5 people have died in several dozen wildfires burning in Northern California. The Press Democrat reports someone died in Solano County, but the Sheriff didn’t say much more about how or why. In Napa County, three people have died and more than 30 civilians and firefighters have been injured. The newspaper says it’s not sure if the number includes a Pacific Gas & Electric utility worker found dead Wednesday in Vacaville. And there was a pilot in central Calif. dropping water on a fire, who crashed and died. 2 people have also been reported missing. At last count, the fires had burned 175 structures, including homes, and are threatening 50,000 more.
17,000 inmates in the state are being released to slow the spread of coronavirus. Mendo Fever dot com reports the sheriff put out a statement saying he got several calls from concerned citizens about a possibly surge in crime with the releases. The Sheriff announced a new program he calls, “While You’re Away” for extra patrols for homeowners concerned about their properties.
Water’s about to cost a stitch more. The city council has approved proposed rate increases even though there was concern about doing that in the middle of a pandemic. The Daily Journal reports the price increase will keep going up each year for five years. It starts with only 4 cents more a month for under 750 gallons or for the smallest meter, from the current $37.85/mo to $39.88, an increase of just over $2/month, starting in October. Council members voted unanimously on the price hike which will start after the needed “protest hearing” required by Prop. 218. The city manager says the price increase for the smallest meter is less than most small bottles of water at the store.
Ukiah Unified getting ready for in person classes, even though they’ve begun with distance learning. As local health conditions allow, the return to class will see upgrades to classrooms and facilities. The School District put out a statement yesterday that staff members are working hard to make sure students and staff are safe when they’re back in person, having already spent more than $500,000 from their emergency funds from the State following CDC and Public Health guidance. There’s more custodial staff on duty for cleaning and sanitizing, classrooms have new wall-mounted hand sanitizer dispensers, sanitizer on hand for all teachers and staff members, and all elementary school classes have a sink and soap dispenser. There are also new air purifiers for classrooms and other workspaces. There will also be new plexiglass barriers where staff have to interact with the public or other staffers.
Another death has been reported in Mendocino County from coronavirus. Once again it appeared on the Public Health Office’s daily COVID-19 dashboard update. All it said was there was another COVID-19 related death in the Ukiah area. Boosting the number from 13-14 deaths this week. Mendo Fever dot com reports the Deputy Chief Executive Officer Sarah Dukett said the person who died was a Latino man over 60 years old. Also of note this week we went from 3 down to 2 people in the ICU. There are still 4 people in the hospital. Also another 5 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the county for a total of 584.
Cal Fire reports low numbers of firefighters available for the massive amount of fires across the state. So now a spokesperson for the agency there’s fear that people are trying to organize thru social media to create volunteer troops to go out and fight fires themselves. Firefighters from other states are expected this weekend. The Cal Fire chief says some people are refusing to leave their homes when there are mandatory evacuation orders. And because of the coronavirus pandemic some are concerned about gathering in shelters. 8,000 people have been ordered to evacuate in Sonoma County as two fires burn near the Russian River, the entire town of Healdsburg has been warned to prepare. Fires are reportedly threatening 25,000 people across five counties. The president of the union that represents thousands of Cal Fire firefighters, says the legislature needs to allocate more money as some firefighters are working 40 to 50 days at a time with no relief.
The fire straddling Lake and Napa counties has added another 84,000 acres. The LNU Complex has exploded to 215,000 acres in a day. It was at 131,000 yesterday morning. There’s no containment on the fire so far and four people have reportedly died due to the fire which has also grown to 5 counties. 3 people in Napa County and one in Solano County. There are more than 30,000 structures threatened and 480 destroyed already. Another 125 have been damaged. In Lake County, there are two fires that are part of the complex, the Aetna which has burned 4,500 acres and the Round fire has burned 4,000. There are evacuation orders for widespread areas of Napa and Sonoma counties. In Lake, also. Cal Fire is reporting extreme fire behavior with spotting in several directions. There’s a state of emergency in Lake County. The Sheriff reporting there are not enough firefighters, but the fire’s not moving very quick like fires in the past. That gives residents time to prepare.
Mendocino College says as they prepare for classes to begin, the safety of students, faculty and staff is top of mind. They are starting classes this fall with a hybrid approach, partly in person, partly online. Most of the classes, however, will be online. But the college reports they’re reopening with comprehensive safety guidelines and protocols in place. The first few weeks of the fall semester, which started this week, are limited hours for in person services including Financial Aid and Admissions and Records. They’re also providing students who need them with Chromebooks. They’re also checking in with students who may need help securing food, textbooks or counseling. There are also small grants being offered to eligible students. For more info, www.mendocino.edu/resources-online.
A sale of a local winery to another… Shannon Ridge has acquired Steele Wines of Finley. The purchase includes Shooting Star, Stymie and Writer’s Block. Lake Co News reports Shannon Ridge can now easily produce more than its 310,000 annual cases. They say they plan to use the newly acquired facilities for more winemaking capacity and storage and a mercantile where they sell meats, eggs and other farm goods, plus add family activities, like movie night and holiday celebrations.
It’s a go, the Clearlake City Council is getting a bit more money each month. They voted yes to get a salary increase from $300 which has been in place more than 3 decades, to $500/mo. The maximum allowed, per the state. Cities with populations less than 35,000 allows the council members to get 5-percent yearly raises. So the council could have boosted to $465 a month, or dip in further, for a 5-percent raise over the past 31 years – for a total of $765/mo, which they considered, then opted not. It’s going to cost the city $18,000 more a year for a total of $30,000. The extra funds come from the city’s general fund, but it doesn’t start until January.
Nearly 2 dozen fire emergencies with major fires after thousands of lightning strikes last weekend. The Gov. spoke yesterday saying the state’s having fires like haven’t been seen in “many, many years”. He says unlike last year’s Kincade or the Camp a year before, these fires are across a larger area and harder to manage. In Lake County, the Sheriff has declared a state of emergency and ordered evacuations in and around Hidden Valley Lake and Jerusalem Valley including North of Butts Canyon Road, South of Hofacker Ln to Morgan Valley Rd, East of Hwy. 29 and West of the Lake/Napa County line. This for the so-called LNU Complex, or the Lake Napa United. The fire has destroyed 105 structures and damaged 70 others. 4 people have died due to the fire and four people were also injured. The two fires in Lake County proper had burned 8,500 acres and were 0% contained. Officials mindful of the pandemic say if you have Covid-19, or think you were exposed to still follow evacuation orders. And wear a mask. Shelters will be at one third capacity.
An arrest has been made of another alleged arsonist. Wednesday a homeless woman was arrested for two dumpster fires, now the police department reports Wednesday they responded to a vegetation fire behind Oak Manor School that a citizen was dousing with a garden hose when they got there, then smoke from another fire was seen nearby, that in a dumpster. Police fanned out in the area looking for a possible suspect or more fires. After viewing surveillance footage from nearby businesses, they identified Esteban Rodriguez, a 28-year old transient and questioned him, determining he was responsible. He’s arrested with a bail enhancement of $250,000 for arson, arson during a state of emergency, and violation of probation.
2 Lake County parks are closed due to high fire danger. The Kelseyville Fire Protection District has requested the immediate closure of Highland Springs Recreation Area and Mt. Konocti County Park and Regional Trails, effective immediately, until further notice.
The LNU Complex of Fires has grown a bit more since this morning. We reportedly earlier we hit 215,000 acres, 84,000 more than yesterday. So far today, the fire is only up about 4,000 more and is 7% contained. In Lake County, the Aetna and Round Fires are holding at 4,500 and 4,000 acres respectively but have no containment. There are mandatory evacuation orders in place and a state of emergency in Lake County. Cal Fire reports expecting there to be significant fire growth as they’re seeing extreme fire behavior with short and long range spotting. The fire moving in multiple directions, impacting several communities.
Crews from Oregon, Idaho and Arizona have come to Calif. to relieve local firefighters and engines are even headed here from as far away as Maryland and New Jersey. There are tens of thousands of homes threatened in the state as fires broke out last weekend after almost 12,000 lightning strikes just ahead of a massive heat wave that brought triple-digit weather and monsoonal moisture from the south. Fire officials say some of the nearly 2 dozen fires burning in the state doubled in size in one day.
A man in Covelo accused of setting fires last August has asked the court to change his plea from not guilty to no contest for setting a fire in a home. Court papers say Derek McCormack also admitted a sentencing enhancement for the arson last August in Potter Valley at his ex-girlfriend’s home which was set during a fire state of emergency. His case sent to the probation department for a sentencing recommendation. He will be sentenced in October. As part of his plea he has to register for life as an arsonist. And it’s a three strikes offense. He faces up to 9 years in prison.
