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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Firefighters spent Tuesday continuing to strengthen containment lines and hold the LNU Lightning Complex to no new acreage.
Cal Fire said the 375,209-acre complex, burning for more than two weeks, rose to 74-percent containment on Tuesday evening. Its acreage has remained unchanged since Monday.
Within the complex, the 317,909-acre Hennessey fire, which has burned across five counties – Colusa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Yolo – is up to 70 percent containment, according to Cal Fire’s Tuesday night report.
On the Sonoma County side of the complex, the 54,940-acre Walbridge fire west of Healdsburg is up to 70 percent containment, while on Tuesday firefighters fully contained the Meyers fire north of Jenner at 2,360 acres, Cal Fire reported.
Total personnel assigned on Tuesday night included 2,539 personnel, 237 engines, 55 water tenders, 19 helicopters, 46 hand crews and 58 dozers.
Cal Fire said crews on Tuesday worked to bolster containment lines and mop up the fire perimeter.
Firefighters were to continue active patrol overnight, taking advantage of cooler night-time temperatures to build additional containment lines. Cal Fire said dry conditions and hotter weather will continue throughout the week.
Fire suppression repair teams remain active throughout the area repairing damage caused by fire suppression activities, Cal Fire said.
Officials said the number of threatened structures on Tuesday was reduced to 3,375.
Continuing damage assessments led to Cal Fire updating the number of destroyed structures to 1,449 and the structures damaged to 227. Lake County’s total – nine structures destroyed – remained unchanged.
Improving conditions led to more repopulations of communities across the complex on Tuesday.
In Lake County, some evacuation orders on Tuesday were reduced to warnings and some warnings lifted in the south county.
Those remaining in effect as of Tuesday night included the following:
– Evacuation order: East of Middletown area, including east of Highway 29 and north of the Lake-Napa County line up to the intersection of Highway 29 and West Road, and south of Butts Canyon Road at Callayomi Road.
Evacuation warnings are as follows:
– North of Lower Lake area: Including north of Morgan Valley Road, east of the intersection of Morgan Valley Road and Sky High Ridge Road, south of Highway 20, west of the Lake/Colusa/Yolo County lines.
– South of the Lower Lake area: South of Morgan Valley Road, east of Chimney Rock/Canyon Road, north of Jerusalem Grade Road Extending to Lake/Napa County line, west of the Lake/Napa County line.
– Middletown area: East of Guenoc Winery Road, north of Butts Canyon Road, south of Grange Road, west of Lake/Napa County line.
– Middletown area: South of Butts Canyon Road to Cailayomi Road, east of St. Helena Creek Road, north of Highway 29, west of Cailayomi Road extending to Western Mine Road.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The council will hold a closed session at 5 p.m. to discuss the proposed sale of city-owned property at 2185 Ogulin Canyon Road as well as negotiations for a property owned by One Shot Mining at 14885 Burns Valley Road before it holds its virtual public meeting beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3.
Because of the county’s shelter in place order, Clearlake City Hall remains closed to the public, however, the virtual meeting will be broadcast live on the city's YouTube channel or the Lake County PEG TV YouTube Channel. Community members also can participate via Zoom.
The agenda can be found here.
Comments and questions can be submitted in writing for City Council consideration by sending them to Administrative Services Director/City Clerk Melissa Swanson at
To give the council adequate time to review your questions and comments, please submit your written comments prior to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 3.
Each public comment emailed to the city clerk will be read aloud by the mayor or a member of staff for up to three minutes or will be displayed on a screen. Public comment emails and town hall public comment submissions that are received after the beginning of the meeting will not be included in the record.
At the start of the meeting, the council will present a proclamation declaring September 2020 as Senior Center Month.
On the agenda includes an appeal of an abatement order for 15558 37th Ave. The property owner is appealing action taken after a Code Enforcement officer observed 20 marijuana plants being grown outdoors on the property, which exceeded the maximum of six plants and didn’t have a cultivation permit. The property previously was cited for marijuana cultivation in July 2018, according to city documents.
City Manager Alan Flora also will take to the council a proposed response to the Lake County Civil Grand Jury’s report on public safety power shutoffs, “PSPS – 5 Days in October.”
The grand jury required the city to respond, although, as the response notes, “The report almost exclusively focused on the various County department’s response to the last PSPS event in October. The City of Clearlake was not interviewed as part of the report so there is little detail on the City’s preparedness and/or response, therefore the City’s response to the report will be brief.”
The response agreed that more detailed planning is needed, and noted that it is underway.
Also on Thursday, the council will discuss and consider possible direction to staff regarding commercial cannabis permits.
Staff had taken the matter to the council on Aug. 25, asking if they wanted to consider increasing the maximum number of permittees due to continued demand for licenses and the success of the city’s existing cannabis businesses.
At the Aug. 25 meeting, council members requested additional information including a list of permittees, financial impacts of cannabis businesses, police calls for service at cannabis businesses and available areas of commercial zoning outside of cannabis areas. Staff is returning with more details in response to those requests.
On the meeting's consent agenda – items that are not considered controversial and are usually adopted on a single vote – are warrant registers; minutes of the July 16 meeting; consideration of continuation of declaration of local emergency issued on Oct. 9, 2017, and ratified by council action Oct. 12, 2017; consideration of continuation of declaration of local emergency issued on March 14, 2020, and ratified by council action March 19, 2020; a second reading and adoption of Ordinance No. 245-2020 amending Clearlake Municipal Code Chapter 2, Section 2-1.2 Increasing the Salary of City Council Members; a second reading and adoption of Ordinance No. 244-2020 amending the Clearlake Municipal Code relating to universal collection and authorizing administrative citations to collect unpaid; adoption of second amendment to the Fiscal Year 2020-21 Budget (Resolution 2020-27) appropriating funding for equipment and supplies, Resolution No. 2020-38; approval of the purchase of 2,040 lineal feet of used K-Rail concrete barrier for an amount not to exceed; approval of the purchase of a Bobcat Toolcat 5600 and five work implements; ratification of a letter of opposition to AB 6; amendment of a contract with Pavement Coatings Co. for an additional $13,657.60 and authorize the city manager to approve up to 10 percent for additional unforeseen contract amendments.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
California Highway Patrol Commissioner Warren Stanley has spent nearly four decades advocating for highway safety in California.
His unwavering commitment to public service and dedication to CHP employees caught the attention of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, or AAMVA, which on Tuesday rewarded his efforts with the AAMVA Lifetime Achievement Award in Highway Safety – Law Enforcement.
The award is presented annually to an AAMVA member whose primary function is directly associated with highway and traffic safety efforts and who has had a distinguished career in this arena.
“My entire career has been fueled by a passion for safety,” said Commissioner Stanley. “I am fortunate to be able to work alongside so many others who have demonstrated a lifelong commitment to reducing traffic fatalities and injuries on our roadways. This honor would not be possible without their dedication and shared vision.”
As a dedicated member of the law enforcement community, Commissioner Stanley has served the people of California for more than 37 years.
In 2018, Stanley became the first African American to hold the rank of CHP Commissioner. He is also one of the distinguished few to have held every uniformed position from officer to Commissioner within the CHP.
“This is hard work, but it is exceptionally important and incredibly rewarding,” added Commissioner Stanley.
Winners of this, and other awards, are traditionally recognized at AAMVA’s International Conference in August of every year. Due to COVID-19 and travel restrictions, AAMVA cancelled its 2020 conference. Previous recipients of the distinguished honor from AAMVA include former CHP Commissioners Dwight O. Helmick (2004) and Joe Farrow (2011).
The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of safety, service and security.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
The meeting will take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2.
It will be live-streamed on the Mendocino National Forest Facebook Page.
People also can join the meeting by phone at 888-844-9904, passcode 3096536#.
For general questions about the August Complex, people are invited to email the incident management team at