It may be a while before Northern Californians get a break from the extreme heat. The National Weather Service warns of triple-digit temperatures and very warm evenings over the next few days. The heat ramps up again today and Saturday but some relief will come Sunday. Elevated fire conditions are still a part of the forecast for the Sacramento Valley and foothills through next Wednesday. The Excessive Heat Warning runs through Tuesday, July 9th.
Excessive heat warnings are in place for much of California. The National Weather Service reminds people to stay hydrated and in air-conditioned rooms, avoid the sun, wear lightweight clothing, limit strenuous activities, and seek care if you notice symptoms of heat-related illness such as dizziness, nausea or confusion.
Fentanyl education is going to be taught in California schools. A new state law signed this week requires school districts, and charter and private schools to offer a course about fentanyl. The curriculum would include information on the risks of addiction and overdose from fentanyl, how to obtain strips to test for fentanyl, and how to save people who’ve overdosed by using naloxone or Narcan. The course is set to be implemented for the 2026-2027 school year.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta is issuing a consumer alert warning following Governor Newsom’s emergency declaration in Butte County. As the Thompson Fire forces evacuations, Bonta reminds that price gouging during a state of emergency is prohibited. That means businesses and landlords are banned from raising the price of essential supplies and goods, hotels and rental housing by more than ten percent after an emergency has been declared. The state attorney general also urges people to report price gouging when they see it.
Some progress is being made in the battle against the Thompson Fire. According to Cal Fire, as of Thursday night, the fire still burns at over 35-hundred acres, with containment near ten percent. California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on Wednesday due to the blaze near Oroville in Butte County. The declaration allows for federal assistance to provide crucial resources, including funding for firefighting costs. Additional fire and law enforcement resources are being deployed to assist with the situation.
With the excessive heat advisory still in effect, a reminder that there are several cooling stations open in Mendocino County. In Ukiah, you can cool off at the Civic Center Lobby on Seminary Avenue. It will be open as a cooling station from 10am to 8pm today, tomorrow, and Sunday. You can find relief from the heat at the Ukiah Branch of the Mendocino Library on North Main Street from 9am to 6pm today and tomorrow. Today from Noon to 5, the cooling station will be open at Building Bridges Daytime Drop In Center on South State Street. You can see a full list of cooling stations and their operating hours here.
Ukiah Police Department has arrested a man suspected of breaking into Oak Manor School. The break in reportedly happened on June 26th. Police found the Administrative Building was entered by force and food items were taken from a fridge inside. Cameras at the school showed a male suspect in the building around 3am. UPD spotted a suspect matching his description later that afternoon near the Super 8 motel on South Orchard Avenue. When officers approached, the suspect took off on a bicycle. Officers saw the suspect again around 6:30pm on June 29th at the Quick Stop on Airport Park Boulevard. This time they were able to catch up with him. The suspect was identified as Sixto Ramos O’Connell. Officers said he confessed to the school burglary. During a search, O’Connell was found to be carrying several baggies of controlled substances and a large amount of cash. According to a news release from the UPD, O’Connell was arrested and taken to the Mendocino County Jail on charges of burglary and possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of sales.
A fire in Lake county on Wednesday was moving fast enough to prompt evacuations. The Adams fire started near the 16-thousand block of Main Street in Lower Lake. It was just after 4:30pm when the Lake County Sheriff’s office issued evacuation orders for the area south of downtown Main. One order turned into several as more areas south of Lower Lake were threatened by the fast moving fire. Thankfully, the orders were lifted just after 9pm. It burned a total of 16 acres, according to officials. What started the fire is still being investigated.
A car crash in Covelo killed one person and started a vegetation fire. Mendo Fever reports the accident happened around 8pm yesterday on Eel River Ranch Road near Chicken Ridge. Ground and air firefighting resources were deployed and Mendocino County Sheriff’s along with Fish and Game officers responded to the area. By 8:30pm the fire was reportedly threatening several structures, but by 9pm the fire had been taken down significantly and crews were beginning to mop up. The driver of the car died in the single vehicle crash. The cause of the crash is still being investigated.
