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KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – An early Wednesday morning fire destroyed a home near Kelseyville.
The fire, first dispatched just before 1 a.m. Wednesday, was located at Bayview Terrace mobile home park at 8920 Soda Bay Road, according to Kelseyville Fire Capt. Paul Scott.
The doublewide manufactured home was fully involved by the time firefighters arrived, Scott said.
All five of the home's occupants – four adults and a baby – were able to get out safely. No injuries were reported to the home's inhabitants or firefighters, Scott said.
Scott said Kelseyville Fire sent two engines, Lakeport Fire sent one engine and three additional engines came from Cal Fire due to concerns about the blaze moving into nearby wildland. However, firefighters were able to contain it before it got to the vegetation.
It took about an hour to contain the fire, with Scott noting that firefighters had issues with water supply.
Radio reports indicated firefighters remained on scene for several hours for mop up and overhaul.
Scott said the home is a total loss. However, firefighters managed to salvage quite a bit of the residents' property.
The Red Cross was called to respond and assist with finding temporary housing for the home's inhabitants, he said.
The fire's cause is still under investigation, although Scott said there does not appear to be anything suspicious about it.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-5) announced $63,232 in U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development grants for the Lake County Housing Commission.
The funds come from HUD’s Family Self-Sufficiency Program.
“These grants provide people with the skills and education they need to move up in the workforce,” said Thompson. “Everyone who works hard, and plays by the rules should have the opportunity get a job and save for a home of their own. HUD’s Family Self-Sufficiency Program helps families do just that, and I am a proud supporter of these important funds.”
“These funds help families live better lives,” said Carol Huchingson, executive director of the Lake County Housing Commission. “Many thanks to Congressman Thompson and HUD for their support. This new grant will provide funding that help people continue the path to self-sufficiency.”
Funded though HUD’s Family Self- Sufficiency program, these grants allow public housing agencies to work with social service agencies, community colleges, businesses, and other local partners to help public housing residents and individuals participating in HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher Program to increase their education or gain marketable skills that will enable them to obtain employment and advance in their current work.
Thompson represents California’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.
UPPER LAKE, Calif. – The Lake County Land Trust’s popular annual dinner is slated for Saturday, Oct. 11, at The Lodge at Blue Lakes.
The event will start earlier than usual this year, at 3 p.m., in order to allow those attending the opportunity to enjoy the afternoon on one of Lake County’s unique lakes.
The Land Trust is celebrating its 20th fun event that starts with music provided by popular local musicians, a fabulous silent auction, excellent dinner with Lake County wines, and an interesting speaker, Herman Garcia, the founder of Coastal Habitat Education and Environment Restoration, or CHEER.
The Land Trust is disappointed to announce that Congressman Mike Thompson who was previously scheduled to be keynote speaker at the dinner has had to cancel his attendance due to an inadvertent scheduling conflict.
However, Herman Garcia promises to be an interesting and pertinent speaker whose topic will tie in nicely with issues facing residents here in Lake County.
Garcia and the group he founded, CHEER, have been able to turn around the Pajaro River watershed in just 12 years.
The Pajaro River was listed as America’s most polluted river 12 years ago and Garcia along with numerous other stakeholders including fishermen, birdwatchers, and sportsmen formed a nonprofit with the goal of restoring the Pajaro River watershed.
The group eventually was able to develop a seamless system of watershed care, creating a model of “rescue and restoration, education and awareness,” Garcia explained.
The Land Trust’s annual dinner is open to the public with reservations and ticket purchase available by calling (707) 262-0707, by email
Tickets are $70 per person and include either a chicken or vegetarian entrée. Lake County wines are included in the ticket price.
Participants are encouraged to come early and enjoy a refreshment on the beautiful deck at the Lodge at Blue Lakes.
The event starts at 3 p.m. with an early dinner at 4 p.m. followed by the program which includes honoring of the Land Trust’s “Supporters of the Year.”
Attendees are encouraged to “make a weekend of it” and spend the night at The Lodge. Owners of this beautiful venue, Peter and Maryann Schmid, are donating a percentage of the proceeds from room rentals to the LCLT and will provide breakfast to those who stay the night.
Reservations are encouraged and may be made by calling The Lodge at Blue Lakes at 707-275-2181; be sure to mention you are coming to the LCLT dinner.
The Land Trust would like to express appreciation to its sponsors for the dinner, the Law Office of
Dennis Fordham, Brad and Kathy Barnwell, John Wise and Evelyn Wachtel, and Katzoff & Riggs LLP.
The Lake County Land Trust is a 501 c (3) organization dedicated to preservation of wildlife habitat, including wetlands, forests and properties with scenic, cultural and agricultural value.
Gov. Jerry Brown on Tuesday signed the nation’s first statewide ban on single-use plastic bags – SB 270 – aligning state law with ordinances passed by a growing number of local governments in California to reduce plastic waste.
While proponents say the new law will aid the economy and the environment, it is already facing the possibility of a referendum from an industry group.
The legislation, authored by Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima), prohibits grocery stores and pharmacies from distributing single-use plastic bags after July 2015 and enacts the same ban for convenience stores and liquor stores the following year.
The bill also will provide up to $2 million in competitive loans – administered by CalRecycle – to businesses transitioning to the manufacture of reusable bags.
“This bill is a step in the right direction – it reduces the torrent of plastic polluting our beaches, parks and even the vast ocean itself,” said Gov. Brown. “We’re the first to ban these bags, and we won’t be the last.”
Thus far, more than 120 local governments in California have passed ordinances banning single-use bags in some fashion, with widespread support from community and environmental groups.
SB 270 is supported by many of these same groups, along with local governments, businesses and labor organizations.
“I applaud Gov. Brown for signing SB 270 into law. He continues to lead our state forward with a commitment to sustainability. A throw-away society is not sustainable. This new law will greatly reduce the flow of billions of single-use plastic bags that litter our communities and harm our environment each year. Moving from single-use plastic bags to reusable bags is common sense. Gov. Brown’s signature reflects our commitment to protect the environment and reduce government costs,” said Sen. Padilla.
Among the groups supporting the bill is the California Grocers Association.
“History was made today, and our environment and economy will be better for it,” said Ronald Fong, president and chief executive officer, California Grocers Association. “SB 270 will foster innovation, create operational consistency, California green jobs, and protect our precious natural resources. We are grateful to Sens. Padilla, de León and Lara for bravely standing up for California.”
Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins said the California coast is a national treasure that attracts visitors from around the globe.
“Removing the harmful blight of single-use plastic bags, especially along our coastline and waterways, helps ensure the kind of clean and healthy environment we need to have a stronger economy and a brighter future,” Atkins said.
Californians Against Waste Executive Director Mark Murray said that, for nearly 10 million Californians, life without plastic grocery bags already is a reality. “Bag bans reduce plastic pollution and waste, lower bag costs at grocery stores, and now we’re seeing job growth in California at facilities that produce better alternatives.”
Clean Seas Coalition and Seventh Generation Advisors director Leslie Tamminen said that data from the more than 127 local plastic bag bans has proven that bans are effective at reducing litter and changing consumer attitudes, and have refuted industry’s claims of apocalyptic impacts on jobs and poor communities. “A state plastic bag ban saves taxpayers the huge amount of money spent on litter cleanup, and protects the environment.”
Save the Bay Executive Director David Lewis called SB 270 “is a great victory for all of California.”
Lewis added, “We’ve seen locally that plastic bag bans lead to cleaner water and healthier wildlife, keeping trash off our beaches and out of our creeks. The success of bag bans in our local communities has empowered state legislators to make the right decision for the health of California’s waterways. Governor Brown’s signature of this statewide bag ban is an important moment for our state, demonstrating that California is once again willing to take the lead on important environmental issues.”
Opponents, however, called the ban harmful to the state's economy and environment.
The most direct challenge is coming from the American Progressive Bag Alliance, which represents the United States' plastic bag manufacturing and recycling sector.
“Sen. Padilla's bill was never legislation about the environment,” said the group's executive director, Lee Califf. “It was a back room deal between the grocers and union bosses to scam California consumers out of billions of dollars without providing any public benefit – all under the guise of environmentalism. If this law were allowed to go into effect it would jeopardize thousands of California manufacturing jobs, hurt the environment, and fleece consumers for billions so grocery store shareholders and their union partners can line their pockets.”
Califf said his organization has taken the necessary steps to gather signatures and qualify a referendum to repeal SB 270 on the November 2016 ballot.
“Since state lawmakers failed their constituents by approving this terrible bill, we will take the question directly to the public and have great faith they will repeal it at the ballot box. Ultimately the voters will decide and, until then, California families – including thousands of our industry's workers – will be protected from the implementation of this unprecedented scam,” said Califf.
For full text of the bill, visit http://leginfo.ca.gov/bilinfo.html .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed on Tuesday that, through laboratory tests, the first case of Ebola to be diagnosed in the United States in a person who had traveled to Dallas, Texas from Liberia.
The patient did not have symptoms when leaving West Africa, but developed symptoms approximately four days after arriving in the U.S. on Sept. 20.
The person fell ill on Sept. 24 and sought medical care at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas on Sept. 26.
After developing symptoms consistent with Ebola, he was admitted to hospital on Sept. 28.
Based on the person’s travel history and symptoms, CDC recommended testing for Ebola.
The medical facility isolated the patient and sent specimens for testing at CDC and at a Texas lab participating in the CDC’s Laboratory Response Network. CDC and the Texas Health Department reported the laboratory test results to the medical center to inform the patient.
Local public health officials have begun identifying close contacts of the person for further daily monitoring for 21 days after exposure. A CDC team was dispatched to Dallas Tuesday morning.
“Ebola can be scary. But there’s all the difference in the world between the U.S. and parts of Africa where Ebola is spreading. The United States has a strong health care system and public health professionals who will make sure this case does not threaten our communities,” said CDC Director, Dr. Tom Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. “While it is not impossible that there could be additional cases associated with this patient in the coming weeks, I have no doubt that we will contain this.”
The ill person did not exhibit symptoms of Ebola during the flights from West Africa and CDC does not recommend that people on the same commercial airline flights undergo monitoring, as Ebola is only contagious if the person is experiencing active symptoms. The person reported developing symptoms several days after the return flight.
Anyone concerned about possible exposure may call CDC-Info at 800-CDC-INFO for more information.
CDC recognizes that even a single case of Ebola diagnosed in the United States raises concerns.
Knowing the possibility exists, medical and public health professionals across the country have been preparing to respond. CDC and public health officials in Texas are taking precautions to identify people who have had close personal contact with the ill person and health care professionals have been reminded to use meticulous infection control at all times.
Officials do know how to stop Ebola’s further spread: thorough case finding, isolation of ill people, contacting people exposed to the ill person, and further isolation of contacts if they develop symptoms.
The U.S. public health and medical systems have had prior experience with sporadic cases of diseases such as Ebola.
In the past decade, the United States had five imported cases of viral hemorrhagic fever diseases similar to Ebola. None resulted in any transmission in the U.S.
CDC has been anticipating and preparing for a case of Ebola in the United States.
Actions include:
– Enhancing surveillance and laboratory testing capacity in states to detect cases.
– Developing guidance and tools for health departments to conduct public health investigations.
– Providing recommendations for healthcare infection control and other measures to prevent disease spread.
– Providing guidance for flight crews, Emergency Medical Services units at airports, and Customs and Border Protection officers about reporting ill travelers to CDC.
– Disseminating up-to-date information to the general public, international travelers, and public health partners.
The data health officials have seen in the past few decades since Ebola was discovered indicates that it is not spread through casual contact or through the air.
Rather, Ebola is spread through direct contact with bodily fluids of a sick person or exposure to objects such as needles that have been contaminated.
The illness has an average eight to 10 day incubation period, although it ranges from two to 21 days; CDC recommends monitoring exposed people for symptoms a complete 21 days.
People are not contagious after exposure unless they develop symptoms.
More information is available at www.cdc.gov/ebola .
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Cooler weather and precipitation have allowed firefighters around California to make major progress on wildland fire incidents.
More than 8,000 firefighters have increased containment on the blazes thanks to mild weather and more than an inch of rain in the past week, according to Cal Fire's Monday Fire Situation Report.
Cal Fire reported that only three major incidents across the state are still burning.
As of Monday night, the King Fire, near Pollack Pines in El Dorado and Placer counties, had burned 97,099 acres and was 92 percent contained. It began Sept. 13.
The state's biggest fire, the Happy Camp Complex in Siskiyou County, began Aug. 11. It's burned more than 132,000 acres and is 97-percent contained.
The Meadow Fire, near Yosemite National Park, was 98-percent contained at just under 4,800 acres.
For information on preventing wildland fires visit www.readyforwildfire.org .
See the full report above.