Calmer wind conditions are allowing crews to make progress in their battle against the Point Fire burning near Lake Sonoma. The fire, which started early Sunday afternoon, has burned just over 1200 acres. It is now 20 percent contained. The fire has destroyed two structures, forced more than 300 residents to evacuate and has prompted an evacuation warning for another 400 residents.
Sonoma County has declared a state of emergency due to the Point Fire burning northwest of Healdsburg. The county declared a local emergency at about 6:30 Monday evening. It will allow the county to receive state and federal disaster aid. The county Board of Supervisors will meet within seven days to ratify the emergency proclamation.
There is concern about smoke from the Point Fire damaging wine grapes growing in the dozens of vineyards in the nearby Dry Creek Valley. There is such a thing as “smoke taint,” which happens when grapes absorb the volatile phenols in smoke. That can impact the flavors and aromas of wine. The fire is burning with the grape harvest still a few months away. Several wineries south of Lake Sonoma were included in the mandatory evacuation orders issued on Sunday, but there are no reports of wineries being damaged.
Sonoma County is asking for public input on a plan to expand the River Rock Casino in Geyserville. It comes after the Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians submitted a supplemental environmental study on the plan. It calls for adding a new casino building, widening the gaming floor by more than 3,000 square feet and adding 300 slot machines, four gaming tables and more than 1,200 additional square feet of dining space. Dry Creek Rancheria also wants to build a 100 room hotel tower with a pool, spa, and more dining space.
The Human Trafficking Task Force is spreading the word about the issue in California. Officials say social media is the number one tool traffickers use to lure local kids. The profile may show luxury and cash; it may talk about a program to earn easy money. The profile may even include the letter “P” or the number “16,” which both mean “pimp.” Officials say trafficking affects families all over the state and they urge “if you see something, say something.”
More dangerous drugs are off the streets of California. A massive bust worth millions of dollars has led to 22 people being charged. 15 are behind bars, with seven others on the run. The FBI says they were smuggling drugs from Mexico by hiding them in vegetable boxes, projectors, gas tanks, and even batteries. In all, officials seized nearly 13 thousand pounds of meth, over 50 pounds of fentanyl mixture, along with cocaine, heroin and 35 guns. If convicted, the suspects could face at least 20 years in prison.
The number of wildfires across the state is up to 18. And eight of those just started yesterday. One is already the second biggest in California, topping 52 hundred acres with no containment in sight. It’s burning east of Stockton. Officials say it’s moving very fast due to high winds, forcing evacuations and causing power outages for about seven thousand homes.
A Ukiah man was arrested for intentionally setting a wildfire. On Thursday Ukiah Valley Fire Authority responded to a fire on Airport Road just after noon. They were able to put the fire out quickly, it only burned about 20 square feet of grass. The UVFA Fire Chief was on scene, and he noticed a man walking away from the fire. Oscar Cabezas-Tafoya was questioned about the fire, and officers determined he was responsible for starting it. According to a news release, Cabezas-Tafoya was arrested and charged with unlawfully setting a wildfire, a felony. He was booked into the Mendocino County Jail.
Look for folks from the Lake County Registrar of Voters at the Lakeport Farmer’s Market. They’ll be on site today to help residents get registered to vote. You can also talk to the staff about getting an application to become a poll worker and pick up resources like fliers about upcoming elections. Staff will be on hand at the Farmer’s Market on Park Street in Lakeport from 10am to 1pm today, and next Tuesday, June 25th. They’ll be back at the Farmers Markets on July 2nd and 16, August 6th and 20th, and September 3rd and 17th. To get more information and to register to vote online visit RegistertoVote.CA.gov or swing by the Lake County Registrar of Voters Office on North Forbes Street in Lakeport.
