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SOUTH LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A day of steady rain in the fire area helped firefighters gain more ground on the Valley fire.
Cal Fire said Wednesday night that the Valley fire had grown to an estimated 70,200 acres, an increase of only 200 acres during the course of the day.
Containment also increased during the day, reaching 35 percent, Cal Fire said.
Cal Fire said the Valley fire's behavior was moderated due to cooler weather and rainy conditions, with firefighters continuing to focus on structural defense and perimeter control.
The National Weather Service reported that about half an inch of rain fell in the south county during the day.
Forecasters are predicting more rain – about one-tenth of an inch – through the night, clearing into Thursday morning.
More personnel have been assigned to the fire, with 3,128 firefighters now working the incident, Cal Fire said.
The vast firefighting force also includes 358 engines, 70 water tenders, 65 dozers, 58 hand crews, 15 helicopters and two air tankers, according to Cal Fire.
Authorities said mandatory evacuations and road closures in effect at the start of the day continued on Wednesday night.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A Whispering Pines man was arrested Monday for impersonating a peace officer and theft after a deputy found him in the Cobb Mountain area, which is under evacuation due to the Valley fire.
Steven Fredrick Worley, 36, was arrested for petty theft during a state of emergency, wearing identification to impersonate a police officer and removing, injuring or destroying any object of archaeological or historical interest or value, according to Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Brooks said that at 4:45 p.m. Monday a Lake County Sheriff’s deputy was patrolling the Cobb Mountain area, which remains under a mandatory evacuation order as result of the Valley Fire.
The roads have been closed to all traffic except for emergency vehicles. Brooks said the deputy noticed a vehicle in the area of Highway 175 and Maple Shadows Road, which had its hazard lights activated. He also noticed the vehicle was coated in pink flame retardant, due to ongoing firefighting efforts in the immediate area.
The deputy recognized the vehicle as being associated with Worley, who has prior contacts with law enforcement, Brooks said.
Brooks said the deputy followed the vehicle onto Maple Shadows Road when it drove away at a high rate of speed. The deputy caught up to the vehicle and conducted an enforcement stop near the intersection of Maple Shadows Road and Parnassus Drive.
Worley, who Brooks said was the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, stepped out and approached the deputy. Worley was wearing a yellow rain jacket and a blue baseball style hat. The hat was marked with a seven point star that read “California Highway Patrol.”
The deputy asked what Worley was doing in the area and he said he was trying to find something at his mother’s house, according to Brooks.
Brooks said the deputy recognized Worley and asked why he was wearing a CHP hat. Worley began to stammer and said the hat was given to him by a friend. Worley also said he had numerous hats located in the trunk of his vehicle. The deputy asked if he could search the vehicle and Worley said that he could.
The deputy conducted a search of the vehicle and located six cellular telephones, a portable Wi-Fi hotspot device and an Apple iPod. Under the front passenger seat he located a wallet which contained identification belonging to someone other than Worley, Brooks said.
The deputy noticed that the documents inside the wallet appeared to have been scorched. Brooks said the deputy located a safe under items in the back seat. The safe had an electronic keypad and was still locked. Worley said the safe did not belong to him and that it was given to him by a friend.
Brooks said the deputy attempted to obtain additional information concerning the safe, but Worley was unable to provide any additional information.
During the search the deputy also located an envelope which contained 13 shaped obsidian points. Brooks said Worley claimed he found the obsidian points along a creek.
When asked again why he was driving around in an active fire zone that was under evacuation orders, Worley said he did not know it was active because nobody had told him, according to Brooks.
Brooks said Worley was arrested and transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility, where he was booked.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff said Wednesday that the District Attorney's Office charged Worley with petty theft of property in a county in a local emergency resulting from a fire, illegal possession of lost property and illegally entering an area closed to the public because of fire or other disaster.
He said Worley was arraigned on Wednesday while he was still in custody.
Lake County Superior Court Judge Andrew Blum gave Worley an enhanced bail amount of $100,000, Hinchcliff said.
Lake County Jail records showed that Worley remained in custody on Wednesday evening.
Worley's arrest is the second authorities have reported on this week relating to possible looting.
Another man, Royce Sterling Moore, 26, of Lakeport, Calif., was arrested on Tuesday after he was found with burglary tools attempting to get into the Cobb Mountain area, as Lake County News has reported.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – While the Valley fire's acreage continued to grow on Wednesday, much-needed rain began to fall in the massive fire burn area, as well as across much of the rest of Lake County.
The Valley fire reached the 70,000-acre mark as of Wednesday morning, with containment remaining at 30 percent.
The fire began burning on Saturday afternoon on High Valley Road in Cobb before it took off and burned down through Hidden Valley Lake and Middletown, eventually crossing into Napa and Sonoma counties.
Cal Fire said the fire's behavior was moderate throughout the night due to cooler weather.
The increase in the fire size was primarily due to firing operations to assist in strengthening control lines.
Tuesday's winds also pushed the fire to the southeast and firefighters were able to quickly control the spread. Officials also said the wind and aircraft pushed the fire toward the burn scar of last year's Butts fire.
Cal Fire Captain Richard Cordova confirmed to Lake County News early Wednesday afternoon that rain was falling in the fire area.
He said that the wet weather had, by that point, not changed operations, including the use of aircraft.
“It all depends on visibility and what side of the fire the rain is falling on,” he said.
Cordova said the rain will be a help to firefighters, offering them cooler conditions in which to work.
“We're able to go in there and control more fire line,” he added.
Cal Fire said that 2,793 personnel are assigned to the fire, along with 317 engines, 70 water tenders, 56 hand crews, 43 dozers, 15 helicopters and eight air tankers.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The entire community and beyond is rallying in support of victims of the Valley fire, which in its first 48 hours, claimed several hundred homes and displaced thousands of residents in the the Cobb, Kelseyville, Middletown and Hidden Valley Lake areas.
Businesses, civics clubs, campgrounds, hotels, restaurants and countless volunteers at relief sites around the county have banded together to help ease the suffering of those displaced by the fire.
Donations to take care of the people, as well as the animals, are pouring in from near and far as the community faces its third, and most destructive, fire disaster in the past six weeks.
“I've never seen so many people come together. It's incredible,” evacuee Bob Vieira said.
Vieira and his wife, Linda, evacuated to the parking lot at Clearlake Walmart from Hidden Valley Lake late Saturday night, escaping the blaze with three Rhode Island Red hens.
“Our house seems to be OK. It got a little scary when the flames started coming through the backyard. We decided it was time to go, and,” he said smiling, “I couldn't leave my girls there.”
The hens appeared content Monday afternoon in their makeshift coop around a tree next to the couple's RV, even laying eggs Vieira said he shared with other evacuees in the parking lot camp.
Vieira said he is impressed and comforted by the show of support and generosity he has been seeing.
“Walmart has been great. They welcomed us into parking lot; they're cleaning up every day. There are supplies coming in from Sonoma County and all over. The Salvation Army has been here to see how they can help. People have been barbecuing everyday. Out here, everybody is for everybody. It's amazing,” he said.
Members of the Coalition Crawlers and Low Budget Off Road loaded up with donations from the Monterey and Hollister Hills areas as soon as they heard news of the fire.
Member Sage Scherman of Carmel Valley said they have friends in the area and they just wanted to be of some assistance. They brought supplies, a big barbecue, music and plenty of helping hands.
“Everyone here has been through a lot. It's confusing,” he said. “We just wanted to help out and add some cheer to the situation.”
A group of local volunteers, of no particular organization, set up a donation/pick-up site in the parking lot full of clothing, blankets, food and other supplies.
“We just planned to cook until we ran out of hot dogs and hamburgers but the supplies just keep coming,” Rachel Collins of Clearlake, said.
Performance Mechanical owner Phil Harris, along with his staff and friends, also established a relief site at Walmart, filled with clothing for all sizes and ages as well as other necessities.
Volunteer Breanna Sanders said there are plenty of clothes, but, as the rain began to fall, she conveyed a need for tarps and tents and other items to help keep evacuees warm and dry through the elements.
Middletown evacuee Shelly Rossetta said she appreciates the overwhelming support the community is showing. “There is no 'living' at this point. It's surviving,” she said.
Rosetta said she is fortunate that her house made it through the fire and appreciates the generosity of the community, especially, Blue Fish Cove, in Glenhaven, which she said is only charging her family $50 for their nightly stays.
She said recovery is already being discussed amongst her neighbors. “We are talking about rebuilding in Middletown and we are looking forward to the community coming together to do that.”
Walmart Manager Travis Peck said the store is dedicated to the relief effort, ensuring relief organizations are well-supplied and evacuees have a place to go.
“Walmart is opening its stores to the community. We are staying open 24 hours. We want to keep supplies available to people who need them and the organizations leading the relief effort,” he said. “Associates have been cooking breakfast. We've been delivering cots to different locations. We are doing all we can to support the community,”
As the rain began, Peck wheeled out a cart full of tarps to help fill the immediate need.
Volunteers working the evacuation center at the Highlands Senior Center, 3245 Bowers Road in Clearlake also are inundated with supplies and are directing clothing donations to the Walmart site.
Lake County Social Services is leading the effort at the senior center, focusing their assistance on the shelter needs of the evacuees.
Edgar Perez said while the supplies are much appreciated, monetary donations would better serve fire victims as they move forward in their recoveries.
He suggested that those with items to donate hold a yard sale and contribute the proceeds.
“It is wonderful to see the response from the community but it is becoming overwhelming,” Perez said. “Our resources would be better utilized assisting evacuees with shelter needs and meals rather than sorting and storing donations.”
With the inundation of donations, relief sites are working together to ensure supplies are well-stocked at existing relief locations and other sites being established as the need grows.
The Moose Lodge in Clearlake Oaks, where more than 100 evacuees have landed, is becoming a sorting and distribution site.
Kristie Blackbird was on hand Monday evening arranging for a supply delivery to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at 14970 Lakeview Way in Clearlake. The church will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for people to pick up any supplies they may need, from diapers and toiletries to clothing and food. Non-perishable donations may be left at the back door of the church, Blackbird said.
Supplies also have been directed to the American Legion Post No. 437, at 14770 Austin Road in Clearlake, where an evacuation center has been established in preparation of the anticipated overflow from other relief sites.
Outdoor space and accommodations are available for RVs, trailers, tents and people forced to sleep in their cars. Portable restrooms are onsite; however, shower facilities are still needed and any assistance in obtaining them would be appreciated.
Relief sites are reporting incidents of fraudulent claims of need. Evacuees should be prepared to provide identification and proof of residency to help ensure supplies are being collected only by victims of the fire.
Businesses around the lake are extending their support to fire victims, with many offering discounts on services, goods and accommodations.
In some cases, evacuees are being helped at no charge. People are donating use of their travel trailers, homes, property and livestock quarters as well.
“This fire is devastating, but the way the community is coming together is amazing,” volunteer Stacey Sawdey said. “It's surreal.”
Postings of helping offers are being compiled on Facebook, where Rosetta said she found the discounted accommodations mentioned for her family.
Search for “Valley Fire Assistance Group” and other related pages, some of which have been established to help people find and return missing horses and pets, in particular.
Email reporter Denise Rockenstein at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A Lakeport man was arrested on Tuesday after he was found attempting to go into the Cobb Mountain area – which remains evacuated due to the Valley fire – with burglary tools.
Royce Sterling Moore, 26, was taken into custody early Tuesday for possession of burglary tools and controlled substance paraphernalia, and two warrants, according to Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
At 5 a.m. Tuesday Lake County Sheriff’s deputies noticed a vehicle approach them as they were parked at a closed intersection at Bottle Rock Road and Highway 29 in Kelseyville, Brooks said.
Brooks said both Bottle Rock Road and the section of Highway 29 from Live Oak Drive were closed to traffic, due to the Valley Fire.
Deputies illuminated the vehicle as it came to a stop in front of the road barricade. Brooks said the deputies approached the vehicle where they noticed a female driver and a male sitting in the back seat, who was not wearing a seatbelt.
They observed the male passenger make some suspicious movements, as if he was hiding something from the deputies. Brooks said they also noticed that he appeared to be extremely nervous and was wearing all black clothing.
They identified the male as Moore, and Brooks said Central Dispatch advised that Moore had two warrants for his arrest and he was immediately detained.
Deputies looked into the backseat area and noticed gloves, a black bandanna and a backpack in the area where Moore was sitting. Brooks said Moore admitted that the backpack was his.
Brooks said the deputy picked up the backpack and immediately located what appeared to be a semiautomatic handgun, which was lying underneath the backpack.
On closer inspection they noticed that it was actually a BB gun, which Moore admitted was his. The deputy noticed the BB gun was broken and not functional, according to Brooks.
As the deputy pulled the backpack out of the car, Moore appeared to be extremely nervous and complained about it being searched.
A search of the backpack produced pliers, channel locks and a cordless drill with a grinder wheel attachment, which the deputy recognized as being very common burglary tools used in the commission of numerous types of theft. Brooks said the deputy also located a methamphetamine smoking pipe.
Due to the tools being organized in a backpack along with the gloves, bandanna and imitation firearm indicates they were possessed as burglary tools, Brooks said.
Based on the area where Moore was contacted and his possession of the items, Brooks said the deputies believed he was planning and attempting to burglarize evacuated residents in the Cobb Mountain area.
When asked why Moore was being driven up to the Cobb area, he said they were going to check on a friend’s parrot, Brooks said.
Moore was arrested and transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked.
Bail was set at $5,000, and he remained in custody early Wednesday.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Library invites the public to get to know about Lake County’s prehistory in the Sept. 19 installment of Know Lake County, a free lecture series.
The diverse programs take place on the third Saturday of each month from February through December at 2 p.m. at Lakeport Library, 1425 N. High St.
Dr. John Parker, an archaeologist based in Lake County, will present a PowerPoint show on Lake County’s extensive prehistory and pass around artifacts from various time periods. Parker will also demonstrate how to make tools by flaking stone.
Parker earned his Ph.D. in 1994 and has worked as an archaeologist for 43 years. His doctoral dissertation focused on changes in settlement patterns in the Clear Lake Basin during the past 12,000 years.
He currently owns Wolf Creek Archaeology in Lucerne. His website www.wolfcreekarcheology.com contains information about archaeological projects in Lake County and northern California.
Dr. Parker currently does archaeological consulting, assisting land owners through the planning and project development process in a way that protects historical sites.
In addition to his research work, he gives public lectures and leads archaeology walks for civic clubs and citizen groups.
His work has appeared in national television news programs and in a wide array of magazines and journals.
Know Lake County delves into many facets of Lake County, including human history, natural history, outdoor recreation, science, performing arts and programs for children.
The family-friendly programs are designed to inform and entertain Lake County residents about Lake County. Some programs will cover interesting lore about the county and others will cover the work that community organizations perform.
Upcoming Know Lake County programs will feature retired park ranger Tom Nixon representing Konocti Regional Trails in October, Mike Adams from the Soper Reese Theatre in November and Carolyn Jarrett from the Children’s Museum of Art and Science in December. Know Lake County will continue in 2016 with a new series of lectures beginning in February.
Know Lake County’s full 2015 schedule is posted on the Know Lake County Web site www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Lake_County_CA__Library/KLC.htm .
For more information about Know Lake County and other library programs call 707-263-8817.
The Lake County Library is on the Internet at http://library.lakecountyca.gov and on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/LakeCountyLibrary .
Library events are also posted at www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Lake_County_CA__Library/Calendar.htm .
Jan Cook works for the Lake County Library.