CalFire working in Butte County at a wildfire near the community of Palmero, east of the Mendocino National forest. So far about 675 acres have burned and is about 15 percent contained. There have been evacuations. No reports of any structures damaged or any injuries.
Containment at the Point fire in Sonoma County. The fire near Healdsburg burned for more than a week, scorching 1,200 acres. destroying ten structures, including three homes, and damaging two others. The Sites fire in Colusa County is still active over almost 20,000 acres with 85 percent containment.
Investigators think a fire at a Ukiah storage facility is suspicious. The fire was called in just after 4 PM on Monday at the R and M Mini Storage in North State St. at Pomo Lane. Several units were damaged. The Ukiah Valley Fire Authority thinks where the fire started leads to questions about its origin. An active investigation is underway and if you have any information, you can contact the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office.
People affected by the 2018 wildfires in Lake County can now apply for a state program to help buy a new home. The ReCoverCA Homebuyer Assistance Program is funded by a $28 million grant from the California Department of Housing and Community. The goal is for low and moderate-income residents, both homeowners and renters, to relocate outside fire zones. The state says those who qualify can get a forgivable loan up to $350,000 to cover the gap between a first mortgage and the price of a home. Several areas of the state qualify, including Lake County where the devastating River and Ranch fires led to mass evacuations and burned almost 460,000 acres. The Golden Staten Housing Finance Authority will administer the program. Officials there say it will be a big boost to help people with devastating losses start over again with less fire risk going forward. The website gfshome.org has the information.
A group that wants to change the name of Fort Bragg has announced the winners of an essay contest for Fort Bragg High School students debating whether the school should change its name as well. High school student Darwn Marroquin won the $2,000 top prize and will read his composition at a ceremony tomorrow night. The organization thinks the name should be changed because of its connection to Confederate General Braxton Bragg. The Fort Bragg military base in North Carolina was renamed Fort Liberty last year.
Governor Newsom giving another unorthodox State of the State address today. It was pre-recorded and delivered from an empty Doger Stadium, in contrast to the normal setting, live in front of an audience at the state capitol around the first of the year. He took a political tone in the speech, criticizing what he called delusional California bashers. Republican critics say the speech was nothing but a tune-up for the governor’s national ambitions and didn’t address any of the pressing issues facing the stat
