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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Alyssa Luellen Reyes, 34, was the crash victim, said Lauren Berlinn of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
The California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office said that the crash occurred at about 10 p.m. Sunday on Highway 20 east of Verna Way, east of Lucerne.
The CHP said Reyes was driving eastbound in a 2000 Honda Civic at an unknown speed when she traveled over the solid double yellow lines into the westbound traffic lane, and went off the roadway.
The Honda hit an embankment and overturned, and Reyes — who was not wearing a seatbelt — was ejected from the vehicle.
Reyes died at the scene, the CHP said.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
The burn ban is meant to address concerns over both fire hazard and air quality, the Lake County Air Quality Management District reported.
The burn restriction applies to all areas in Lake County.
All burn permits expire on April 30.
Officials said the burn ban includes all open green waste burning, though exemptions are possible for agricultural operations, essential control burns for fire hazard reduction projects, public safety burns, and others.
The annual burn ban was first implemented in 1986 in response to weather conditions that often create extreme fire danger and poor air quality.
A managed approach incorporating fire and air agency concerns has been implemented and improved upon for many years, the district reported.
The ban allows a quick fire agency response to all fires observed from May 1 on, as they are all assumed to be uncontrolled fires unless specifically authorized by an exemption permit.
“This successful program is one of the primary reasons Lake County has superior and healthful air quality,” the air district reported.
Anyone responsible for open burning during the ban without an exemption permit may be subject to citation, fines and fire agency response costs to extinguish the fire.
“Please help us reduce the danger and losses caused by uncontrolled fires, and protect our clean air. Public cooperation is greatly appreciated and results in a safer and more healthful environment for us all,” the district reported.
Details and requirements to obtain an exemption permit to burn after May 1 can be found at www.lcaqmd.net. Please email your request to
District office hours are Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please call 707-263-7000 for an appointment.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
The online event will take place beginning at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 8.
RSVP and submit questions for the town hall here.
It can be watched live here.
“The state has invested mightily over the past several years making the Golden State more fire safe,” McGuire said. “We've significantly beefed up firefighting resources in every corner of the state, hiring thousands of additional Cal Fire firefighters and we've advanced record funding for vegetation management, dead and dying tree removal and creating new fire breaks around communities. That said, we know there's much more work to do.”
McGuire will be joined by Cal Fire Chief Joe Tyler to share the latest updates and take questions.
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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. — The increasing frequency and extent of high-intensity wildfires pose a significant threat to California’s ecosystems.
To address the current wildfire crisis and restore forest health, Mendocino National Forest Supervisor Wade McMaster has signed a decision on the Mendocino Prescribed Fire and Fuels Management Strategy.
McMaster signed the document in front of a diverse group of local partners, tribal representatives and community members at a FireScape Mendocino workshop and 10th anniversary celebration, held in Williams on Thursday, April 25.
“The Mendocino Prescribed Fire and Fuels Management Strategy is incredibly important to me and my team, especially after we’ve had several catastrophic, dynamic fire seasons and other challenges with insect infestation, drought and back-to-back winters with severe storms,” said McMaster. “This forest-wide and multi-phased approach will allow us to more quickly adapt to changing conditions, reduce impacts from future fire and improve forest resilience and health.”
With this decision, forest managers can use prescribed fire with manual and mechanical treatments to reduce the build-up of hazardous fuels such as grasses, brush, small-diameter trees, downed trees and woody debris.
Treatments will be phased over time, targeting overly dense forest underbrush and small trees before and after wildfires.
Prescribed fires will be applied at varying intensities, sizes, frequencies, seasons and places, and manual and mechanical fuels-reduction tools will be utilized up to 20,000 acres per year to achieve and maintain desired vegetative conditions.
Treatments will vary across the landscape and will depend on several factors, including terrain, fire severity, desired conditions and ecology. Several constraints are in place to protect key Resources.
The strategy excludes treatment within Wilderness Areas and within 100-acre nest groves for the endangered northern spotted owl.
Also, treatments like thinning to reduce fuels are limited to small trees, up to 12 inches in diameter. No new roads or landings will be constructed under the strategy.
Projects under the strategy will have to meet site-specific conditions. Before the forest can implement in the field, projects will be vetted by an interdisciplinary team in a screening process.
Local tribes, partners and collaborative groups like FireScape Mendocino will also play an important role in monitoring and helping identify potential areas for treatment.
“As we look to return fire to the landscape, our relationships are going to be key. I am excited to work alongside our tribal partners to incorporate cultural burning and healing as we move forward,” McMaster said.
The Mendocino Prescribed Fire and Fuels Management Strategy is consistent with the post-fire restoration framework and conforms to several elements of the 2023 Wildfire Crisis Strategy, which calls for a new paradigm to step up the pace and scale of the fuels and forest health Treatments.
More information about the Mendocino Prescribed Fire and Fuels Management Strategy, including the decision notice and environmental assessment are available on the project website.
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