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NORTH COAST, Calif. – The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office is investigating the circumstances behind the vandalism of a fiberoptic line that caused landline and cell outages around the North Coast and even impacted 911 systems.
Services to areas around northwest California – including Lake, Mendocino, Sonoma and Humboldt counties – were reported to have been impacted beginning on Thursday morning, with the issue appearing to have been resolved early Friday, officials said.
At 10:30 a.m. Thursday the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office experienced a disruption of telephone – including 911, landline and cellular – and Internet services throughout Mendocino County.
The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office said it began working with other allied public safety agencies – police, fire and emergency medical services to include Coastal Valley EMS – and the Sheriff’s Office Emergency Operations Center was opened.
During that time, a limited amount of communication methods were able to be put into place for the various public safety agencies to be able to receive and respond to public emergencies as needed, the agency said.
Calls into 911 were rerouted to the Cal Fire Howard Forest dispatch center for distribution to local public safety dispatch centers affected by the 911 service disruption, the sheriff's office said.
The Cal Fire Howard Forest dispatch center had been previously designated as a secondary dispatch center when one or more allied dispatch centers experience a disruption of 911 services or abilities, officials reported.
At 6:30 p.m. Thursday a deputy with the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office was dispatched to contact representatives with AT&T in the Burke Hill area of Ukiah, according to the agency's Friday report.
Upon arrival the deputy learned AT&T had experienced a sudden disruption of fiber optic services at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, which affected telephone – 911, land-line and cellular – and Internet services for Mendocino County, officials reported.
Immediate efforts were made by AT&T to locate the cause and location of the disruption, which officials said ultimately was determined to be in a rural area approximately 1.5 miles south of Burke Hill Road in Ukiah.
Upon inspection of this area it was determined the fiberoptic line that was located above ground had been cut apart. At this time it is suspected the damage was caused as an intentional act of vandalism, the sheriff's office said.
At 3 a.m. Friday the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office noted a return of telephone services to their 911 emergency dispatch center, the agency reported.
The case remains under investigation and anyone with information that might assist in the identification of any suspect or suspects is urged to contact the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office Tip-Line by calling 707-234-2100.
UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Firefighters continue their efforts to fully contain a wildland fire north of Upper Lake, work which could be impacted by increasing temperatures expected through the Labor Day weekend.
The Elk fire, burning since Wednesday afternoon off of Elk Mountain Road, remained at 670 acres on Friday morning, with containment up to 35 percent, according to a report from Cal Fire Division Chief Mike Wilson.
Wilson explained that the fire's containment is a combination of direct fire line built and the level of confidence the fire will stay within those lines.
Cal Fire and the United States Forest Service – which hold unified command of the incident – worked aggressively through the night to gain the increased containment on the fire, Wilson said.
While the spread of the fire has been stopped, Wilson said there is a large amount of unburned fuel within the lines, with gusty winds and increasing temperatures expected over the holiday weekend.
He said crews at scene continue to build and improve fire lines, and mop up hot spots near its perimeter.
There was a resources in increases assigned to the fire on Friday, which included 270 firefighters and 25 overhead/command personnel, 26 engine companies, 18 fire crews, four water tenders, four helicopters and three bulldozers.
Cal Fire said the cause of the incident remains under investigation.
Roads remain open in the area but officials ask drivers to use caution due to firefighters continuing to work in the area.
Cal Fire and the US Forest Service said they need the public to be extremely cautious while working or recreating near dry fuels for the remainder of the fire season.
Using equipment, parking in dry grass, mowing, dragging tow chains and cooking are all avoidable causes of fire, officials said. Learn more by visiting www.preventwildfireca.org .
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The body of a boy with autism who had gone missing early Friday morning was found in Clear Lake hours later.
Thirteen-year-old Norman Mendigorin II's body was found in the water off of the end of the Third Street boat ramp in the city of Lakeport at about 4:30 a.m., police said.
He had been reported missing at 12:30 a.m. from the area of First Street in Lakeport, as Lake County News has reported.
Upon receiving the report of the boy's disappearance, Lakeport Police officers immediately began an investigation and search, the agency reported.
The Lake County Sheriff's Office Search & Rescue team was contacted for assistance. Police said Search & Rescue quickly responded and coordinated search efforts, which led to the discovery of the boy's body.
At this time, it appears that the death is accidental, police said; however, a Lakeport Police detective has been assigned to conduct a complete investigation.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Norman's family,” the Lakeport Police Department said in a written statement.
NORTH COAST, Calif. – Damage to a fiber cable on Thursday caused interruptions to cell services and some landlines around the North Coast.
According to a statement released to Lake County News by AT&T, fiber damage caused by vandalism on Thursday morning resulted in some customers in northwest California experiencing issues with wireline and wireless services.
“We are making progress on repairing the damage, which occurred between Santa Rosa and Ukiah, and crews will work around the clock until service is fully restored,” the company said.
The statement added, “Vandalism is a serious matter that affects public safety and the community at large. We are cooperating with local law enforcement on an investigation of the matter. We apologize for this inconvenience.”
On Thursday, state Sen. Mike McGuire's office reported that the cut fiber cable – which he said was located in Hopland – affected cellular service and lineline in Mendocino and Humboldt counties, including 911 service, with those services rerouted. He said 911 centers also were affected.
The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office reported having issues with landlines and cell phones being down and only working intermittently, with the agency advising people who needed help in case of emergency to call their local fire station or to call or text alternative numbers, besides 911.
Service in areas of Lake County also was affected, with residents reporting their issues on Lake County News' Facebook page. However, there were not reports of impacts on 911 as there had been in other counties.
In addition to AT&T, several other cell carriers who provide service to Lake County confirmed their customers were experiencing issues as a result of the damaged cable.
Verizon spokeswoman Heidi Flato said the company's network in parts of Mendocino, Lake and Sonoma counties experienced technical issues due to the damaged landline fiber optic cable.
“Verizon Wireless services have been impacted in the towns of Yorkville, Ukiah, Willits, Boonville, Calpella, Hopland, Cloverdale and some areas around Clear Lake,” she said. “Verizon Wireless technicians are working with the landline operator to restore service as quickly as possible. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Jeremiah Layman, a senior network field engineer for U.S. Cellular, also confirmed that the network in Lake County experienced a service interruption.
“The interruption was the result of a cut to the fiber-optics cable of a third-party vendor we use to route calls from our cell sites. Our engineers are working diligently with the vendor to fix the issue and restore coverage. Our top priority is providing an excellent wireless experience to our customers in Lake County,” he said.
T-Mobile said its engineers were in touch with a vendor regarding the source of the issue affecting customers. “They are working to restore service in the area as soon as possible,” the company said.
According to McGuire, AT&T told his office that services were expected to be restored sometime overnight.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Containment on a wildland fire burning near Upper Lake edged still higher on Thursday.
Cal Fire said the Elk fire, burning since Wednesday afternoon, reached 670 acres on Thursday, with containment up to 30 percent.
No structures have been destroyed or damaged, according to Cal Fire, which is in unified command on the incident with the United States Forest Service.
Cal Fire said firefighters made good progress on the fire throughout the day, with crews continuing to build and improve fire lines as well as mopping up hot spots near the line.
Crews will continue working through the night and Labor Day weekend, Cal Fire said. All roads in the area are open, with officials asking people to use caution while driving in the area because of the firefighters working there.
Resources assigned as of Thursday night include 270 firefighters and eight overhead/command personnel, 21 engine companies, nine fire crews, seven bulldozers, four helicopters and three water tenders, Cal Fire said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Hero Project is hosting a new young children’s area featuring a Superhero Scramble Obstacle Course at the Red Barn during the Lake County Fair.
All activities within the children’s area will be free for families with children under age 10.
Free Hero Project registration will be required at the Red Barn before entering the play area.
Free backpacks, bracelets, sunglasses and coloring books will be complimentary to all children under age 10, while supplies last.
The Hero Project has partnered with Xtreme Envisions and is offering a Superhero Scramble Obstacle Course complete with a tunnel, tires and a maze. Bob Rider Photography will provide free superhero family photos.
The Game Hub will provide a gaming area with quick-play games that are perfect for young families.
Head Start will host a small water-table play area. Activities will be idea for parents and their children under age 10.
“At the Hero Project we believe that every child needs a hero,” said Hero Project Director Robyn Bera. “Our goal is to strengthen families by reminding parents that they have the power to be that very hero to their children. We’re delighted to be providing a free, fun, family-friendly physical activity for families this year in the Red Barn/Fiesta Park area and, we’re grateful to our sponsors, allies and volunteers for making it all possible.”
Any family with a child under age 8 can register for the Hero Project online for free. All Challenge Champions win free prizes.
Learn more, register and get involved at www.lakecountyheroproject.com .
Call Hero Project Headquarters at 707-262-4134 for more information.