and Middletown.
Three deaths have been confirmed so far, and as of Tuesday officials reported the destruction of more than 1,900 structures, including more than 1,200 homes.
“These much-needed funds will help families in our community begin the rebuilding and recovery process,” said Congressman Mike Thompson. “So many people lost so much that can never be replaced but this assistance will go a long way towards helping folks return their lives to normal. I thank President Obama and FEMA for making this money available so quickly.”
On Monday Thompson – who has been in Lake County touring the fire area and working with local officials over the past several days – wrote to Obama in support of the disaster declaration.
He then returned to Washington, DC on Tuesday and had conversations with the White House and Regional Administrator for FEMA Region IX Robert J. Fenton Jr. about the need to quickly expedite the approval of the assistance.
State Sen. Mike McGuire also applauded the president's action.
“This federal declaration will provide the victims of the Valley fire with the additional support they need to help recover, rebuild and reinvigorate our communities that were devastated when the blaze tore through Cobb, Middletown, Hidden Valley Lake and surrounding neighbors,” McGuire said.
“The state has come in with unprecedented levels of support to help in the immediate aftermath – and we look forward to continuing our work together on the local, state and federal level to ensure Lake County comes back stronger than ever and thrives,” McGuire added.
McGuire said the state will be active in managing the roll-out of the FEMA assistance, which will provide financial help, temporary housing, funding for housing repair and other individual needs like cleanup items, moving expenses, clothing and more.
Individuals can register with FEMA the following ways:
– Apply online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov .
– Apply via smartphone at m.fema.gov .
– Constituents may call the registration phone number at 1-800-621-3362; those who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 1-800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362.
– FEMA also encourages applicants to call their insurance agents to file a claim at the same time.
As a result of the declaration, Hazard Mitigation funds also were made available. Thompson's office said these funds provide assistance to the state for actions taken to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural hazards.
FEMA previously approved the state of California’s request for a Fire Management Assistance Grant declaration for the Valley fire.
That grant covers 75 percent of the cost of fire suppression, safety and recovery needs, and allows for the mitigation, management and control of fires burning on publicly or privately owned forest or grasslands which threaten such destruction as would constitute a major disaster.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Tuesday morning fire officials reported more growth had occurred on the Valley fire, with no change in containment.
The fire grew by nearly 300 acres overnight, reaching 76,067 acres, with containment remaining at 75 percent, according to Cal Fire.
The count of destroyed structures on Tuesday morning remained at 1,910, including 1238 single-family homes, 23 multi-family homes, 64 commercial structures and 585 other structures, Cal Fire said.
Cal Fire said approximately 3,861 firefighters are assigned to the incident today, along with 372 engines, 93 hand crews, 67 water tenders, 34 dozers and 10 helicopters.
Resources are continuing to mop up and secure perimeter lines in order to fully contain the incident, Cal Fire said.
Damage assessments also are continuing, with Cal Fire reporting that a followup survey is under way to confirm the findings of the first.
No estimate for full containment has been given on the fire, the cause of which remains under investigation.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – A crash early Tuesday knocked down a power pole, with a power outage reported shortly afterward.
Just before 12:45 a.m. firefighters were dispatched to 1095 Big Valley Road for a report of a minor-vehicle crash involving a power pole, according to radio reports.
The crash also was reported to have resulted in a small vegetation fire due to downed lines.
When firefighters arrived on scene, they found the driver had minor injuries and that the pole was knocked down, radio reports indicated.
At about the same time as the crash occurred, Pacific Gas and Electric Co.'s online outage center reported that power was out to approximately 2,411 customers in the Lakeport and Kelseyville areas, with crews en route to evaluate.
PG&E gave no time estimate for power restoration.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – On Monday, Beckstoffer Vineyards announced its donation of $50,000 to the #LakeCountyRising fundraising campaign.
“We’re part of the community,” said Andy Beckstoffer, founder, chairman, and owner of Beckstoffer Vineyards. “We have major vineyard holdings in Lake County, and many of our people live in Lake County.”
“On behalf of the Lake County community, we are grateful for the generosity we’re seeing from across the region,” said Debra Sommerfield, president of the Lake County Winegrape Commission, one of three organizations who have partnered to establish the #LakeCountyRising fundraising effort.
#LakeCountyRising is a fundraising effort to support community rebuilding in the areas ravaged by the Valley Fire with a focus on livelihood, housing and community needs.
The effort was initiated by three Lake County organizations: Lake County Winegrape Commission, Lake County Winery Association, and Lake County Wine Alliance, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that will manage the collection and distribution of tax-deductible donations.
“This generous donation by the Beckstoffer family is a wonderful example of how the wine industry is coming together with significant support,” Sommerfield said.
Beckstoffer Vineyards farms more than 1,300 acres in the Red Hills of Lake County, in addition to its 1,000 acres in the Napa Valley and 1,300 acres in Mendocino County.
“We hope this will motivate other people to give,” Beckstoffer said.
#LakeCountyRising aims to raise significant funds over the coming weeks and months to help members of the Lake County community cope, adjust, and rebuild after the Valley Fire.
#LakeCountyRising is working with local organizations and government agencies to identify the most pressing community needs.
To donate, visit the Lake County Rising page on Facebook, www.facebook.com/LakeCountyRising , to make a donation online using PayPal, or send a check made payable to Lake County Wine Alliance, memo “Lake County Rising Fire Relief Fund,” to Lake County Wine Alliance, P.O. Box 530, Kelseyville, CA 95451.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – In danger of being canceled a second time as a result of major fire events in the area, 'Power the the Youth' went on as rescheduled on Sunday at Austin Park in Clearlake.
The event featured skateboard and BMX biking competitions and demonstrations as well as an array of children's activities, games, horseback rides and other sporting competitions.
It gave the community a chance to escape from the stresses caused by the Valley fire in the south county.
This was the fifth annual event, which is put on by the Lake Community Pride Foundation.
Email reporter Denise Rockenstein at
