Since the Sunday lightning storm ignited several fires, some have exploded in size. A large complex of fires in Napa sending smoke into the sky, there are more than 60 in the LNU Lightning Complex, with the biggest of the bunch the Hennesy a 10,000-acre east of St. Helena burned one structure and two outbuildings; then there’s the 10,000-acre Gamble fire, west of Brooks; the 8,000-acre 15-10 fire near Putah Creek Bridge; the 1,000-acre Spanish fire near Spanish flat; and the 2,500-acre Markley fire near Monticello dam. 5,700 people have been evacuated. In Mendocino County we have some fires burning, one in Covelo, the Creek fire, off Hwy 162 and Short Creek Road. That fire is 40% contained and has charred 800 acres. One structure has been destroyed. Another fire near Potter Valley, the 3-19, has burned 62 acres and is 40% contained.
In Lake County there’s an evacuation order because of the the smaller Napa Fires is near the county line. The Sheriff telling Lake Co News the Gold Mine fire is only threatening very sparsely inhabited areas. He says they’ve contacted everyone in the area, and some say they’re staying in their homes. They will also re-evaluate this morning.
In Sonoma County the 13-4 fire outside Healdsburg has burned 500 acres, and the 11-16 fire north of Jenner charred 25 acres. Evacuations called for in the northwestern end of the county amidst a heat wave and a pandemic. The fire burning north of Guerneville in a hilly rugged area with evacuations called for over a 40 mile area. The two fires burning yesterday sending smoke into the air, a reminder of the massive Kincade fire last year and the 2017 firestorm. These fires blamed on lightning strikes, not PG&E equipment. Fire officials say most of the fire activity is in remote areas.
A new rule in Calif. for anyone entering a Cal State University school for ethnic studies. The Governor has signed a bill into law requiring incoming freshmen to take a course focused on one of four ethnic groups in order to graduate. So any student who wants to finish college at one of the 23 CSU campuses will have to take either Native American studies, African American studies, Asian American studies or Latina and Latino studies. The bill passed the Assembly a year ago and the Senate this past June. The Calif. Faculty Association says Calif. will be the first state in the nation for the mandate.
A church that burned in the Clayton Fire four years ago is reopening. The fire set by convicted arsonist Damin Anthony Pashilk burned more than 300 buildings including Lower Lake Community United Methodist Church. The church is still finishing up the work but has reopened to members amidst the pandemic. They can only have a handful of people in at a time to adhere to public health restrictions. There are also online services on Sundays. The church was standing before the fire for more than 150 years.
The Governor has declared a state of emergency due to the heat wave and forecasted high winds and a lack of resources to fight fires in the midst of the pandemic. Gov. Newsom says all available resources are being called upon to keep communities safe in these “extreme conditions”. Newsom says the state is working with federal and local partners during the “continued dangerous weather conditions.” Earlier in the week the Gov. announced getting Fire Management Assistance Grants from FEMA to help with the response.
Willits Schools are opening online only. Schools open a week from Monday online as the county hit the state’s coronavirus monitoring list. The schools will follow state and county guidelines as staff and teachers have been working over the summer to come up with this new way to educate. They say it will be effective and engaging. There will be assigned schedules for kids and activities where they can interact with other students. There will also be independent activities at specified times. The school district says they’re committed to help families and will be calling them all next week.
A man on the run after a murder in Covelo has been caught. The Mendocino Sheriff Matt Kendall reported Round Valley Tribal Police nabbed Jameson Jackson after a search with bloodhounds, helicopters, and ground crews. They say they also caught a woman who was with Jackson, Shayla Guerrero. The arrests after the shooting Monday near the Round Valley Indian Health Center. A vehicle spotted with a woman in the driver’s seat, then ditched later and the two reportedly went into the woods. Two people were shot, allegedly by Jackson. One a 30 year old man pronounced dead, the other a 38 year old man with a minor wound. The two were found yesterday, Jackson has a long criminal history and as of yesterday had multiple warrants out for his arrest including for robbery, rape, and cruelty to a child. Guerrero’s arrested for conspiracy and accessory and held on $100,000 bail. And Jackson busted by Tribal Police while deputies were out at fires, has not been charged yet, but is held in jail.
19 more cases of COVID-19 have been identified in Mendocino County. For a total of 575. 2 more people have also died, they’re from the Ukiah area, for a total of 12 deaths. 4 people are still in the hospital, including 3 in the ICU. There were 4 in the ICU yesterday. 96 people are isolating due to the virus.
A protest hearing is being held regarding water rate increases. The Ukiah City Council is holding the legally required hearing Oct. 1st, online. The council agenda for tonight shows there have been nine protest letters regarding Prop. 218 notices sent to ratepayers of proposed increases over five-years. The Daily Journal got a hold of some of the protest letters, some complaining it’s the wrong time, that in the face of the pandemic, they have lower or no income and to raise the rate would be economically crushing. The rate increases are proposed to start in October and increase each year until 2024. The lowest would be about $2/month now, and $13 more a month in 4 years.
The 2nd and final reading on that enforcement ordinance for COVID orders in Lake County, was a close vote. The vote by the Lake County Board Of Supervisors 3-2 with Supervisors Rob Brown and Bruno Sabatier giving it a thumbs down. The enforcement of mask wearing and other public health orders allows the county’s Health Services director and Community Development director or their designees, and any official designated by the Board of Supervisors to be allowed to enforce any violations like not wearing a mask, not socially distancing, follow hygiene requirements, and failing to close certain business sectors. It will be $100 for a first violation, up to $200 for a second violation within a year of the first violation and no more than $500 for each violation of the same ordinance within one year of the first violation.
Another Covid-19 outbreak at a senior care facility in Calif., this time in Woodland. Public Health officials in Yolo County say the latest outbreak is at Gloria’s Country Care, off Hwy. 16 just east of the Yolo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District offices. As of just this morning they had identified 16 cases. 7 are in residents and nine were in staff members. The health dept. reports one resident tested positive over the weekend, so health officials immediately tested all residents and staff, per the guidance set out by the state to do testing right away for individuals at high risk.
Police have arrested a woman they say was involved in setting a couple fires behind a business on Sunday morning. Police have identified the suspect as a homeless woman who was arrested last night. The police dept. got a call to 814 N. State Street Sunday for the fire in a debris pile that they say was threatening a building. They say they put the fire out with fire extinguishers they had and called firefighters in. The back of the business got scorched. When officers were investigating they saw smoke coming from just down the street, behind 955 N. State Street, finding a dumpster engulfed in flames, same deal, they put it out. Yesterday they found Kristine Lynn Tupper who matched the description of the alleged arsonist so she was arrested and held on arson and other charges and on an enhanced bail of $100,000.
Various arson fires being investigated by Ukiah firefighters. The Ukiah Valley Fire Department reports 8 arson fires were set in the city between last night and this morning and want anyone who may have seen anything to call.
A gas leak has been reported by the Sheriff in the 2100 block of N. State Street in Ukiah near Kunzler Ranch Rd. The Sheriff announcing an evacuation order for the area immediately. Questions are being answered on the Sheriff’s Facebook page that say if you’re on Kunzler Ranch Road, either move to Hensely Creek Road or down to Masonite Road and not to stay on or near the 2100 block of North State. Apparently PG&E had been working in the area, or a contractor for the utility, per Mendocino County 5th District Supervisor Ted Williams, and they hit and broke a high pressure gas main. PG&E’s been been moving their gas line due to the Ackerman Creek Bridge project.
