The National Weather Service is issuing a red flag warning for Lake County and northeast Mendocino County including the Round Valley and Covelo areas. The warning is through 8pm today is being issued for high risk fire conditions. Lake County Emergency Warnings issued a release on social media warning of strong winds, low humidity and warm temperatures that can bring extreme fire behavior. North winds gusting up to 35 miles per hour are expected. Dried out brush and vegetation is also a contributor as wildfire fuels. On top of the red flag warning, is an air quality alert. Widespread smoke impacts in Mendocino County are predicted with fires burning to the north. Residents are urged to be watchful of local alerts and are asked to take precautions during the red flag alert.
The governor has declared a state of emergency for Del Norte and Siskiyou Counties because of the Happy Camp Complex Fires. As of this morning, the fires are at about 40 percent containment and are burning over 22,000 acres. To the west of the Happy Camp Fires is the Smith River Complex Fires, as of this morning is at 7 percent containment burning in over 75,000 acres. Currently the smoke from those and other fires is impacting the air quality in Mendocino and Lake Counties. With air quality readings well over 100, the air is unhealthy for sensitive people and in some coastal areas of Mendocino, the air is unhealthy for everyone. Drifting smoke from the northern fires is being blown straight from the north. Air quality will continue to change with those gusty winds. Those who suffer from lung conditions or asthma should stay inside. As the air quality worsens, officials are urging residents to limit time outside.
PG&E is targeting high fire threat areas with power shutoffs today. The Press Democrat reports about 8,400 customers have had their electricity cut off. The utility began the shutoffs around 2am this morning in portions of eight counties. The PG&E public safety power shutoff map shows areas to the east are currently without power. In Lake County there is an area included in the power shutoff, east of Lower Lake. The map also shows a power outage west of Hopland that PG&E crews are working on. Today’s power shutoff are the first since 2021. A PG&E spokesperson says they’ve added more circuit switches to the grid, allowing them to determine more precisely which areas should be shut off for public safety.
Officials are investigating a couple of fires. Last night in Ukiah an educational structure was on fire near the Vichy Springs neighborhood around 7:30pm. KymKemp reports a burglary alarm was triggered just before the blaze erupted. And a mobile home in Willits was fully engulfed around 9:30pm in the Wagon Wheel Mobile Home Park on South Main Street. One person escaped the blaze as firefighters were able to knock it down quickly.
A new magazine about food and drinks is coming to Lake and Mendocino Counties. The issue of Edible Mendocino and Lake Counties will be released soon for their inaugural issue in September. MendoFever reports the publication will have personal stories that pertain to the food and beverage community and have topics that include local people, ingredients and seasonal events. Wellness, travel, local dining guides and more will compromise the new magazine. It’s part of the Edible network of over 75 magazines across North America with over 1.4 million readers. Sister publications are already in Marin & Wine Country, Sacramento, East Bay, San Francisco and more. The publicsher, Karen Elowitt is based in Ukiah and has 15 years of experience as a writer and PR manager.
Fort Bragg is gearing up for Paul Bunyon Days this weekend. On Friday, there will be a Fort Bragg High School Soccer Alumni Game as well as the High School Football teams. Saturday’s lineup includes a classic car show, bake sales and craft vendors with Fireman’s Water Fights and an Ugly Dog Contest. Saturday evening the Fort Bragg Volunteer Fire Department will host the Fireman’s Ball at the Pentacost Hall. Sunday the celebration continues with the Logging Show and Expo from noon to 5pm. Monday it’s the Labor Day Parade at noon as well as an alumni soccer match and more.
The Mendocino Railway has an update on the Camp Three Bridge Fire, or the Spurs Fire after the blaze last month. The railway along the Noyo River was compromised with wooden parts engulfed in flames. The fire was contained with work from CalFire’s Mendocino Unit, a copter crew and other agencies in relatively short order. The owner of the Skunk Train says repairs have been made to the bridge with new redwood ties. The expected lifespan of the new material is 50 years or higher, according to reporting in the Advocate News. The train will resume regular routes.
California’s ongoing teacher shortage is fueling interest in joining the new Interstate Compact for Teachers, which would smooth the way for out-of-state teachers to work in the Golden State. Ten states have signed the compact so far. A bill for California to join them has passed the state Senate and is expected to be taken up by the Assembly Education Committee during the next session in January. California News Service reports the Golden State faced a shortage of 10,000 teachers over the 2021-22 school year.
Cal Fire is finishing containment of a nearly 12 acre fire that began along Highway 101 between Willits and Ukiah. Sunday afternoon Cal Fire responded to the Golden Fire. Monday the blaze was 50 percent contained with quick action by fire air and ground resources. The Ukiah Daily Journal reports they made headway Monday, with containment growing to 70 percent. There were no injuries reported and no buildings were damaged. Firefighters are in the area monitoring and mopping up the site.
California’s Attorney General Rob Bonta is working to take on unlicensed commercial cannabis sales. In a release issued in MendoFever, the AG announced a partnership with the city of Fresno for a first in the state program in the California Department of Justice’s Cannabis Administrative Prosecutor Program. It is aimed at helping counties and cities with state legal support to fight illegal cannabis through enforcements and nuisance abatement. The program will help local governments who are part of the program increase illegal marijuana prosecution and more. It’s part of the Governor’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Task Force. Bonta says complex problems require creative and collaborative solutions.
Senator Mike McGuire will be the pro tem designee. This week, the Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins announced that the Senate Democratic Caucus decided that McGuire will transition to the more powerful post next year. He will be the highest ranking member of the state Senate. Senator Atkins cited McGuire’s help with legislation successes including last year’s climate package and other negotiations in this year’s state budget. Lake County News reports Senator Dodd applauded the decision saying McGuire has been an advocate for wildfire safety and is an expert at bringing people together. Governor Newsom says he is grateful for Atkins work in the position since 2018. She was the first woman to hold the position, and the first person in 150 years to be both pro tem and Assembly Speaker.
California correctional officers are getting $10,000 bonuses through a new union negotiated contract with the state. The move comes as the governor announced the closure of several prisons. The California Correctional Peace Officer Association will see an increase in compensation for over 26,000 guards. They’ll get a 3 percent raise and bonuses for health and wellness. Cal Matters reports new cadets will see $5,000 incentives. A new state-funded retirement plan is being added to their CalPers pensions. Contract discussions are going smoothly according to officials and a tentative agreement is going through an internal process before the union can comment on it.
Northeast of Cloverdale and just south of the Russian River residents of a trailer park are fighting to survive. They are facing eviction with a new landlord and have formed a tenants union. The Press Democrat reports they are calling on the new owners to meet with them and give them more time to find affordable housing. Tenants of Gerdes Apartments and Trailer Court spoke to the press Monday after getting a 60 day eviction notice. They discussed the difficulty of finding housing in Sonoma and nearby counties. The residents say they were told they’d be able to stay with a 10 percent increase in rent. Local advocacy groups are stepping up to help the residents.
California State Parks are giving day-use access to more residents through their Golden Bear Pass program. In a release issued in KymKemp, the state announced the expansion to include those in California’s Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. The day-use access pass applies to over 200 parks in the state. The Golden Bear Pass is also going to residents who are on Social Security, CalWORKS recipients, and income-eligible residents over 62 years old. Equitable access to California’s state park system is one of the California’s First Lady Jennifer Newsom’s focus. The pass will go toward low-income Native families and more for valuable time in California’s natural wonders. Residents can apply for the Golden Bear Pass at parks.ca.gov. In a statement the parks system says it is the right of all Californians to have access to recreational opportunities and enjoy the cultural, historical and natural resources across the state. The governor and his wife are championing the cause, focusing priorities and funding to create a “California for All.”
