Almost 4,000 Kaiser Permanente mental health clinicians getting ready for a strike across Calif. that could affect more than 100 clinics in California. The workers include psychologists, social workers and therapists. The National Union of Healthcare Workers strike to impact those seeking individual therapy and for social work. Yesterday some workers were gathering for a vigil in Oakland as a tribute to former patients who died by suicide. Workers say some had to wait too long for care. Some workers say they have a waiting list for patients to see them of up to 6 weeks. The issues reportedly the center of negotiations between the hospital giant and the union for more than 18 months. The strike to begin next month.
As promised PG&E has shut down power to parts of Mendocino County. The second in as many weeks. This was expected to impact less customers than the power down two weeks ago. Last night by 5 pm, more than 300 customers were without power. But the utility company said earlier this week there would be about half that, plus nearly 1,900 in Lake County and almost 27,000 in Sonoma County. Word is power should be restored sometime today. PG&E has set up a Community Resource Center (CRC) at the Potter Valley Bible Church from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. Last time around PG&E was criticized for jammed phone lines and a downed website. They say this time around there will be a temporary website with more information, but that was reportedly glitchy yesterday. All of this due to Red Flag conditions in elevations above 2,000 feet in interior Mendocino, Northern Lake, and Southern Trinity counties through today.
A case of measles reported at Disneyland and also went to a Starbucks in the Palms area of Southern Calif. State health officials say that person may have exposed others at the two locations last Wednesday, Oct. 16. That would have been from just before 8 am until 10 am at the Starbucks on S. Sepulveda Blvd. and at Disneyland from 9:15 a.m. to 8:35 p.m. This brings the number of infections from measles in Los Angeles County to 19, plus there were 11 other non-resident cases.
Three fires reported in Ukiah under bridges where transients hang out. Ukiah Valley Fire Authority says it’s dangerous due to dry brush near creek beds which could easily cause a huge fire if there’s a wind event. They had a call Tuesday morning for a fire under the bridge in Gibson Creek, and again yesterday morning. And the third spotted by someone driving by in Orrs Creek where transients were. Fire officials say people start the fires to cook food and stay warm in hidden places so they won’t get into trouble for other things they may be up to.
The governor has signed a bill into law so that all new rape kits connected to a crime have to be submitted quickly. The bill by State Senator Connie Leyva and Assembly member David Chiu. Their bill had several sponsors. It will address the weakness in current state law, they say, which allows dangerous perpetrators to run free. There was a law about five years ago saying state law enforcement should submit rape kits within 20 days of collecting them. But there’s been creative license with what that actually means. One nonprofit, Joyful Heart was one of the sponsors, they’ve been working across the country to get comprehensive rape kit reform legislation passed.
A fast moving wildfire that started in the Geysers area blows up in red flag conditions. The Kincade fire reported last night before 9:30 p.m. and has exploded to 10,000 acres. The fire started in the Geysers geothermal steamfield and could be seen in parts of Lake County. Wind speeds of 69 miles per hour were recorded overnight in the Pine Mountain area. Within one hour the fire had already consumed 400 acres. Radio reports later into the night said the fire was burning into the back of Black Mountain and officials were predicting it was headed to Alexander Valley and would burn vineyards there. By about midnight the fire had burned 5,000 acres. And evacuation orders were called with evacuation centers opening. The Lake County Sheriff was monitoring the fire and State Sen. Mike McGuire has been posting updates on his social media accounts. Overnight the CHP was closing roads. Firefighters reporting intense wind and problems with cell coverage as they climbed into the rugged and remote area.
A man charged with killing a friend as they were touring the Northern California area is being held over for trial. 21 year old Mavrick Fisher had his preliminary hearing yesterday connected to the murder of 25-year-old Grant Whitaker of Mackinaw, Illinois.
Fisher’s facing murder, assault with a deadly weapon and a special allegation of inflicting great bodily injury, and grand theft of a vehicle charges. He was caught in Mexico this summer after the death of his friend. The two of them are deaf. The victim’s family reported there was an altercation between the two who were in Humboldt County. They had come to Calif. to buy property because they wanted to start a deaf farming community.
A flood leaves more than two dozen senior citizens out of their apartments in Lucerne. Northshore Fire reports getting a call to the North Shore Villas apartments last night. The sprinklers in the building were somehow triggered, and that flooded the building. The building became uninhabitable and the Red Cross was called to help find temporary housing for more than 30 people.
If you can believe it, there may be yet another Pacific Gas and Electric public safety power shutoff. 3 in two weeks’ time. Right now several thousand are affected by the power shutoff due to red flag weather conditions. The company says there’s another offshore weather system which could trigger another shutoff this weekend. PG&E called this latest shutoff on Wednesday morning which has impacted a few hundred in Mendocino County and nearly 1,900 in Lake County. As well as thousands in Sonoma County. At the same time there’s a giant fire in Sonoma County, the Kincade Fire which has charred 10,000 acres already. Last night officials with the utility company at a press briefing said there was another incoming weather system which may mean another shutoff. A PG&E meteorologist says the incoming system could be an even stronger weather event than what we had around Oct. 9. And a fire weather watch is anticipated from the National Weather Service. The PG&E CEO says if that all comes to fruition, the next power down would be late Saturday.
Discussions about the microwave communications system or public safety radio network in Mendocino County shows some fixes are needed to keep communications flowing uninterrupted between departments. The agency maintaining the equipment says if areas of the system go down, they’re trying to find parts on ebay. If a major piece of equipment fails, it could be weeks without the equipment, and communications between agencies. So if a deputy called for backup and the system was down, they’d be on their own. The Deputy CEO reports the executive office is trying to find ways to pay for upgrades.
The Kincade Fire is holding at 10,000 acres. The Governor has announced the federal government will make money available so Sonoma County is not responsible for 100% of the cost to fight the fire. The Gov. commented he was grateful for the swift approval. About 2,000 people have been evacuated. Last night Sheriff’s deputies immediately evacuated a few hundred just after the fire started, then the evacuations became more widespread overnight and this morning. The fire broke out in the Geysers after 9 pm last night with the fire quickly spreading towards Alexander Valley but firefighters made a play and stopped it at the valley floor, but fire officials say some homes were lost. There was no official count, that will come later today. The high temperatures and gusty winds in dry conditions with a heat advisory is not helping. Some wind gusts last night recorded at more than 75 mph. The winds are supposed to ease today and tomorrow but pick back up again over the weekend. Some of the folks evacuated lost their homes or were somehow impacted by the massive Tubbs Fire in Sonoma County in October of 2017. Some of the victims telling the Press Democrat they are being re-traumatized. Firefighters were surrounding the town of Geyserville due to the possibility of wind-swept embers. The Monte Rio Fire Chief tells the news site an ember tossed about a mile from the fire to a home which burned. The fire has no containment yet.
A sheriff’s deputy from Northern California has been killed after he went to the scene of a theft at a private marijuana garden. The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office reports Deputy Brian Ishmael was shot to death in the community of Somerset. He also had a ride-along passenger with him, an off-duty deputy who was shot and injured. The off duty cop returned fire and tried saving Ishmael. Then a CHP officer came to the scene and took the injured off duty officer to the hospital where he had surgery and was later released. Two men were detained, one had been shot and went to the hospital. No word on his condition of if anyone else was involved. Flags were ordered to be flown at half-staff at all state buildings across the state by Governor Newsom.
A man suspected of a robbery disappeared in Lakeport and police want your help. The Police Department reaching out to the community to help find 24 year old Alexander Gene Gard who they say is connected to a robbery yesterday at Campos Casuals. Police say it happened mid-morning in the area of Second and Main streets for a report of a man running from the theft. Cops searched the area with no luck. Police questioning people in the area. Those at Campos Casuals say the guy tried to steal more than $100 in merchandise. An employee apparently got into an altercation with the suspect and got the stolen items back in the tussle. He left the building at that time with several people trying to stop him to no avail. Gard is the only suspect and is currently wanted for robbery.
More than 500 firefighters on the ground tackling the 10,000 acre Kincade Fire. A couple thousand people evacuated including all of the town Geyserville. Also those in Healdsburg have been warned to get ready to leave their homes. There is no containment on the fire yet. The fire ignited last night about 9:20 near the Geysers Geothermal Plant, and fire officials say they’re not sure if the plant somehow was involved or if there was a PG&E Power Shutoff in the area. Winds have slowed from last night where there were wind gusts recorded of more than 75 mph. No word how many homes were destroyed so far, but there are pictures floating around online of homes on fire.
Another PG&E Public Safety Power Shutoff is most likely coming this weekend. The third in two weeks. Officials say they’re monitoring the “potentially strong, widespread dry offshore wind event” which is supposed to hit the North Bay, East Bay, Peninsula, Central Coast, Sierra Foothills and Humboldt County Saturday. The energy company says there will be blackouts in almost every zone of PG&E’s service territory. Lake County Sheriff Brian Martin says he’s been informed it will hit some areas for longer than our current outage…
