The Mina Fire has burned 98 acres of timber and is now 50% contained. Cal Fire says it continues to threaten structures and private timber lands, with evacuation warnings still in place. Resources are working to strengthen control lines and conduct mop-up operations. Cal Fire has confirmed one fatality due to the fire but have not released the identity of the victim. One structure has also reportedly been destroyed by the fire.
Northern California faces another round of extreme heat today. Highs reached 108 degrees in downtown Sacramento on Wednesday, with peak heat expected later today, ranging from 104 to 112 degrees in the Valley. The heat will slightly decrease on Friday, and the weekend will see highs in the 90s, continuing into next week.
A Statewide Flex Alert could soon be issued by the California Independent System Operator. The manager of California’s power grid issued a bulletin regarding increased electricity usage during the recent prolonged heatwave. The potential strain on the power grid could lead to scheduled blackouts. Residents are being asked to voluntarily cut back on energy usage.
Governor Gavin Newsom says he will actively campaign against Proposition 36, a measure that would reverse elements of voter-approved Proposition 47. Newsom said there’s one important question asked when looking at Prop 36. Last week, Newsom pulled a competing measure that would have shored up the law from Proposition 47. He says it was a matter of running out of time to draw up amendments. Prop 47 reclassified some low-level, non-violent felonies as misdemeanors.
Business owners across California are reacting now that the dust is starting to settle on California raising minimum wage for fast food workers. April 1st saw an increase from $16 to $20 an hour for fast food workers thanks to a new state law. Alex Johnson, a fast-food franchise owner, is concerned that the minimum wage hike may be more than his family-owned company can handle. Governor Gavin Newsom, however, maintains that it’s necessary to provide workers with a living wage.
California voters will be deciding on about a dozen state ballot measures in the November election. Those measures include increasing the minimum wage to $18, ending forced prison labor and an effort to expand rent control. Voters will also decide on a measure that would change the state’s Constitution from saying “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California” to “The right to marry is a fundamental right.” There will also be Proposition 36, a measure that California Governor Gavin Newsom says he will actively campaign against. It would change parts of voter-approved Proposition 47.
Governor Gavin Newsom is providing an update on the state’s on going wildfire response and preparedness efforts. Newsom says fire season is ramping up quickly. Newsom said 3,500 fires have started, which is a smaller number than last year, but the increase in burned acreage is in line with expectations. Heavy winter rains up and down the state encouraged the growth of grasses and shrubs, which are drying out in the heat and becoming fuel for wildfires. Newsom said climate change and fossil fuels are the main forces behind destructive wildfires.
The Hill Fire in Willits destroyed a trailer yesterday as it spread. The fire was burning near the 800 block of East Hill Road in Willits yesterday, according to Mendo Fever. CalFire officials said the fire was moving at a slow rate. The incident commander reported the fire was fully contained just before 5pm. It’s not clear whether the fire started in the trailer or the nearby vegetation, the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
