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The 2012 Fire Season has proven to be a destructive year and with the dry conditions, and Cal Fire officials are warning Californians of the continued wildfire threat.
The combination of above average temperatures, below normal rainfall and record dry conditions have resulted in above normal potential for large fires in many parts of the state, the agency reported.
“California has already experienced a significant increase in fire activity this year,” said Chief Ken Pimlott, director of Cal Fire. “Cal Fire crews remain prepared to respond to wildfires, but we are asking the public to take steps to help prevent fires during this unusually dry fall.”
Already this year, Cal Fire has responded to over 5,300 wildfires, which is over 1,300 more than last year and nearly 20 percent more than average.
From these fires nearly 130,000 acres burned, over 75,000 more than last year.
National forests, parks and other federally owned lands have seen their fair share of fires this year including a 270,000 acre fire that burned its way into the records books becoming the second largest wildfire in California’s history.
In August the Rush Fire charred 271,911 acres in Lassen County on land managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
Historically, California experiences its largest and most damaging wildfires in the late fall months. The potential this year is no exception, said Cal Fire, with no significant rainfall in sight.
The result is an above normal potential for large wildfires in October for most of Northern California including the Bay Area, as well as much of Southern California from Santa Barbara down to San Diego County.
With the continued threat of wildfires, Cal Fire is asking all Californians to ensure they are prepared for wildfires.
All residents should have a wildfire action plan that includes an evacuation plan. Unfortunately many evacuees don’t prepare what to take and where to go, and it’s often too late to remember those items when a wildfire strikes.
To learn more on how to be prepared for a wildfire visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org . Additional fire safety tips can be found at www.fire.ca.gov .
The California Fish and Game Commission determined Wednesday that listing the gray wolf as an endangered species in the state may be warranted.
The decision opens a status review to be done over the course of the next 12 months, after which the commission could decide to list the wolf as an endangered species under state law.
“We have very little information on the history and status of wolves in California,” said Michael Sutton, vice president of the Fish & Game Commission. “Our decision today launches a year-long effort to learn more, which in turn will inform our ultimate decision whether or not to protect this iconic species under California law.”
Last December, a lone wolf known as OR7 dispersed to California from a pack in northeastern Oregon and has been in the state for most of the time since then.
Gray wolves such as OR7 are protected as an endangered species in California and elsewhere under the federal Endangered Species Act.
The petition to list wolves as an endangered species under California state law was filed in February by four environmental groups.
The Department of Fish and Game reviewed the petition and concluded it did not include adequate information to make a determination whether listing may be warranted. However, other information DFG was required by law to review did.
There has never been a scientific study of wolves in California. Although there are numerous anecdotal reports of wolves in early California, there is little direct evidence of these wolves beyond two museum specimens – one of a gray wolf and the other likely a Mexican wolf.
DFG believes it is likely the wolves were once widely distributed across California before they were extirpated by humans in the early 20th Century.
The vote was 3-0. Commissioners Dan Richards and Jim Kellogg were not present.
More information about OR7 is available at www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/nongame/wolf/ .
NORTH COAST, Calif. – A fire burning near Comptche in Mendocino County is on track to be fully contained a day earlier than originally estimated thanks to progress firefighters made on Wednesday.
The Flynn Fire, which began Monday afternoon, was at 90 percent containment on Wednesday evening, with Cal Fire adjusting the size down slightly to 195 acres.
The Cal Fire Mendocino Unit said that the fire was expected to be fully contained on Thursday. Original containment had been expected on Friday.
Personnel assigned to the fire had been reduced to 651 by Wednesday evening, with 37 engines, 24 fire crews, four airtankers and 17 water tenders still dedicated to the fire, Cal Fire reported.
Cal Fire said the fire’s cause remains under investigation.
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CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – A retired local postmaster has come forward to claim his multimillion dollar prize in the California State Lottery.
Antonio Velasquez, 69, of Clearlake Oaks was one of two lucky ticket holders in last Saturday’s SuperLotto Plus $28 million jackpot.
The winning numbers were 3, 4, 27, 30, 39, plus the Mega number of 3.
Velasquez was introduced as the winner at a Tuesday afternoon press conference held at the California State Lottery offices in Sacramento.
Velasquez will split the $28 million jackpot with the holder of a ticket purchased in Milpitas, who so far has not claimed their prize. Lottery officials said each ticket is worth an estimated cash option amount of $10.3 million.
He purchased the SuperLotto Plus ticket at the Red and White Store on Highway 20 in Clearlake Oaks last week. Thanks to being the retailer of the winning ticket, the store is set to receive $70,000.
It was Velasquez’s son, Tony, who told him that someone who bought their ticket at Oaks Red & White Store had won the SuperLotto Plus jackpot on Saturday night, according to a California State Lottery statement.
Velasquez was quick to call his wife, who is in Greece, but he didn’t tell her the whole story. “She knows I won, she just doesn’t know how much,” he explained.
He said he plans to use the money to help his four children and eight grandchildren, and also will donate money to a couple of his favorite charities.
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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A Lower Lake man who led police on a high speed chase last Sunday night has been arrested.
William Lefferts, 41, was taken into custody on Wednesday morning, according to Clearlake Police Sgt. Rodd Joseph.
Lefferts had led officers on a high speed chase through residential neighborhoods late Sunday night after an officer who recognized him as being a wanted parolee tried to pull him over, as Lake County News has reported.
Due to safety concerns, officers ended the chase, but later located the black Ford Ranger pickup Lefferts had been driving during the chase in the area of 19th Avenue.
On Wednesday at approximately 9:44 a.m. Officer Bradlee Middleton was on patrol in the area of 19th and Oak avenues when he spotted Lefferts walking in the area, Joseph said.
Middletown knew Lefferts was wanted in connection with the felony high speed vehicle pursuit on Sunday, and also was aware that Lefferts had a felony parole hold warrant for his arrest, according to Joseph.
Joseph said Middleton attempted to contact Lefferts, who fled on foot.
Middleton chased Lefferts for approximately two blocks and caught Lefferts in the wooded area between St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake and 18th Avenue, Joseph said.
While Middleton was attempting to arrest Lefferts, Joseph said Lefferts discarded a large knife, which is a prohibited weapon pursuant to his parole terms.
Lefferts was charged with felony evading, driving on a suspended license, resisting a police officer, a parole violation and his felony parole hold, and was booked into the Lake County Jail.
Any person with information about a crime that has occurred in the city of Clearlake is asked to contact the Clearlake Police Department at 707-994-8251. Callers may remain anonymous.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A Clearlake school was briefly locked down on Wednesday afternoon in response to a report of what was believed to be gunshots in the area.
The precautionary lockdown occurred at Burns Valley School, according to Lt. Tim Celli of the Clearlake Police Department.
Celli said police were notified at 12:50 p.m. that a school employee heard what they believed to be gunshots in the area of Walnut Avenue near Pine Avenue.
As a precautionary measure, Burns Valley School officials initiated a school lockdown, said Celli.
Celli said Clearlake Police officers responded and checked the school and surrounding areas. The area check did not reveal the source of the alleged gunshots.
He said the school grounds, children and employees were all determined to be safe and the school campus was reopened at approximately 1:11 p.m.