How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
News
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
This story is being updated.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — A fast-moving wildland fire in Clearlake has prompted evacuations of homes and businesses along a stretch of Highway 53, with reports indicating that the fire may have been intentionally set.
The Ogulin fire in the area of Highway 53 and Ogulin Canyon Road was first dispatched just before 1 p.m. Thursday.
Trees were reported to be on fire and the first units on scene, which arrived less than five minutes after dispatch, said the fire was half an acre to three quarters of an acre, with a rapid rate of spread and spotting ahead of the fire.
A minute later, the incident command reported that power utility infrastructure was threatened and that the fire was already up to five to seven acres.
Before 1:10 p.m., the fire was reported to have an extreme rate of spread and was up to 10 acres.
That prompted the closure of Highway 53 between Ogulin Canyon Road and Olympic Drive.
Fire and police officials also called for mandatory evacuations of all businesses and residences on Highway 53 at Ogulin Canyon Road. The Clearlake Police Department said the evacuations are for all areas south of Ogulin Canyon Road along the highway corridor.
Radio reports indicated that sheriff’s deputies were investigating reports of an individual who was seen setting the fire. They were reported to be contacting witnesses and also speaking with the suspect.
Cal Fire has sent air resources to the incident, including air attack and tankers, along with additional ground crews, and Cal Fire and Lake County Fire are in unified command on the incident.
The latest reports size given by Cal Fire air attack shortly after 1:30 p.m. stated the fire was 10 acres, with a moderate rate of spread, with firefighters making good progress with hose lay and dozers. Some spotting is still taking place.
At 1:41 p.m., the Lake County Sheriff’s Office issued a Nixle alert stating that an evacuation order had been issued for the CLE-E130 zone, which covers the areas north of Olympic Drive and east of Highway 53, and Zone CLE-E124 for the Ogulin Canyon area.
A map of the evacuation area can be found here and is shown above.
At 1:51 p.m., Copter 104 reported that there was a flare up on the fire near Highway 53.
Shortly before 2 p.m., air attack said it was looking good, that there had been a spot fire over the ridge on the same side of Highway 53 as the main fire that was addressed.
Due to getting “stacked up” on tankers, air attack released two tankers to clear up the air space.
At 2:09 p.m., forward progress was reported to be stopped, with the fire holding at 10 acres. Air attack said it was keeping aircraft overhead for the time being.
Pacific Gas and Electric also was responding to the scene at that time for a report of a downed power line.
At around 2:30 p.m., remaining air resources were reported to be leaving the scene.
Clearlake Police and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office reported that all evacuations were lifted as of 4 p.m., but road closures remained in effect.
The fire was reported to be contained just before 5 p.m. at 10.5 acres. Crews will be checking on the fire on Friday.
About 20 minutes later, Cal Fire terminated unified command with Lake County Fire, which will remain in command of the incident. At that time, the updated size was given as 17.2 acres.
Additional information will be added to this report as it becomes available.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
- Details
- Written by: Lakeport City Council
The Clearlake City Council approved the agreement at its July 21 meeting, with the Lakeport City Council’s approval the final step.
The two police departments have a history of working collaboratively, and the two chiefs — Brad Rasmussen of Lakeport and Andrew White of Clearlake — said the agreement will allow them to help each other when having personnel shortages.
“We’ve had some ongoing staffing issues,” Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen told the council.
Rasmussen’s department has 13 sworn officers in its $2.5 million budget while White’s has 24.5 sworn positions in a $7 million budget. Lakeport’s population is just under 5,000 residents compared to more than 16,500 for Clearlake, according to the California Department of Finance’s May population estimates.
Rasmussen has been dealing with several vacancies. Thanks to recent hires, they’re just down two positions, but four new hires are in training that Rasmussen said will continue for some time.
In the meantime, the department is short-staffed, with not enough police on the street to keep officers safe and quickly handle calls.
White, referring to the two departments’ long history of helping each other, recalled that his first day on the job in the summer of 2018 was spent in Lakeport helping with the response to the Mendocino Complex, which resulted in the entire city being under mandatory evacuation.
He assured the council that his officers will provide professional and trustworthy service, and will help protect the community and officers. Whatever way they can support the city and keep it safe and officers safe, they will do it.
Rasmussen said the unions of both departments were in overwhelming support of the agreement because they felt it is important.
He said there is no fiscal impact at this time due to salary savings. Costs will be tracked every month.
Councilman Kenny Parlet wondered why Clearlake was doing so well with hiring compared to Lakeport. Rasmussen said he didn’t have the answer.
Clearlake’s officers will be able to use their own vehicles of Lakeport’s, it was explained during the discussion.
Rasmussen said they will strive to have Lakeport Police officers be the lead on investigations.
During the discussion White said that his department is in the position to help right now and it might be the opposite in a few years, with Clearlake needing the help. In that case, the framework will be in place.
In events such as fires, Rasmussen said the departments won’t bill each other but will maintain their mutual aid agreement.
“This is just a more specific patrol type service” that needs to be dealt with, he said.
There was no public comment. Parlet moved to approve the agreement and Councilman Michael Froio seconded.
“I appreciate the cooperation,” said Mayor Stacey Mattina before the vote. “I think it’s really forward thinking.”
She added that it’s exciting, and that they never know when the tables will turn.
The council then voted 5-0 to approve the contract.
In other news on Tuesday, the council held a public hearing and approved a resolution identifying delinquent utility accounts with a total of $8,000 in unpaid bills and sending them to the Lake County Auditor-Controller’s Office for inclusion on the property tax roll.
Assistant City Manager/Finance Director Nick Walker said the action will create a lien on the properties in question, meaning they will be paid when the properties change hands. He said the city also has applied to the state for funds to pay off the unpaid utility bills.
On Tuesday the council also approved a plan to help the Lake County Fair address its parking concerns by designating 20 disabled parking spaces.
The spaces will be located in the entire 200 block of C Street, between South Forbes Street and the C Street entrance to the fairgrounds and the entire block of D Street, between South Forbes Street and the D Street entrance to the fairgrounds from the time period of 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1, through Sunday, Sept. 4, at midnight.
Other items the council approved included a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute an agreement for apportionment of Retirement Obligations of California Intergovernmental Risk Authority and approval of a $51,000 professional services agreement with Quincy Engineering Inc. for the Lakeport Blvd Project Study Report Equivalent.
Just before the hour-long meeting ended, there was a short interruption due to a full power outage. That required the council to use a staff computer to close out the meeting.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
- Details
- Written by: CITY OF LAKEPORT
LAKEPORT, Calif. — The Lakeport Public Works Department reported that it is making progress on a wide variety of notable public improvement projects that will benefit the Lakeport community.
The following is a roundup of work that’s now underway.
Hartley Street Pedestrian Improvement Project
This project will provide Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant access on Hartley Street from 20th Street to the west-side access of the Lakeport public school complex.
There will be approximately 1,550 feet of new sidewalk, curb and gutter, new retaining walls, and flashing pedestrian warning signs near the Lakeport schools as part of this project.
Estimated completion date is September.
Lakefront Park Project
In January 2020, the city of Lakeport was awarded a grant from the California Department of Parks and Recreation.
This was a competitive grant funded by Proposition 68, the California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection and Outdoor Access for All Act of 2018.
After two years of design, the project is ready for construction.
The new park consists of approximately 6.9 acres at 800 N. Main St. in downtown Lakeport.
The project includes construction of a basketball court, splash pad, skate park, concession building with restrooms, shade structures, picnic areas, fitness equipment, a pavilion, public art, lighting, irrigation and landscaping.
Estimated completion date is spring 2023.
2022 Micro-surface Project
This project is to apply a micro-surface treatment to the pavement surface at multiple locations within the Lakeport city limits.
The locations are Forbes Street (Martin Street to Clear Lake Avenue); Third, Fourth, and Fifth streets (all from North Main Street to the waterfront); and parking lots for Westside Community Park, Silveira Community Center and the Lakeport Police Department.
Estimated completion date is Nov. 1.
Storm drain repair
A 24-inch culvert that runs from the drainage inlet between 1470 and 1480 N. Main St. and extends 372 feet to Clear Lake is nearly halfway through its life expectancy and may soon completely fail. It has caused erosion under the City sidewalk and caused a driveway to collapse.
The driveway at 1470 N. Main St. is settling in areas along the storm drain piping. Multiple structures are in proximity to the pipe, thus making it very difficult to dig up and replace it with new piping.
These factors make it a perfect candidate for a new slip line project. Slip lining is a technique for repairing leaks or restoring structural stability to an existing pipeline. It involves installing a smaller "carrier pipe" into a larger "host pipe,” grouting the annular space between the two pipes, and sealing the ends.
Estimated completion date is winter 2022.
14th, Orchid and Palm Streets Maintenance Project (chip seal + leveling course)
A chip seal application consists of cleaning and preparing the old asphalt surface and using hot asphalt as a leveling course or stabilizer in holes, ruts, or failed areas.
The process is finished by applying a hot bonding tar impregnated with small aggregate chips, raking smooth and rolling to compact.
The project is estimated to be completed later this month.
- Details
- Written by: STATE CONTROLLER’S OFFICE
The data cover more than 384,000 positions and approximately $25.92 billion in total wages.
The newly published data were reported by 24 CSU institutions (106,203 employees), 55 superior courts (19,458 employees), and 157 state departments (258,483 employees).
Three superior courts — Alameda, Del Norte and Glenn — did not file a report.
The Lake County Superior Court’s report shows that it has 41 employees, paid $2,771,228 in total wages in 2021 and $482,524 in retirement.
The highest paid staff in the Lake County Superior Court are the judges, with their pay ranging between $210,000 and $218,653 annually. The court executive officer receives an annual salary of $201,246 and the commissioner/attorney is paid $126,321.
California law requires cities, counties, and special districts to annually report compensation data to the State Controller’s Office.
The state controller also maintains and publishes state and CSU salary data.
No such statutory requirement exists for the University of California, California community colleges, superior courts, fairs and expositions, First 5 commissions, or K-12 education providers; their reporting is voluntary.
Users of the site can view compensation levels on maps and search by region; narrow results by name of the entity or by job title; and export raw data or custom reports.
Since the website launched in 2010, it has registered more than 14 million pageviews. The site contains pay and benefit information on more than two million government jobs in California, as reported annually by each entity.
As the chief fiscal officer of California, Controller Yee is responsible for accountability and disbursement of the state’s financial resources. The controller has independent auditing authority over government agencies that spend state funds.