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NORTH COAST, Calif. – As two wildland fires in northern Mendocino County grew closer to full containment, officials released more firefighters and equipment on Tuesday.
The North Pass Fires’ estimated size was rolled back by approximately 251 acres to 41,983 acres total, with 65 percent containment, Cal Fire and the US Forest Service reported Tuesday evening.
The fires, caused by lightning, are burning in the Williams Valley, 10 miles northeast of Covelo.
The US Forest Service and Cal Fire, which share unified command of the incident because it’s burning on both state and federal lands, said crews continued to hold and improve fire line on Tuesday, with the fires holding at the Middle Fork of the Eel River.
Officials said the incident continues to progress west towards Castle Peak with single and small group torching, while the northern portion of the fire continues to burn between Pothole Creek and Stick Lake Canyon.
There were 1,283 personnel assigned to the fires on Tuesday. Equipment assigned included 45 engines, 29 fire crews, two airtankers, 14 helicopters, 10 bulldozers and 28 water tenders.
Approximately 29 structures remain threatened, with evacuations still in effect for areas of Indian Dick Road (Forest Road M-1) and Mendocino Pass Road (Forest Highway 7).
The Covelo Ranger District north of Mendocino Pass Road to the Six Rivers and Shasta-Trinity National Forest boundaries remains under a US Forest Closure order.
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KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office is offering a free safety program for teen drivers and their parents in September.
The “Start Smart” classes will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 19, at the CHP office, 5700 Live Oak Drive, Kelseyville.
Traffic collisions are the No. 1 killer of teenagers in America.
Nationally about 5,000 teens will die in automobile crashes. About 10 percent of those deaths are in California alone.
In California in 2009, there were 61,029 collisions involving teenage drivers statewide, 346 resulted in fatalities.
The Start Smart program aims to help future and newly-licensed teenage drivers learn the responsibilities that accompany the privilege of being a licensed driver.
It is an educational tool for parents and teens to reduce the number of teen injuries and deaths resulting from traffic collisions.
The program provides information on defensive driving, state traffic laws, distracted driving, dynamics of traffic collisions, tips on avoiding collisions and DUI awareness.
Space is limited for this class. For more information or reservations, call Officer Kory Reynolds at the CHP office, 707-279-0103.
A new report finds that seat belt use for teens in California jumped more than 2 percent in the past two years, from 94 percent in 2010 to 96.1 percent in 2012.
The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) reported the findings on Tuesday.
The newly released information nearly matches the usage rate for all vehicle occupants in the state, which stands at 96.6 percent, the agency said. Both are now are at record high levels.
Local rates were not available, as OTS told Lake County News that Lake County was not among the counties surveyed for the report.
The new teen rate is a large increase from the 88.9 percent observed just four years ago, according to OTS.
“We are encouraged by these latest results,” said OTS Director Christopher J. Murphy. “Everyone in the car buckling up for every trip, every day, is the single most effective way to protect people and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes. This is especially true with teen drivers, the age group with the highest crash rates.”
Nationally, teen seat belt use is in the low 80 percent range.
The reasons for California’s high rate are thought to be due to heavy enforcement and awareness campaigns like Click It or Ticket, as well as a large number of efforts aimed specifically at teens like Every 15 Minutes, Start Smart, Right Turn, Teen Smart, and Friday Night Live where seat belt usage is emphasized.
Researchers from CSU Fresno surveyed traffic near 100 high schools in 29 counties in the spring of 2012.
They also found the usage rate for passengers, as opposed to drivers, is up markedly in just three years, from 85.7 percent in 2009 to 95.8 percent this year.
Slightly more teen girls regularly wear seat belts than teen boys, 97.8 percent to 96.1 percent.
In addition, pickup truck occupants are still the least likely to wear their belts at 93.7 percent, but that rate has steadily improved.
Surveyed observations in Contra Costa and Santa Cruz counties showed 100 percent usage, although ongoing day-to-day use is likely lower.
Monterey was the county with the lowest usage rate at 87.2 percent.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Tuesday saw several additional wildland fires break out around the region.
Shortly before 4 p.m. the “16 Complex” broke out along Highway 16, south of Highway 20, in Colusa County’s Rumsey Canyon area.
The initial fire quickly grew in size, with a second spot fire starting three miles to the east of the first fire, according to radio reports.
Within the first hour a large order was made for air tankers and helicopters to respond as the first fire made a run to the north.
Cal Fire’s 7 p.m. update put the fires at 500 acres, but the main fire was estimated at closer to 1,000 acres and the smaller fire at 200 acres a short time later, reports from the scene indicated. Cal Fire confirmed the 1,200-acre estimate later Tuesday night.
At about 9 p.m. incident command issued an advisory evacuation for the nearby Cortina Rancheria, although the fire reportedly hadn’t yet reached the rancheria. Strike teams also were being ordered.
The 16 Complex has resulted in Highway 16 being closed from the junction of Highway 20 to 7.1 miles east of the Colusa/Yolo County line at Manzanita Avenue, according to Cal Fire.
In Yolo County, the “27 Fire” started at 3 p.m. on Road 27 and Road 28 near Madison. Shortly before 7 p.m. it was 175 acres and 90 percent contained, with Cal Fire reporting that forward progress had been stopped. It was said to be fully contained a short time later, based on radio reports.
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Sunday Lake County’s district attorney distributed funds from a program he implemented last year to local organizations to assist them with serving the community.
District Attorney Don Anderson was joined by Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen and California Highway Patrol Officer Kory Reynolds on Sunday afternoon at the Lake County Fair, where they handed out checks totaling approximately $14,531 to eight local groups, primarily nonprofits.
Groups receiving funds included the Kelseyville Fire Department, $6,000; Hammers for Hope, $3,000; Lake County Rape Crisis Center, $3,000; 4-H, $1,199; Future Farmers of Farmers, $1,166; Lucerne Alpine Senior Center, $1,166; Lake County Community Radio, KPFZ, $500; and Team DUI, $500.
Anderson’s alternative community service program allows people convicted in certain cases to convert community service hours into cash, which he then uses to benefit local organizations.
Since the program started in 2011 Anderson said it has raised $70,000.
Organizations wanting to be considered for an award from the program can contact Anderson at his office, 707-263-2251, and he said he will place them on a list for future distributions.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Several new kittens and adult cats of various breeds are needing homes this week.
The cats, from blue-eyed Siamese to the ever-popular tabbies, range in ages and sizes.
Cats that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed and microchipped before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.
If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets there, hoping you'll choose them.
The following cats at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (other cats pictured on the animal control Web site that are not listed here are still “on hold”).
Male orange tabby
This male orange tabby mix is 3 years old.
He has gold eyes, a short coat and has been neutered.
He’s in cat room kennel No. 13, ID No. 33975.
Male domestic short hair mix
This male domestic short hair mix is 5 months old.
He has a gray and white coat, gold eyes, weighs 6 pounds and has been neutered.
Find him in cat room kennel No. 24, ID No. 34121.
Short-haired calico
This female domestic short hair mix is 2 years old.
She has a calico coat and has not been spayed.
She is in cat room kennel No. 27, ID No. 34139.
Male Siamese mix
This male Siamese lynx point mix is 6 months old.
He has blue eyes, a medium-length coat and weighs just over 6 pounds. He has not yet been altered.
Find him in cat room kennel No. 32, ID No. 34120.
Female Siamese mix
This female Siamese mix kitten is 13 weeks old.
She has blue eyes and a short coat.
She’s in cat room kennel No. 55, ID No. 34114.
Male orange tabby
This male orange tabby is 5 months old.
He has a long orange coat and has not yet been neutered.
Find him in cat room kennel No. 58A, ID No. 33907.
Adoptable cats also can be seen at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Cats_and_Kittens.htm or at www.petfinder.com .
Please note: Cats listed at the shelter's Web page that are said to be “on hold” are not yet cleared for adoption.
To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .
Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .
For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.
Email Elizabeth Larson at