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NICE, Calif. – A fire that burned on Robinson Rancheria Monday afternoon threatened several homes before firefighters contained it.
The fire, on Manzanita Circle across from Acorn Drive, was reported at about 4 p.m. Monday, according to radio reports.
Reports from the scene indicated the fire was going the hill behind the group of residences just east of Robinson Rancheria's casino.
Northshore Fire Deputy Chief Pat Brown said the fire ultimately burned about seven acres and threatened four or five nearby homes, burning some fences and weeds near the residences.
Brown said Northshore Fire sent four engines, a water tender and two chiefs – including himself and Chief Jim Robbins – and Lakeport Fire responded with a unit under mutual aid.
He said Cal Fire took over the wildland portion of the fire, providing three engines, two hand crews, a helicopter and one chief.
Reports from the scene indicated that the fire was close enough to being controlled just after 4:30 p.m. that fixed wing aircraft and additional dozers from Cal Fire were canceled.
Brown said the cause of the fire is under investigation, although they have an idea what may have ignited it.
Also late Monday afternoon, the California Highway Patrol reported a fire along Highway 29 near Lower Lake. Radio reports indicated the fire was contained shortly before 5 p.m. by community members.
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The sheriff's office called the fire “an apparent arson.”
Capt. James Bauman said that at 4:20 a.m. Saturday, June 25, Northshore Fire Protection firefighters and several sheriff's deputies were dispatched to the Elem Indian Colony on Sulphur Bank Road on a report that a mobile home was on fire and that at least one occupant was still inside.
The mobile home at 22 Pomo Drive was reportedly “fully involved” when emergency personnel arrived, Bauman said.
Upon arrival, firefighters began battling the blaze, Bauman said, while sheriff’s deputies quickly learned that all occupants had made it out of the mobile home unharmed.
Within less than 15 minutes of their arrival, firefighters had the blaze under control. However, the home was later determined to be a total loss as a result of the fire, Bauman said.
He said sheriff’s deputies at the scene learned from witnesses that several men had been seen running away from the fire as it broke out. It also was reported that the owners had been threatened the previous day that the home would be burned down.
Nathan Mark Brown, 60, had just taken delivery of the new mobile home the previous day from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Bauman said detectives with the Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit were called out to assist with the investigation.
Bauman said that the investigation has so far revealed that Nathan Brown and his son, 40-year-old Robert Anthony Brown, were both in the mobile home when the fire started. Robert Brown told deputies he had stayed awake all night due to the threats made the previous day.
Nathan Brown told deputies that he was in one bedroom of the home when he heard a “crackling” sound outside, according to Bauman's report. When Nathan Brown went outside, he saw that one end of the mobile home was on fire so he quickly went back in and woke up his father.
The father and son ran out of the trailer and considered trying to fight the fire with an extinguisher but it was already out of control, Bauman said.
Bauman said sheriff’s detectives are currently trying to positively identify the male subjects who witnesses reported seeing running away from the fire in order to determine their involvement in what appears to be an arson.
The criminal investigation, as well as the exact cause and origin of the fire, are pending further investigation, Bauman said.
Northshore Fire Deputy Chief Pat Brown, who had released a report to Lake County News on the fire over the weekend, said the district had asked for the assistance of the Bureau of Indian Affairs in investigating the incident.
Brown said Northshore Fire is very concerned about increasing problems at the colony.
He told Lake County News on Monday that he's spoken with BIA officials and is awaiting an answer about his request from BIA on Tuesday.
For Northshore Fire's part, “The fire is still under investigation,” he said.
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On Saturday, June 25, the Lake County Sheriff’s Marine Patrol Unit conducted the boating under the influence checkpoint from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. off of Beakban Island and Leubow Point, according to Capt. James Bauman.
Bauman said it was the third BUI checkpoint coordinated by the sheriff’s office in conjunction with “Operation Dry Water” since 2009.
Law enforcement personnel from California State Parks and the California Department of Fish and Game assisted with Saturday’s operation, he said.
The BUI checkpoint was intended to reduce the number of alcohol-related accidents and injuries, and to enforce other California boating laws on the waters of Clear Lake. Boaters were stopped briefly and questioned, according to Bauman.
He said that any boat operators showing signs of alcohol use, intoxication or impairment, were subjected to further testing.
During the operational period, a total of 33 boaters were contacted and screened. Bauman said seven operators were given field sobriety tests and no arrests were made for boating under the influence of alcohol.
“Operation Dry Water” was launched in 2009 by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) in partnership with the United States Coast Guard and has been a highly successful effort to draw public attention to the hazards of boating under the influence of alcohol and drugs, Bauman reported.
Held in June just prior to the July 4 holiday, Operation Dry Water is a national weekend of BUI detection and enforcement aimed at reducing the number of alcohol and drug-related accidents and fatalities and fostering a stronger and more visible deterrent to alcohol and drug use on the water. Bauman said Operation Dry Water is coordinated by NASBLA, in partnership with the states, the U.S. Coast Guard and other agencies.
Bauman said the Lake County Sheriff’s Office considered Saturday’s operation a great success in that no arrests were necessary.
Members of the Marine Patrol Unit and officers assisting from other agencies received a great deal of positive feedback from boaters going through the checkpoint on Saturday, he said.
Sheriff Frank Rivero expressed his deepest gratitude to those members of the California Department of Fish and Game and California State Parks for their participation and support of the BUI checkpoint operation.
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THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED WITH BEER JUDGING RESULTS.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Hundreds of event-goers celebrated the wine- and beer-making craft of Northern California amateurs at the ninth annual Lake County Home Winemakers Festival held at Library Park on Saturday.
Along with dozens of wine and beer tastes to sample, artists and value-added agricultural producers also offered their wares once again, making this annual event a fun way to kick off summer in Lake County while raising money for music.
“Another perfect day for tasting wine,” said Ed Bublitz, Clear Lake Performing Arts (CLPA) membership chair and also a home winemaker taking part in Saturday's competition, as he poured his wine for a guest at his booth.
The major fundraiser for CLPA, proceeds from the festival support music activities including the Lake County Symphony, the CLPA Youth and Junior Youth Orchestras, and scholarships.
More than 40 home winemakers and brewers from around Northern California joined many of Lake County's professional wineries, including Rosa D'Oro, Tulip Hill, Bell Hill, Cougar's Leap, Moore Family Winery, Lavender Blue Wines, and Laujor Estate Winery.
A panel of judges tasted the wines and beers beforehand, and the ribbons were awarded during the ceremony (see list below).
Event-goers also voted on the favorite red, white, beer, booth, and label, with acoustic guitarist Travis Rinker providing music for throughout the day.
Peoples Choice:
Red – David Pretari
White – Scott Simkover, Smiling Dog Ranch
Beer – 2 Dudes Brew
Booth – 2 Dudes Brew
Label – David Pretari
Ribbons Awarded by Judges for Wine
Best of show:
2008 Syrah, Andrew Graef, Remembrance Vineyards
Gold medals:
2008 Syrah, Andrew Graef, Remembrance Vineyards
2009 Semillion, Connel Murray, Muritage
2010 Sauvignon Blanc, Jeff and Julie Bertoli, Tre Amici
2009 Meritage, Greg and Jeff Conley, Conley Wines
2009 Petite Sirah, Dwight Holford
2009 Merlot, Jeff and Julie Bertoli, Tre Amici
2008 Gamay, Greg and Jeff Conley, Conley Wines
2009 Chardonnay, Jeff and Julie Bertoli, Tre Amici
2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, Danny Morrow, Eastside Winery
2007 Port, Greg and Jeff Conley, Conley Wines
Silver medals:
2010 Syrah, Luciano Meconi
2009 Semillion, Tom and Nancy Harty, Mother Mountain
2009 Sauvignon Blanc, Frank Dollosso
2002 Pinot Noir, Frank Dellosso
2009 Petite Sirah, Danny Morrow
2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, Conn Murray, Muritage
2007 Poodle Port, Michelle Schultz
Bronze medals:
2010 Syrah, Michelle Schultz, Remembrance Vineyard
2009 Zinfandel, Jeff and Julie Bertoli, Tre Amici
2010 Sauvignon Blanc, Scott and Sue Simkover, Smiling Dogs Ranch
2010 Cabernet Franc, CLPA Wine Club
BEER
Best of show:
2 Dudes Brew for Playboy White Hefeweizen
Wheat and pilsners:
First place: 2 Dudes Brew, Hefeweizen
Second place: 2 Dudes Brew, American wheat
Third place: Rick White, pilsner
Brown and amber ales:
First place: 2 Dudes Brew, brown ale
Second place: Bruce Lightfoot, brown ale
Third place: Rick White, brown ale
Pale ales and IPAs:
First place: Bruce Lightfoot, pale ale
Second place: 2 Dudes Brew, Crawlspace IPA
Third place: 2 Dudes Brew, Crawlspace Ale
Dark ales:
1st place-Rick White, American barleywine
2nd Place-Rick White, brown porter
3rd Place-Jerry Maughan, oatmeal stout
E-mail Terre Logsdon at
On the first official day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, June 21 – the summer solstice, when the sun is at its highest point in the skies and the hours of sunlight in the day the longest – Lake County recorded the first 100-plus degree temperatures for the year.
Since June 21, daytime high temperatures have steadily decreased – and forecasters are predicting rain and possible thunderstorms Tuesday into Wednesday, unusual for late June in Lake County.
Clouds are predicted to roll in overnight Monday bringing a 60-percent chance of rain throughout the county, and daytime highs will only reach the mid-60s, according to the National Weather Service in Sacramento.
Showers are likely before 11 a.m. on Tuesday, with possible thunderstorms throughout the day with up to one-half inch of rain predicted.
Rain and thunderstorms are possible throughout the night on Tuesday, according to forecasters as the cool low pressure system moves through Lake County and Northern California, with overnight temperatures dropping into the low-50s.
Snow is predicted for the Sierra Nevada mountain range at elevations down to 8,000 feet.
On Wednesday, chances of rain in the morning continue in Lake County while daytime temperatures are predicted to remain unseasonably cool in the mid-70s.
Forecasters are predicting that temperatures will climb slowly upward throughout the week, but remain in the 80s to low-90s throughout next weekend.
For up-to-the-minute weather information, please visit the Lake County News homepage.
E-mail Terre Logsdon at
CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – A fire early Saturday destroyed a home at the Elem Indian Colony.
It was the fourth structure fire in the five days for Northshore Fire District, according to Deputy Chief Pat Brown.
At approximately 5:19 a.m. Saturday Northshore Fire was dispatched to the structure fire at Elem Indian Colony. Brown said the initial reports indicated there was a fully involved structure fire with a occupant inside.
Northshore Fire followed protocol and did not enter the Elem Indian Colony without a Lake County Sheriff clearance, Brown said.
According to Brown, Northshore Fire responded with three engines and one medic ambulance, a Cal Fire engine and a Lake County Fire Protection District engine company under mutual aid.
Once on scene Northshore Fire personnel found they had a fully involved structure fire that involved a new Federal Emergency Management Agency doublewide mobile home, Brown said.
At the start of the fire there were three family members living in the home who barely escaped the burning home. Brown said all family members did vacate the home with no injuries.
The fire is under investigation by Northshore Fire and the Lake County Sheriff's Office, according to Brown.
Northshore Fire also has contacted the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and has requested an investigator and BIA law enforcement, said Brown, adding that the fire district is very concerned regarding increasing problems at the colony.
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