- 9/21/2020: Positive COVID-19 test result for a resident in Eastern (Portola/ Graeagle area) region which is #50.
- 9/15/20: Positive COVID-19 test result for a resident in Eastern (Portola/ Graeagle area) region which is #49. The individual has symptoms and contact tracing investigation is still under way.
- 9/11/20: Two positive COVID-19 test results, one for a resident in Eastern (Portola/ Graeagle area) region which is #47, who was a close contact of #46. The individual has no symptoms. The other positive resident in Southern (American Valley area) region which is #48. It appears this individual may have contracted COVID-19 as a result of having to evacuate to a county outside of Plumas; the individual has no symptoms. Contact tracing investigation is under way in both cases Response Team for further screening.
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Firefighters continue to battle 27 major wildfires in California, as well as one extended attack wildfire. With over 19,000 firefighters on the front lines, crews continue to gain ground on these fires. Yesterday, firefighters responded to 25 new initial attack wildfires across the State, all of which were quickly contained. Since the beginning of the year, there have been well over 7,900 wildfires that have burned over 3.6 million acres in California. Since August 15, when California’s fire activity elevated, there have been 26 fatalities and over 6,400 structures destroyed. Warm and dry conditions persist across much of the state. The marine layer along the coast has finally deepened, bringing some humidity recovery to those areas. Temperatures are expected to rise in many areas in the north and south portions of the state towards the latter half of the week along with a chance of north winds, increasing potential for critical fire weather. California historically experiences some of the most devastating wildfires in the months of September and October. Do not let your guard down! To learn more ways to prevent sparking a wildfire visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org. Fires of Interest: **CALFIRE Incidents** LNU Lightning Complex, multiple North Bay counties (more info…) Napa, Lake, Sonoma, Colusa, Solano, and Yolo Counties *363,220 acres, 98% contained *While no growth is expected, fire suppression repair work is ongoing. SCU Lightning Complex, multiple Easy Bay counties (more info…) Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara San Joaquin, Merced, and Stanislaus Counties *396,624 acres, 98% contained *While no growth is expected, fire suppression repair work is ongoing. CZU Lightning Complex, San Mateo and Santa Cruz Counties (more info…) *86,509 acres, 99% contained *Multiple fires *1,490 structures destroyed *1 fatality **Unified Command Incidents** Snow Fire, Riverside County (more info…) Snow Creek Rd, west of Palm Springs *6,013 acres, 38% contained *Repopulation has started *Unified Command CAL FIRE, USFS, BLM North Complex, Plumas County (more info…) Southwest of Susanville (Plumas National Forest) *294,301 acres, 64% contained *15 fatalities *1,784 Structures destroyed *Evacuations in place *Includes the Bear and Claremont Fire *CAL FIRE Team 4 is in unified command with US Forest Service IMT Team 4, Butte County Sheriff’s Office and California State Parks Creek Fire, Fresno County (more info…) Northeast of Shaver Lake (Sierra National Forest) *278,368 acres, 27% contained *Evacuations in effect *Heavy tree mortality in the area *855 structures destroyed *CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 1 in unified command with USFS Great Basin Team 1 El Dorado Fire, San Bernardino County (more info…) West of Oak Glen (San Bernardino National Forest) *24,489 acres, 59% contained *One fatality *Evacuations in place *10 structures destroyed *California Interagency Incident Management Team 13 in unified command with CAL FIRE, Yucaipa Fire Department and San Bernardino County Fire Department Butte/Tehama/Glenn (BTU/TGU) Lightning Complex, multiple Counties (more info…) Butte, Tehama and Glenn Counties *19,609 acres, 97% contained *14 structures destroyed *While no growth is expected, fire suppression repair work is ongoing. SQF Complex, Tulare County (more info…) 25 miles north of Kernville (Sequoia National Forest) *135,802 acres, 14% contained *Castle and Shotgun Fires merged into this complex *CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 6 in unified command with USFS Team 2 **Coordinated Command Incidents** August Complex, Tehama County (more info…) Elk Creek and Stonyford area (Mendocino National Forest) *846,732 acres *South Zone 485,615 acres, 40% contained *North Zone 267,341 acres, 26% contained *West Zone 93,776 acres, 20% contained *1 fatality *Includes multiple fires including the Elkhorn, Hopkins, Willow, Vinegar, and Doe fires *A California Interagency Incident Management Team and Great Basin Team in command *CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 3 & 5 are deployed on the West Zone of the complex **Federal Incidents** Fox Fire, Siskiyou County (more info…) *1,937 acres, 22% contained *Evacuations in place Slater Fire, Siskiyou County (more info…) 5 miles North of Happy Camp (Klamath National Forest) *148,677 acres, 22% contained *2 fatalities *Evacuation orders in place Devil Fire, Siskiyou County (more info…) 5 miles north of Upper Devil’s Peak (Klamath National Forest) *7,458 acres, 18% contained Bobcat Fire, Los Angeles County (more info…) North of Duarte (Angeles National Forest) *105,345 acres, 15% containment *Evacuations in place *Unified command with the US Forest Service, Los Angeles County Fire Department and Monrovia Fire Department Dolan Fire, Monterey County (more info…) Hwy 1, 10 miles south of Big Sur (Los Padres National Forest) *128,416 acres, 46% contained *Structures threatened *California Interagency Incident Command Team 15 assuming command today Bullfrog Fire, Fresno County (more info…) SE of Bullfrog Lake (Sierra National Forest) *900 acres, 20% contained Fork Fire, El Dorado County, (more info…) 15 miles northeast of Pollock Pines (El Dorado National Forest) *1,667 acres, 63% contained Valley Fire, San Diego County (more info…) Near Alpine (Cleveland National Forest) *17,093 acres, 95% contained Lake Fire, Los Angeles County (more info…) Southwest of Lake Hughes Angeles National Forest / Los Angeles County Fire Department * 31,089 acres, 96% contained Apple Fire, Riverside County (more info…) Oak Glen/Cherry Valley (San Bernardino National Forest) *33,424 acres, 95% contained Red Salmon Complex – Humboldt County (more info…) 14 miles northeast of Willow Creek (Shasta-Trinity National Forest) *103,348 acres, 20% contained Blue Jay Fire, Mariposa County (more info…) Yosemite National Park Wilderness *4,427 acres, 40% contained Wolf Fire, Tuolumne County (more info…) Yosemite National Park Wilderness *1,032 acres, 25% contained Woodward Fire, Marin County (more info…) 3 miles southwest of Olema (Point Reyes National Seashore) *4,929 acres, 97% contained Slink Fire, Mono County (more info…) 2 miles west of Coleville (Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest) *26,752 acres, 84% contained Moraine, Tulare County (more info…) Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness *575 acres, 70% contained Rattlesnake, Tulare County (more info…) Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness *2,078 acres, 0% contained **Extended Attack Wildfires** (These are wildfires that go beyond the initial attack, but are not major incidents.) Shackleford Fire, Siskiyou County (more info…) Southwest of Quartz Valley Reservation *50 acres, 98% contained Top 20 Wildfire Records
A LOYALTON TOWN HALL MEETING was held September 8th to discuss the City’s Per Capita 68 Grant Project 2020. Council member Joy Markum told a brief history and plans for a full demolition of the swimming pool building. The main focus is for a new 6,600 sq. ft. building to house basketball, batting cages, pickleball and volleyball. A water park/splash pad was discussed.
Joy thanked Jackie and Bill Mertton, Jillian Louie Siqueido and grant writer Barbara Beverly. In the audience, Phyllis DeMartini questioned paying prevailing wage. Joy explained volunteer work may work as a share of cost. Under question of matching funds, Joy answered, “We’re working on it.” Jackie Mertton added to the discussion giving “good news.” She told of a credit on the timeline up to a certian percentage; $20,000 for volunteer excavation work. Robert DeMartini called it a “daunting task.” Joy stated the new modular type shell alone would be $30,000; adding electrical, doors, sprinklers would total $150,000, leaving $78,000 for equipment. Joy called it having, “services for every age group.” Jackie wanted to see what else the community would like to see and asked, “Can we dream now?” A water park, pickleball, a flexible floor, an outdoor Frisbee course, a use for dances and weddings were all mentioned. Phyllis brought up a lack of interest due to video games and a lack of parent involvement. She wanted to make sure the project would not pull the City into debt and to sustain its upkeep. Joy told of the need for solar for the project and at the wastewater plant. Jackie stated Seniors would use the building with handicap access, along with pre-Kindergarten. The concept was to stick to the building concept and make additions with donations, to be added later. THE FORMER LOYALTON MOBILE HOME PARK PROPERTY is “looking positive,” according to new owner Doug Lawlor of Sierra Brooks. He explained they are waiting on an insurable title with October 12th the end of a 60-day wait. He called it a “long road,” and hopefully are “at the end of it.” He’s hoping to get in to clean before it gets wet again. In talking to Loyalton’s Assistant Fire Chief Robert DeMartini, he acknowledged the fire hazard is the big thing. By Bryan Golden Freedom is as precious as life itself. But its true value is rarely appreciated by people unless it is either threatened or lost. Although the human spirit yearns for freedom, tyrannical regimes have been the norm throughout history. Since the dawn of mankind, people around the world have lived miserable, subjugated lives repressed by monarchs, fascists, tyrants, and dictators who controlled virtually every aspect of their lives. In 1776 America became the first country founded on the recognition of the sanctity of individual freedom. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is the core of America. The United States was the only country established exclusively on the principle of individual liberty as an unalienable right. The founders of America recognized freedom as a fundamental human right, not something bestowed by an individual or group. Our Constitution was written specifically to protect our rights and freedoms from being usurped by power hungry tyrants. America was established for the expressed purpose of safeguarding the individual from oppression, tyranny, and subjugation. America's founders recognized each individual as having the freedom to succeed. Even today, most countries on earth do not permit freedom for their populations. Governments or tyrants decide what is allowable within the societies they control. In these countries, individuals do not have freedom to make their own choices. Oppression is often enforced under the guise of safety, security, health, and fairness. Freedom is so precious that individuals risk everything to attain it. Throughout our history, people have constantly fled to America from oppressive societies. They came here just for the opportunity to live in freedom. The first settlers who arrived in this country had endured perilous ocean journeys that lasted for months. They left most, if not all of their possessions behind in order to reach a land where they could live their lives free from oppression. The power of freedom unleashed the human spirit as never before. In less than 200 years, Americans had invented, developed, produced, and accomplished more than societies thousands of years old. Our freedom has enabled Americans to create the highest standard of living in history. As precious as freedom is, there are those who want to take it away in their quest for power and control. Their strategy is one of deception. They publicly claim to seek to protect your liberty and safety while deceitfully working behind your back to eliminate one freedom after another. In America, no one has the right to take your freedom. Freedoms disappear gradually. They vanish in small, innocuous increments under the disguise of being done for your well-being. The foods you are allowed to eat. The subject matter you are permitted to watch and read. The determination of acceptable speech. What you are allowed to write. What is appropriate for your children to learn in school. These are only a few of the freedoms suppressed in an oppressive society. Those who were born in America have known only freedom. Too many take liberty for granted. They don't value their freedom as being precious. They are too willing to accept the lies being told by those who are eliminating one freedom after another. Your freedom is not free. Countless people have given their lives so that you may live free. If you are not vigilant, you will lose your freedom. Freedoms lost are extremely difficult to get back. If you don't recognize how precious your freedom is, and speak out against anyone trying to take it, you will lose your freedom. Cherish, guard, and protect your freedom so that so all may enjoy it now and in the future. Bryan is the author of "Dare to Live Without Limits." Contact Bryan at [email protected] or visit www.DareToLiveWithoutLimits.com copyright 2020 Bryan Golden ### - Containment continues to increase thanks to the efforts of firefighters on 27 major wildfires in California, as well as one extended attack wildfire. With nearly 19,000 firefighters on the front lines, crews continue to gain ground on these fires, as well as responding to 25 initial attack wildfires across the State, all of which were contained quickly. Since the beginning of the year, there have been over 7,900 wildfires that have burned over 3.5 million acres in California. Since August 15, when California’s fire activity elevated, there have been 26 fatalities and over 6,100 structures destroyed. Breezy conditions in the Santa Barbara County, Los Angeles Mountains and Antelope Valley continue today, contributing to poor humidity recovery. Warm conditions remain through most of California, and will continue into the week. An upper ridge of high pressure is expected to bring warmer and dry conditions to Southern California with a chance of wind events starting mid-week. California historically experiences some of the most devastating wildfires in the months of September and October. Do not let your guard down! To learn more ways to prevent sparking a wildfire visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org. Fires of Interest: **CALFIRE Incidents** LNU Lightning Complex, multiple North Bay counties (more info…) Napa, Lake, Sonoma, Colusa, Solano, and Yolo Counties *363,220 acres, 98% contained *While no growth is expected, fire suppression repair work is ongoing. SCU Lightning Complex, multiple Easy Bay counties (more info…) Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara San Joaquin, Merced, and Stanislaus Counties *396,624 acres, 98% contained *While no growth is expected, fire suppression repair work is ongoing. CZU Lightning Complex, San Mateo and Santa Cruz Counties (more info…) *86,509 acres, 99% contained *Multiple fires *1,490 structures destroyed *1 fatality **Unified Command Incidents** Snow Fire, Riverside County (more info…) Snow Creek Rd, west of Palm Springs *6,013 acres, 20% contained *Repopulation has started *Unified Command CAL FIRE and USFS North Complex, Plumas County (more info…) Southwest of Susanville (Plumas National Forest) *291,200 acres, 62% contained *15 fatalities *1,561 Structures destroyed *Evacuations in place *Includes the Bear and Claremont Fire *CAL FIRE Team 4 is in unified command with US Forest Service IMT Team 4 Creek Fire, Fresno County (more info…) Northeast of Shaver Lake (Sierra National Forest) *278,368 acres, 25% contained *Evacuations in effect *Heavy tree mortality in the area *843 structures destroyed *CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 1 in unified command with USFS Great Basin Team 1 El Dorado Fire, San Bernardino County (more info…) West of Oak Glen (San Bernardino National Forest) *24,489 acres, 59% contained *One fatality *Evacuations in place *10 structures destroyed *California Interagency Incident Management Team 11 in unified command with CAL FIRE, Yucaipa Fire Department and San Bernardino County Fire Department Butte/Tehama/Glenn (BTU/TGU) Lightning Complex, multiple Counties (more info…) Butte, Tehama and Glenn Counties *19,609 acres, 97% contained *14 structures destroyed *While no growth is expected, fire suppression repair work is ongoing. SQF Complex, Tulare County (more info…) 25 miles north of Kernville (Sequoia National Forest) *135,802 acres, 14% contained *Castle and Shotgun Fires merged into this complex *CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 6 in unified command with USFS Team 2 **Coordinated Command Incidents** August Complex, Tehama County (more info…) Elk Creek and Stonyford area (Mendocino National Forest) *836,871 acres 30% contained *South Zone 485,591 acres, 40% contained *North Zone 259,850 acres, 22% contained *West Zone 91,430 acres, 15% contained *Decreased acreage due to mapping by USFS *1 fatality *Includes multiple fires including the Elkhorn, Hopkins, Willow, Vinegar, and Doe fires *A California Interagency Incident Management Team and Great Basin Team in command *CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 3 & 5 are deployed on the West Zone of the complex. **Federal Incidents** Fox Fire, Siskiyou County (more info…) *1,850 acres, 17% contained *Evacuations in place Slater Fire, Siskiyou County (more info…) 5 miles North of Happy Camp (Klamath National Forest) *146,689 acres, 18% contained *2 fatalities *Evacuation orders in place Devil Fire, Siskiyou County (more info…) 5 miles north of Upper Devil’s Peak (Klamath National Forest) *7,144 acres, 7% contained Bobcat Fire, Los Angeles County (more info…) North of Duarte (Angeles National Forest) *99,428 acres, 15% containment *Evacuations in place Dolan Fire, Monterey County (more info…) Hwy 1, 10 miles south of Big Sur (Los Padres National Forest) *128,050 acres, 46% contained *Structures threatened *Type 1 NW Team 2 (Allen) in command Bullfrog Fire, Fresno County (more info…) SE of Bullfrog Lake (Sierra National Forest) *900 acres, 15% contained Fork Fire, El Dorado County, (more info…) 15 miles northeast of Pollock Pines (El Dorado National Forest) *1,752 acres, 61% contained Valley Fire, San Diego County (more info…) Near Alpine (Cleveland National Forest) *17,093 acres, 95% contained *CAIIMT 15 in command Lake Fire, Los Angeles County (more info…) Southwest of Lake Hughes Angeles National Forest / Los Angeles County Fire Department * 31,089 acres, 96% contained Apple Fire, Riverside County (more info…) Oak Glen/Cherry Valley (San Bernardino National Forest) *33,424 acres, 95% contained Red Salmon Complex – Humboldt County (more info…) 14 miles northeast of Willow Creek (Shasta-Trinity National Forest) *102.426 acres, 20% contained Blue Jay Fire, Mariposa County (more info…) Yosemite National Park Wilderness *4,427 acres, 40% contained Wolf Fire, Tuolumne County (more info…) Yosemite National Park Wilderness *1,032 acres, 25% contained Woodward Fire, Marin County (more info…) 3 miles southwest of Olema (Point Reyes National Seashore) *4,929 acres, 97% contained Slink Fire, Mono County (more info…) 2 miles west of Coleville (Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest) *26,752 acres, 84% contained Moraine, Tulare County (more info…) Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness *575 acres, 70% contained Rattlesnake, Tulare County (more info…) Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness *2,078 acres, 0% contained **Extended Attack Wildfires** (These are wildfires that go beyond the initial attack, but are not major incidents.) Shackleford Fire, Siskiyou County (more info…) Southwest of Quartz Valley Reservation *50 acres, 96% contained Top 20 Wildfire Records
On Wednesday, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a hearing that included Senator Dianne Feinstein’s Emergency Wildfire and Public Safety Act of 2020 (S. 4431). The bipartisan bill, introduced by Senator Feinstein and Senator Steve Daines (R-Montana), would help protect communities from catastrophic wildfires by implementing wildfire mitigation projects, sustaining healthier forests that are more resilient to climate change and providing important energy and retrofitting assistance to businesses and residences to mitigate future risks from wildfire. During the Committee hearing, Senator Daines stressed the importance of passing the bill, stating “we are at a critical time. The West is burning. People are dying. And our way of life as we know it is in danger… My bill with Senator Feinstein offers 53 pages worth of solutions." Senator Daines also thanked first responders, law enforcement, fire officials and more for their work battling the fires across the West, and he held a moment of silence for those who lost their lives because of the fires. RCRC has indicated its strong support for Senator Feinstein’s legislation. The RCRC support letter can be viewed here.
September 18, 2020NOW, THEREFORE, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF SIERRA ORDAINS that: Sierra County Code, Title 8, Health and Sanitation, Chapter 8.12, Section 8.12.050 is added to read as follows: 8.12.050: Building, maintaining, attending, or using outdoor fires, including campfires, bonfires, pit fires, tiki torches, portable stoves, or any other open flame fire, including (but excluding propane barbecues used for cooking) is hereby prohibited on all private lands within the unincorporated area of Sierra County and public lands within the unincorporated area of Sierra County which are not owned and/or controlled by state or federal governmental agencies. This prohibition shall be reviewed by the Board at each regular meeting thereafter of the Board of Supervisors, until terminated by action of the Board or until December 31, 2020, whichever occurs first. This ordinance shall become effective immediately upon its adoption as an urgency measure pursuant to Government Code sections 65858 and 25123. SFGate
Chris McGinnis September 17, 2020 A large number of U.S. hotels temporarily closed their doors as bookings dried up last spring due to the coronavirus pandemic. And as fall approaches, it looks like a significant number of them might not be able to reopen as expected even if business starts to pick up to a healthy level again. Although big banks and other lenders often allowed some flexibility for strapped hotels to make their mortgage payments during the pandemic, their patience is running low and foreclosure is looming for some major urban properties. New York City, which has seen a boom in new hotel openings in the past few years, is now seeing a boom in permanent closings. Take, for instance, the Omni Berkshire Place, a classic business travelers’ hotel at Madison Ave. and 52nd Street. Go to its website and you’ll see a notice that the property is “permanently closed.” The website notes that over the years, the hotel has served “millions of guests,” but it adds: “COVID-19 has swiftly and significantly impacted the hospitality industry, and like many hotels, especially those in New York City, we have felt the brunt of the global health crisis. We have made the extremely difficult decision to permanently close Omni Berkshire Place.” Earlier this month, the 44-story, 478-room Hilton Times Square in the heart of Midtown also closed down for good. The Embassy Suites-Midtown West was taken over by lenders after the real estate investment trust that owned it failed to make the expected debt payments. The W New York-Downtown in the financial district reportedly plans to shut down for good in October. And more permanent closings are likely. According to a report on CNBC, 34 percent of the hotels in New York City are delinquent on their debts. The report quotes an executive at a leading hospitality investment bank as saying the closures thus far are merely “the tip of the iceberg,” with more likely to follow – especially in the Times Square/Midtown area. The city was already becoming overbuilt before the pandemic hit, and because the city was the earliest big hotspot for COVID-19, tourists and business travelers alike stayed away in droves. And it’s not just New York. The CNBC report notes that hotel delinquencies “are rising significantly” in cities like Houston, Los Angeles and Chicago. Speaking of Chicago, one of that city’s most iconic hotels – the 1,600-room Palmer House, operated by Hilton in the heart of The Loop – was sued last month by lenders for defaulting on a mortgage to the tune of more than $330 million. The hotel, Chicago’s second-largest, has been closed since last spring, and its reopening is now uncertain. The lenders asked the court to appoint a receiver for the property. In Los Angeles, the buzzy Chateau Marmont hotel will convert to a "members only" property. A hotel spokesperson told the LA Times: "The pandemic showed that safety was of the utmost importance to guests, and limiting the hotel to select members ensures that management knows all guests before they arrive." Four Red Rock hotels in the Las Vegas area might not reopen, according to a report in Travel Weekly. In San Francisco, the Virgin Hotel that opened in May 2019 across from the Moscone Convention Center remains closed after shutting its doors in March of this year, and all mention of the property has been scrubbed from Virgin Hotels’ website. But that may be the result of an ongoing dispute in which Virgin Hotels has sued the hotel’s owner for terminating what was supposed to be a 20-year management contract. The lawsuit alleged that the owner “is attempting to seize upon the disruption created within the hotel industry by the current COVID-19 pandemic as an opportunity to prematurely and wrongfully terminate the (management agreement) upon manufactured and false grounds.” Virgin has not responded to our requests for more information or updates on the fate of the property. When the dust settles after all the bankruptcies and repossession proceedings, many of the affected properties are likely to reopen again as hotels – assuming lodging demand eventually recovers -- although some may be converted to other purposes like residential. It's not all doom and gloom, though. For example, Marriott's shiny new Edition Times Square, which opened with much fanfare last year announced in May that it would close permanently. However, it seems that the hotel has found some financing, and a call to its reservations department confirms that it will open again on October 15. In San Francisco, there were about 35,000 hotel rooms available prior to COVID-19. Currently, about 20,000 of these are available, but are being used primarily for housing essential and COVID-related workers. That leaves about 15,000 hotel rooms still off the market, and most of those are in big downtown convention hotels which still have boards covering entrances. "When hotels reopen this fall, we don't anticipate a huge spike in demand-- it will be primarily leisure and weekend travelers. Due to COVID-19 we are unable to host conventions or large sports gatherings, which are an essential part of the mix during fall season," said Joe D'Alessandro, CEO of the city's convention and tourism bureau. Last month, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and hundreds of industry executives sent a letter to Congress asking for urgent relief in the face of unprecedented financial difficulties. “With record low travel demand, thousands of hotels can’t afford to pay their commercial mortgages and are facing foreclosure with the harsh reality of having to close their doors permanently,” said AHLA CEO Chip Rogers. “Tens of thousands of hotel employees will lose their jobs and small business industries that depend on these hotels to drive local tourism and economic activity will likely face a similar fate.” The group cited a report from Trepp, a firm that tracks the mortgage-backed securities market, showing that as of July, 23.4 percent of U.S. hotels were 30 or more days behind on their debt payments – the highest level ever, up from just 1.3 percent at the end of last year. The report notes that the metropolitan region with the greatest percentage of delinquencies is Houston, at 66.2 percent, followed by Chicago (53.8 percent), New York (38.7 percent), Seattle (36.1 percent) and Austin (35.7 percent). While lenders wait for their debt payments, the hotel industry is still struggling with a lack of consumer demand. Like the airlines, hotels have seen a rebound in business since last spring, but in recent weeks it appears to be stalling out. According to the hotel industry data tracking firm STR, U.S. hotel occupancy reached its low point of 22 percent in late March. In mid-August the rate was back up to 50.1 percent, but since then it has had trouble reaching the 50-percent mark. For the week ended Sept. 5, occupancy was 49.4 percent, down almost 19 percent from a year ago. To view the full article, click here. ### Tahoe National Forest Reopens: Campfires, Dispersed Camping, and Target Shooting Still Prohibited9/20/2020 Nevada City, Calif. —The Tahoe National Forest is reopening this weekend after nearly two weeks of unprecedented, emergency closures due to California wildfires and wildfire risk. The forest remains closed until 8:00 a.m. Saturday, September 19, 2020. Along with the general reopening this Saturday, a new Forest Closure Orders will strictly prohibit the following activities across the entire Tahoe National Forest through October 18, 2020:
In addition, a standing Emergency Fire Restriction Order strictly prohibits the following activities across all National Forests in California through September 21, 2020:
A limited number of campgrounds will be available on a first-come/ first-serve basis this weekend including:
Please check our website beginning Monday, September 21, 2020 for updates on campground status: https://www.fs.usda.gov/tahoe/ Over 19,000 firefighters continue to battle 27 major wildfires in California, as well as one extended attack wildfire. Milder weather is helping the fire fight as crews continue to gain ground on many of the major incidents. Yesterday, firefighters responded to 22 initial attack wildfires across the State, all of which were contained quickly. Since the beginning of the year, there have been over 7,900 wildfires that have burned over 3.5 million acres in California. Since August 15, when California’s fire activity elevated, there have been 26 fatalities and over 5,800 structures destroyed. A slight cooling trend is expected this weekend in portions of Southern California, while most of Northern California will return to a warm and dry weather pattern. Early in the week, warm conditions are expected to cover most of the state, bringing elevated fire danger. With significant structure damage as a result of recent wildfires, CAL FIRE is recommending homeowner’s take steps to ‘harden’ their homes. CAL FIRE recently published a low cost retrofit list with improvements that can help protect a home from wildfire embers. To learn more on home hardening visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org. Fires of Interest: **CALFIRE Incidents** LNU Lightning Complex, multiple North Bay counties (more info…) Napa, Lake, Sonoma, Colusa, Solano, and Yolo Counties *363,220 acres, 98% contained *While no growth is expected, fire suppression repair work is ongoing. SCU Lightning Complex, multiple Easy Bay counties (more info…) Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara San Joaquin, Merced, and Stanislaus Counties *396,624 acres, 98% contained *While no growth is expected, fire suppression repair work is ongoing. CZU Lightning Complex, San Mateo and Santa Cruz Counties (more info…) *86,509 acres, 98% contained *Multiple fires *1,490 structures destroyed *1 fatality **Unified Command Incidents** Snow Fire, Riverside County (more info…) Snow Creek Rd, west of Palm Springs *4,200 acres, 5% contained *Mandatory evacuations in progress *Unified Command CAL FIRE and USFS North Complex, Plumas County (more info…) Southwest of Susanville (Plumas National Forest) *289,951 acres, 58% contained *15 fatalities *1,323 Structures destroyed *Evacuations in place *Includes the Bear and Claremont Fire *CAL FIRE Team 4 is in unified command with US Forest Service IMT Team 4 Creek Fire, Fresno County (more info…) Northeast of Shaver Lake (Sierra National Forest) *248,256 acres, 22% contained *Evacuations in effect *Heavy tree mortality in the area *843 structures destroyed *CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 1 in unified command with USFS Great Basin Team 1 El Dorado Fire, San Bernardino County (more info…) West of Oak Glen (San Bernardino National Forest) *22,071 acres, 59% contained *One fatality *Evacuations in place *10 structures destroyed *California Interagency Incident Management Team 11 in unified command with CAL FIRE, Yucaipa Fire Department and San Bernardino County Fire Department Butte/Tehama/Glenn (BTU/TGU) Lightning Complex, multiple Counties (more info…) Butte, Tehama and Glenn Counties *19,609 acres, 97% contained *14 structures destroyed *While no growth is expected, fire suppression repair work is ongoing. SQF Complex, Tulare County (more info…) 25 miles north of Kernville (Sequoia National Forest) *133,488 acres, 12% contained *Evacuations in place *Castle and Shotgun Fires merged into this complex *CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 6 in unified command with USFS Team 2 Dolan Fire, Monterey County (more info…) Hwy 1, 10 miles south of Big Sur (Los Padres National Forest) *127,724 acres, 46% contained *Structures threatened *CAL FIRE is in unified command with Type 1 NW Team 2 (Allen) **Coordinated Command Incidents** August Complex, Tehama County (more info…) Elk Creek and Stonyford area (Mendocino National Forest) *832,891 acres 30% contained *South Zone 485,531 acres, 40% contained *North Zone 258,554 acres, 21% contained *West Zone 88,806 acres, 7% contained *1 fatality *Includes multiple fires including the Elkhorn, Hopkins, Willow, Vinegar, and Doe fires *A California Interagency Incident Management Team and Great Basin Team in command *CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 3 & 5 are deployed on the West Zone of the complex. **Federal Incidents** Fox Fire, Siskiyou County (more info…) *1,850 acres, 17% contained *Evacuations in place Slater Fire, Siskiyou County (more info…) 5 miles North of Happy Camp (Klamath National Forest) *146,698 acres, 18% contained *2 fatalities *Evacuation orders in place Devil Fire, Siskiyou County (more info…) 5 miles north of Upper Devil’s Peak (Klamath National Forest) *7,144 acres, 7% contained Bobcat Fire, Los Angeles County (more info…) North of Duarte (Angeles National Forest) *91,017 acres, 15% containment *Evacuations in place Bullfrog Fire, Fresno County (more…) SE of Bullfrog Lake (Sierra National Forest) *900 acres, 4% contained Fork Fire, El Dorado County, (more info…) 15 miles northeast of Pollock Pines (El Dorado National Forest) *1,752 acres, 53% contained *Evacuation orders remain in place Valley Fire, San Diego County (more info…) Near Alpine (Cleveland National Forest) *17,093 acres, 91% contained *CAIIMT 15 in command Lake Fire, Los Angeles County (more info…) Southwest of Lake Hughes Angeles National Forest / Los Angeles County Fire Department * 31,089 acres, 96% contained Apple Fire, Riverside County (more info…) Oak Glen/Cherry Valley (San Bernardino National Forest) *33,424 acres, 95% contained Red Salmon Complex – Humboldt County (more info…) 14 miles northeast of Willow Creek (Shasta-Trinity National Forest) *101,587 acres, 19% contained Blue Jay Fire, Mariposa County (more info…) Yosemite National Park Wilderness *4,061 acres, 40% contained Wolf Fire, Tuolumne County (more info…) Yosemite National Park Wilderness *1,032 acres, 25% contained Woodward Fire, Marin County (more info…) 3 miles southwest of Olema (Point Reyes National Seashore) *4,929 acres, 97% contained Slink Fire, Mono County (more info…) 2 miles west of Coleville (Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest) *26,752 acres, 71% contained Moraine, Tulare County (more info…) Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness *558 acres, 70% contained Rattlesnake, Tulare County (more info…) Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness *2,078 acres, 0% contained **Extended Attack Wildfires** (These are wildfires that go beyond the initial attack, but are not major incidents.) Shackleford Fire, Siskiyou County (more…) Southwest of Quartz Valley Reservation *50 acres, 85% contained Top 20 Wildfire Records
This email was sent to [email protected] why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences CAL FIRE · PO Box 944246 · 1416 9th Street · Sacramento, CA 94244-2460 · USA SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.— The magnitude of California’s 2020 wildfire season is hard to comprehend. To date, CAL FIRE reports that more than 7,600 fires have scorched approximately 3.2 million acres this year in the Golden State -- an area almost the size of Connecticut. And five 2020 fires – the August Complex, the SCU Lightning Complex, the LNU Lightning Complex, the North Complex and the Creek Fire – already ranked among the 15 largest in state history. With that as a backdrop, and as thousands of firefighters and other first responders continue to work to protect people and property, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) reminds its customers that the best time to prepare for an emergency or natural disaster is before it happens. That’s what National Preparedness Month is all about. Start by gathering supplies and creating an emergency kit that will last for several days after a disaster for everyone living in your home. Be sure to include flashlights, fresh batteries, first aid supplies and cash. Customers can get updates on outages in their neighborhood using PG&E’s outage information line at 1-800-743-5002 and PG&E’s Electric Outage Map online at pge.com. If you already have a kit, make sure it’s up to date. Don’t forget to pack a “go bag” in case you need to evacuate quickly, considering the unique needs of everyone in your family, including elderly, younger children and pets. Emergency Preparation Tips
Electric Safety Tips
If your vehicle comes in contact with a downed power line:
If there is a fire and you have to exit a vehicle that has come in contact with downed power lines:
Gas Safety Tips
About PG&E Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric energy companies in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with more than 23,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation’s cleanest energy to nearly 16 million people in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit pge.com and pge.com/news. Over 16,600 firefighters remain on the front lines of 25 major wildfires and two extended attack wildfires in California. Yesterday, activity increased on several of the wildfires, while on other fires, crews continued their progress towards containment. Firefighters were able to contain two large wildfires yesterday, all while still responding to 33 initial attack wildfires across the State. Since the beginning of the year, wildfires have burned over 3.2 million acres in California. Since August 15, when California’s fire activity elevated, there have been 25 fatalities and over 4,200 structures destroyed. A Red Flag Warning continues in portions of Northeastern California around Modoc National Forest and Tulelake Basin due to gusty winds and low humidity. This Red Flag Warning is in effect today, but these conditions will likely continue Thursday. Temperatures are expected to be warm today and Thursday although tempered a bit by smoke. It will be cooler Friday and through the weekend as the trough moves through with some increase in humidity. With no significant precipitation in sight, California remains dry and ripe for wildfires. Have you signed up for emergency alerts in case a fire near your home requires you to evacuate? If not, be sure to sign up for the alerts in your county here to make sure you are prepared, and to learn more about other ways to be ready for any emergency, visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org. Fires of Interest:**CAL FIRE Incidents** Shackleford Fire, Siskiyou County (more…) Southwest of Quartz Valley Reservation *50 acres, 50% contained Willow Fire, Yuba County (more info…) FINAL Willow Glen Road, Dobbins *1,311 acres, 100% contained *Evacuations in place Oak Fire, Mendocino County (more info…) FINAL North of Willits *1,100 acres, 100% contained LNU Lightning Complex, multiple North Bay counties (more info…) Napa, Lake, Sonoma, Colusa, Solano, and Yolo Counties *363,220 acres, 97% contained *Hennessey (merged fires) 305,651 acres, 96% contained *Wallbridge 55,209 acres, 95% contained *1,491 structures destroyed *5 fatalities *CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 2 in command SCU Lightning Complex, multiple Easy Bay counties (more info…) Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara San Joaquin, Merced, and Stanislaus Counties *396,624 acres, 98% contained *20 fires in the complex, several have merged together *222 structures destroyed *CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 6 command CZU Lightning Complex, San Mateo and Santa Cruz Counties (more info…) *86,509 acres, 91% contained *Multiple fires *1,490 structures destroyed *1 fatality *CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 3 command Schoolhouse, Siskiyou County (more info…) Schoolhouse Gap Road, north of Fort Jones *45 acres, 90% contained **Unified Command Incidents** North Complex, Plumas County (more info…) Southwest of Susanville (Plumas National Forest) *269,358 acres, 32% contained *15 fatalities *Evacuations in place *Includes the Bear and Claremont Fire *CAL FIRE Team 4 is now in unified command with US Forest Service IMT Team 4 Creek Fire, Fresno County (more info…) Northeast of Shaver Lake (Sierra National Forest) *220,025 acres, 16% contained *Evacuations in effect *Heavy tree mortality in the area *CAL FIRE and US Forest Service in unified command *CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 1 *Great Basin Team 1 El Dorado Fire, San Bernardino County (more info…) West of Oak Glen (San Bernardino National Forest) *17,598 acres, 54% contained *Evacuations in place *California Interagency Incident Management Team 11 in unified command with CAL FIRE, Yucaipa Fire Department and San Bernardino County Fire Department Butte/Tehama/Glenn (BTU/TGU) Lightning Complex, multiple Counties (more info…) Butte, Tehama, and Glenn Counties *19,609 acres, 97% contained *Includes multiple other smaller fires *Decrease in acres as Elkhorn was moved to the August Complex. *16 structures destroyed **Coordinated Command Incidents** August Complex, Tehama County (more info…) Elk Creek and Stonyford area (Mendocino National Forest) *803,489 acres 30% contained *North/South Zone 754,480 acres, 30% contained *West Zone 49,009 acres, 0% contained *Decreased acreage due to mapping by USFS *1 fatality *Includes multiple fires including the Elkhorn, Hopkins, Willow, Vinegar, and Doe fires *A California Interagency Incident Management Team and Great Basin Team in command *A CAL FIRE Incident Management Team is deployed on the west zone of the fire. **Federal Incidents** SQF Complex, Tulare County (more info...) 25 miles north of Kernville (Sequoia National Forest) *107,101 acres, 12% contained *Castle and Shotgun Fires merged into this complex Slater Fire, Siskiyou County (more info…) 5 miles North of Happy Camp (Klamath National Forest) *131,601 acres, 10% contained *2 fatalities *Evacuation orders in place Devil Fire, Siskiyou County (more info…) 5 miles north of Upper Devil’s Peak (Klamath National Forest) *4,429 acres, 0% contained Bobcat Fire, Los Angeles County (more info…) North of Duarte Angeles National Forest *41,231 acres, 3% containment *Evacuations in progress *EA Silver Team in command Bullfrog Fire, Fresno County (more…) SE of Bullfrog Lake, Sierra National Forest *900 acres, 0% contained Fork Fire, El Dorado County, (more info…) 15 miles northeast of Pollock Pines (El Dorado National Forest) *1,752 acres, 7% contained *Evacuation orders remain in place Valley Fire, San Diego County (more info…) Near Alpine (Cleveland National Forest) *17,665 acres, 87% contained *CAIIMT 15 in command Lake Fire, Los Angeles County (more info…) Southwest of Lake Hughes Angeles National Forest / Los Angeles County Fire Department * 31,089 acres, 96% contained Dolan Fire, Monterey County (more info…) Hwy 1, 10 miles south of Big Sur (Los Padres National Forest) *118,465 acres, 40% contained *Structures threatened *Type 1 NW Team 2 (Allen) in command Apple Fire, Riverside County (more info…) Oak Glen/Cherry Valley (San Bernardino National Forest) *33,424 acres, 95% contained Red Salmon Complex – Humboldt County (more info…) 14 miles northeast of Willow Creek (Shasta-Trinity National Forest) *91,743 acres, 16% contained Blue Jay Fire, Mariposa County (more info…) Yosemite National Park Wilderness *3,500 acres, 20% contained Wolf Fire, Tuolumne County (more info…) Yosemite National Park Wilderness *828 acres, 10% contained Woodward Fire, Marin County (more info…) 3 miles southwest of Olema (Point Reyes National Seashore) *4,920 acres, 96% contained Slink Fire, Mono County (more info…) 2 miles west of Coleville (Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest) *26,709 acres, 60% contained Moraine, Tulare County (more info…) Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness *575 acres, 70% contained Rattlesnake, Tulare County (more info…) Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness *1,441 acres, 0% contained Top 20 Wildfire Records
www.tfhd.com
(Tahoe/Truckee, Calif.) – Flu season is here, and the CDC recommends everyone over the age of 6 months get a flu shot each year. Tahoe Forest Health System is now offering flu shots in Truckee and Incline Village. Flu shots are available in Truckee at the Tahoe Forest Retail Pharmacy, located in the Medical Office Building on 10956 Donner Pass Road, Suite 100, Monday through Friday, 9 am - 6 pm, and Saturday, 9 am – 4 pm. Incline Village Community Hospital, located on 880 Alder Ave., Incline Village, offers drive-through flu shots at the Community Room entrance on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:30 am – 12:30 pm, until November 3rd. No appointment is necessary. Vaccine pricing for a flu shot is $40 for cash pay but is subject to change. An additional charge will apply for the high dose, recommended for those age 65 and over. Eligible patients with Medicare B and most insurances will cover the cost of the flu shot and result in either a copay or no charge. However, cost is not guaranteed until the prescription is run through the insurance for authorization. For more information, call (530) 587-7607 for the Truckee location, and (775) 888-4201 for the Incline Village location. ##### About Tahoe Forest Health System Tahoe Forest Health System, which includes Tahoe Forest Hospital in Truckee, CA, and Incline Village Community Hospital in Incline Village, NV, offers 24-hour emergency care, urgent care, primary and specialty health care clinics including Tahoe Forest Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Commission on Cancer (COC) accredited cancer center, the Gene Upshaw Memorial Tahoe Forest Cancer Center, and the Joseph Family Center for Women and Newborn Care. With a strong focus on high quality patient care, community collaboration, clinical excellence and innovation, Tahoe Forest Health System is a UC Davis Rural Center of Excellence. For a complete list of physician specialties and services, visit www.tfhd.com. Per Pacific Southwest Regional Forester, Randy Moore, “Based on winds moving thru the area tonight and tomorrow and the potential for new fire starts and spreading of the existing fires I am going to sign new closure orders to extend for 1 week but assessing on a daily basis to consider cancelling or keeping open.”
Region-wide - Emergency Fire Restrictions (region-wide) Regional Order No. 20-11: Emergency Fire Restrictions https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd804573.pdf National Forest System Lands, Roads and Trails - Emergency Closure (central & southern NFs) Regional Order No. 20-12: Emergency Forest Closure https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd804574.pdf National Forest System Lands, Roads and Trails - Emergency Closure (northern NFs) Regional Order No. 20-13: Emergency Closure Order https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd804575.pdf Frequently Asked Questions https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r5/home/?cid=FSEPRD804563 Applauds Trump for Action on California Wildfires
(McLellan Park, CA) – Congressman Doug LaMalfa issued the following statement after President Donald Trump, Governor Gavin Newsom, CAL FIRE officials, and other stakeholders hosted a roundtable to discuss the ongoing fires in Northern California, and honored the California National Guard for their brave efforts to save stranded citizens. LaMalfa said: “Throughout numerous disasters, President Trump has been highly supportive of helping Californians recover. His Administration has delivered everything we’ve asked of them to help Camp and Carr Fire recoveries, repair the Oroville Dam Spillway, and is helping with the current fires. President Trump has issued several Major Disaster Declarations, authorized Fire Management Assistance Grants, and listened firsthand to CAL FIRE, elected officials, and first responders about the severity of our situation. “To break the cycle of continued catastrophic fires, we must get back into the forests and reduce the fuel load. I encourage the President to push the Forest Service to massively increase the pace and scale of forest management across the West. Decades of mismanagement in our federal forests is the largest contributing factor to the destruction we have seen in recent years. For forty years we have not properly managed the forests and now our rural areas are paying the price again. First, we lost the mills, jobs, and prosperity, and now we are being victimized by these out of control fires. It started with destroying our economy, and now forest mismanagement policies are literally killing people and destroying homes. The struggles we face today are a direct result of poor government policy. I look forward to the Trump Administration’s continued partnership in fixing these issues by promoting healthy, well-managed forests. His visit today signals that the federal response to wildfire is, and will remain, a top priority of his Administration.” Congressman Doug LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou and Tehama Counties. ### Issued: Monday, September 14, 2020
Nevada, Plumas and Sierra Counties The Northern Sierra Air Quality Management District and the Public Health Departments of Nevada, Plumas and Sierra Counties are extending a joint Air Quality Health Advisory due to the prolonged and widespread smoke from numerous wildfires. Poor air quality (possibly reaching hazardous levels) is expected to persist as long as these wildfires are active. Smoke density and location will vary greatly, depending on fire behavior and weather conditions, with smoke settling in low areas at night. Exposure to elevated PM2.5 (fine particulate matter in smoke) concentrations can result in eye and throat irritation, headaches, nausea, shortness of breath, congestion, coughing, impaired lung function and chest pain, especially among sensitive individuals such as the elderly, children, people with asthma, people with heart or lung conditions, pregnant women and anyone who is exercising or working hard outdoors. Smoke also leads to increased ozone formation, which exacerbates these symptoms. People who are affected by, or susceptible to, COVID-19 may be at increased risk from wildfire smoke due to cardiovascular symptoms or a compromised or suppressed immune system. While cloth face coverings offer protection against COVID-19 virus spread, they do not provide protection against smoke particles. People who must be outdoors for long periods, in areas with heavy smoke, or where ash is disturbed, may want to wear an N95 respirator mask. Those with existing respiratory, lung or heart conditions should limit their exposure by staying indoors. Since wearing a respirator mask can make it harder to breathe, those with lung or heart conditions should check with their doctor before using one. If you smell or see smoke around you, the following actions are recommended:
Near real-time air quality conditions for Quincy, Portola, Chester, Truckee and Grass Valley may be found at www.myairdistrict.com (click on your location of interest in the “Local Air Quality” portion). As you view the most recent data, take into consideration that conditions can change rapidly due to wind shifts; it is wise to monitor the smoke throughout the day and make plans accordingly. The smoke may be visible in satellite imagery, available via www.weather.gov/sto (near the bottom of the page). Additional information about air quality can be found at: www.airnow.gov/ Smoke mapping can be found at: https://fire.airnow.gov/ To sign up for the Air Quality Health Advisory email list, please visit www.myairdistrict.com. Issued: Monday, September 14, 2020
Nevada, Plumas and Sierra Counties The Northern Sierra Air Quality Management District and the Public Health Departments of Nevada, Plumas and Sierra Counties are extending a joint Air Quality Health Advisory due to the prolonged and widespread smoke from numerous wildfires. Poor air quality (possibly reaching hazardous levels) is expected to persist as long as these wildfires are active. Smoke density and location will vary greatly, depending on fire behavior and weather conditions, with smoke settling in low areas at night. Exposure to elevated PM2.5 (fine particulate matter in smoke) concentrations can result in eye and throat irritation, headaches, nausea, shortness of breath, congestion, coughing, impaired lung function and chest pain, especially among sensitive individuals such as the elderly, children, people with asthma, people with heart or lung conditions, pregnant women and anyone who is exercising or working hard outdoors. Smoke also leads to increased ozone formation, which exacerbates these symptoms. People who are affected by, or susceptible to, COVID-19 may be at increased risk from wildfire smoke due to cardiovascular symptoms or a compromised or suppressed immune system. While cloth face coverings offer protection against COVID-19 virus spread, they do not provide protection against smoke particles. People who must be outdoors for long periods, in areas with heavy smoke, or where ash is disturbed, may want to wear an N95 respirator mask. Those with existing respiratory, lung or heart conditions should limit their exposure by staying indoors. Since wearing a respirator mask can make it harder to breathe, those with lung or heart conditions should check with their doctor before using one. If you smell or see smoke around you, the following actions are recommended:
Near real-time air quality conditions for Quincy, Portola, Chester, Truckee and Grass Valley may be found at www.myairdistrict.com (click on your location of interest in the “Local Air Quality” portion). As you view the most recent data, take into consideration that conditions can change rapidly due to wind shifts; it is wise to monitor the smoke throughout the day and make plans accordingly. The smoke may be visible in satellite imagery, available via www.weather.gov/sto (near the bottom of the page). Additional information about air quality can be found at: www.airnow.gov/ Smoke mapping can be found at: https://fire.airnow.gov/ To sign up for the Air Quality Health Advisory email list, please visit www.myairdistrict.com. Nearly 16,500 firefighters continue working to gain containment on the 28 major wildfires across California. Since the beginning of the year, wildfires have burned over 3.2 million acres in California, which is larger than the State of Connecticut. Since August 15, when California’s fire activity elevated, there have been 24 fatalities and over 4,200 structures destroyed. Red Flag conditions have returned today to northeastern California. The combination of gusty winds and low humidity brings potential critical fire weather through much of the week, and may affect firefighting efforts on the North Complex. Elevated fire weather conditions are expected in portions of central and southern California due to very warm and dry conditions, and smoky conditions will persist in the much of the valley areas throughout the state. Are you and your family prepared for an emergency? You can prepare not only for a wildfire, but any disaster that may strike. Make sure you and your family are ready for anything! To learn more, visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org. Fires of Interest: **CAL FIRE Incidents** Shackleford Fire, Siskiyou County (more…) Southwest of Quartz Valley Reservation *50 acres, 30% contained Willow Fire, Yuba County (more info…) Willow Glen Road, Dobbins *1,311 acres, 92% contained *Evacuations in place Oak Fire, Mendocino County (more info…) North of Willits *1,100 acres, 95% contained LNU Lightning Complex, multiple North Bay counties (more info…) Napa, Lake, Sonoma, Colusa, Solano, and Yolo Counties *363,220 acres, 97% contained *Hennessey (merged fires) 305,651 acres, 96% contained *Wallbridge 55,209 acres, 95% contained *1,491 structures destroyed *5 fatalities *Evacuations in place *CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 2 in command SCU Lightning Complex, multiple Easy Bay counties (more info…) Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara San Joaquin, Merced, and Stanislaus Counties *396,624 acres, 98% contained *20 fires in the complex, several have merged together *Evacuations and road closures in place *224 structures destroyed *CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 6 command CZU Lightning Complex, San Mateo and Santa Cruz Counties (more info…) *86,509 acres, 89% contained *Multiple fires *Evacuations and road closures in place *1,490 structures destroyed *1 fatality *CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 3 command Schoolhouse, Siskiyou County (more info…) Schoolhouse Gap Road, north of Fort Jones *45 acres, 80% contained **Unified Command Incidents** North Complex, Plumas County (more info…) Southwest of Susanville (Plumas National Forest) *264,374 acres, 38% contained *14 fatalities *Evacuations in place *Includes the Bear and Claremont Fire *CAL FIRE Team 4 is now in unified command with US Forest Service IMT Team 4 Creek Fire, Fresno County (more info…) Northeast of Shaver Lake (Sierra National Forest) *212,744 acres, 10% contained *Evacuations in effect *Heavy tree mortality in the area *CAL FIRE and US Forest Service in unified command *CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 1 *Great Basin Team 1 Valley Fire, San Diego County (more info…) Near Alpine (Cleveland National Forest) *17,665 acres, 87% contained *Evacuations in effect *CAIIMT 15 in command *CAL FIRE and US Forest Service in unified command El Dorado Fire, San Bernardino County (more info…) West of Oak Glen (San Bernardino National Forest) *14,478 acres, 44% contained *Evacuations in place *California Interagency Incident Management Team 11 in unified command with CAL FIRE, Yucaipa Fire Department and San Bernardino County Fire Department Butte/Tehama/Glenn (BTU/TGU) Lightning Complex, multiple Counties (more info…) Butte, Tehama, and Glenn Counties *19,609 acres, 97% contained *Includes multiple other smaller fires *Decrease in acres as Elkhorn was moved to the August Complex. *16 structures destroyed *Coordinated Command Incident** August Complex, Tehama County (more info…) Elk Creek and Stonyford area (Mendocino National Forest) *788,880 acres 30% contained *North/South Zone 739,791 acres, 30% contained *West Zone 49,009 acres, 0% contained *Decreased acreage due to better mapping by USFS *1 fatality *Includes multiple fires including the Elkhorn, Hopkins, Willow, Vinegar, and Doe fires *A California Interagency Incident Management Team and Great Basin Team in command *A CAL FIRE Incident Management Team is deployed on the west zone of the fire. **Federal Incidents* SQF Complex, Tulare County (more info...) 25 miles north of Kernville (Sequoia National Forest) *90,845 acres, 12% contained *Castle and Shotgun Fires merged into this complex Slater/Devil Fires, Siskiyou County, (more info…) 5 miles North of Happy Camp (Klamath National Forest) *130,482 acres, 5% contained *2 fatalities *Evacuations orders in place Bullfrog Fire, Fresno County (more…) SE of Bullfrog Lake, Sierra National Forest *900 acres, 0% contained Fork Fire, El Dorado County, (more info…) 15 miles northeast of Pollock Pines (El Dorado National Forest) *1,752 acres, 7% contained *Evacuation orders remain in place Bobcat Fire, Los Angeles County (more info…) North of Duarte Angeles National Forest 36,366 acres, 6% containment *Evacuations in progress *EA Silver Team in command Lake Fire, Los Angeles County (more info…) Southwest of Lake Hughes Angeles National Forest / Los Angeles County Fire Department * 31,089 acres, 96% contained Dolan Fire, Monterey County (more info…) Hwy 1, 10 miles south of Big Sur (Los Padres National Forest) *118,465 acres, 40% contained *Structures threatened *Type 1 NW Team 2 (Allen) in command Apple Fire, Riverside County (more info…) Oak Glen/Cherry Valley (San Bernardino National Forest) *33,424 acres, 95% contained Red Salmon Complex – Humboldt County (more info…) 14 miles northeast of Willow Creek (Shasta-Trinity National Forest) *87,849 acres, 16% contained W-5 Cold Springs, Lassen County (more info…) FINAL 11 miles east of Madeline (Bureau of Land Management - Northern CA District) *84,817 acres, 100% containment Blue Jay Fire, Mariposa County (more info…) Yosemite National Park Wilderness *3,350 acres, 20% contained Wolf Fire, Tuolumne County (more info…) Yosemite National Park Wilderness *828 acres, 10% contained Woodward Fire, Marin County (more info…) 3 miles southwest of Olema (Point Reyes National Seashore) *4,920 acres, 96% contained Slink Fire, Mono County (more info…) 2 miles west of Coleville (Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest) *26,440 acres, 54% contained Moraine, Tulare County (more info…) Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness *575 acres, 70% contained Rattlesnake, Tulare County (more info…) Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness *1,441 acres, 0% contained Top 20 Wildfire Records
People v Ryan Garrett Cook (20NC0041) On August 11, 2020, Ryan Garrett Cook, age 31, of Loyalton, was convicted of having a dog at large, a violation of the Loyalton Municipal Code, an infraction. He was ordered to pay a fine. People v. Patrick Michael Noel O’Rourke (20CR0036) On August 11, 2020, Patrick Michael Noel O’Rourke, age 35, of Loyalton, was convicted of violating the Loyalton Municipal Court, unlawfully discharging fireworks, an infraction. He was ordered to pay a fine and perform 20 hours of community service. People v. Richard Kevin Cantrell (CR04028) On August 11, 2020, Richard Kevin Cantrell, age 57, of Nevada City, was convicted of a wet reckless, violation of Vehicle Code section 23103.5, a misdemeanor. He was sentenced to 3 years probation; ordered to complete a DUI class and pay a fine. People v.Kane Kenneth Knoefler (20CR0014) On August 11, 2020,Kane Kenneth Knoefler, age 40, of Downieville, was convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol, Vehicle Code section 23152(a), a misdemeanor. He was placed on 3 years probation, 4 days in jail, pay a fine, and attend a DUI class. People v. Nathan Wade Ashley (20CR0006) On August 25, 2020, Nathan Wade Ashley, age 33 of Loyalton, was found to be in violation of the terms of his probation. He was ordered to complete his jail term. He is eligible for release on September 25, 2020. People v. Patrick Arballo Mills (20CR0045) On August 25, 2020, Patrick Arballo Mills, age 27, of Truckee, was convicted of wet reckless, Vehicle Code section 23103.5, a misdemeanor. He was placed on 18 months probation, ordered to pay a fine, and attend a DUI class. People v. Douglas Charles Martinez (20CR0064) On August 25, 2020, Douglas Charles Martinez, age 33, of Sierraville, was convicted of domestic battery, a violation of Penal Code section 273.5, a misdemeanor. He was placed on 3 years probation, ordered to pay a fine, and attend a 52 week batterer’s class, and serve 41 days in jail. Washington—Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) announced their bipartisan Emergency Wildfire and Public Safety Act has been scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on September 16, 2020. Feinstein and Daines recently wrote to the committee requesting a hearing for their bill. “More than 2 million acres have already burned this year in California, and the situation is getting worse by the day,” said Feinstein. “This is a crisis all across the Western United States. We need the ability to responsibly clear dead trees and other biomass that will otherwise feed these destructive and often deadly wildfires. I’m pleased our bipartisan bill will receive a hearing and hope it quickly moves through the Senate. We can’t afford to do nothing while these fires get worse every year.” “As deadly wildfires continue to spread across Montana and the West, it is important now more than ever that we advance this bipartisan forest management reform bill,” said Daines. “This hearing will demonstrate how our legislation will help protect at-risk communities, create jobs and contain wildfires before they get out of hand.” Feinstein and Daines also sent a letter this week to Senate leadership urging quick passage of their bipartisan bill given the recent catastrophic wildfires in California, Montana and the West. Full text of the letter is available here. The senators wrote, “If we don’t take strong action now, we worry that what’s happening to California and Montana will soon become the new normal in every state in the West. We urge you to help us pass this important, bipartisan piece of legislation as quickly as possible.” Last month, Senators Feinstein and Daines introduced the Emergency Wildfire and Public Safety Act, a bipartisan bill to help protect communities from catastrophic wildfires by implementing critical wildfire mitigation projects, sustaining healthier forests that are more resilient to climate change and providing important energy and retrofitting assistance to businesses and residences to mitigate future risks from wildfire and power shutoffs. The House companion bill is being led by Reps. Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.) and Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.). Date of Incident: 09/11/2020 Time of Incident: 6:31 PM On Friday, September 11, 2020 at approximately 6:31PM, the Plumas County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center received a request for assistance from the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office, who reported a reckless driver they were attempting to apprehend was traveling west bound on Highway 36 toward Plumas County. The vehicle was described as a green Chevrolet pick-up with a black camper- shell. A PCSO Deputy spotted the vehicle traveling westbound on Highway 36 near the Plumas Lassen County Line. As the Deputy turned his patrol vehicle around the pick-up truck quickly accelerated away from the Deputy. The Deputy activated his emergency lights and siren and pursued the vehicle. During the approximate20 mile pursuit the suspect vehicle was paced at several speeds varying from 50 MPH to 90 MPH and committed a multitude of traffic violations. The pursuit ended about one mile into Tehama County after a CHP Officer successfully deployed spike strips and disabled the suspect vehicles two front tires. After about 15 minutes of attempting to negotiate the driver out of the vehicle a non-lethal bean-bag projectile was used to break out the passenger side window of the truck for further negotiation and preparation to deploy a K9 from the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office. After breaking out the window, the driver and sole occupant exited the pick-up. He was safely taken into custody without further issues. The driver was identified as 49 year-old Donald Cota of Oroville, CA. Cota was transported to the Plumas County Correctional Facility where was booked for the following charges: 2800.2 of the California vehicle Code – Felony evading, 148(a)(1) of the Penal Code – Offense against public justice (Obstruction), and 11364 of the Health and Safety Code – Possession of drug paraphernalia. We would like to thank the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office, California Highway Patrol, and Susanville Police Department for their assistance. Chico – On Thursday, September 10, 2020 a CAL FIRE hand crew bus was destroyed by fire while battling the North Complex, West Zone. The crew was working in the area east of Forbestown Road, one of the very active areas of the fire. Due to changes in weather patterns and the dry fuel conditions the fire quickly progressed to area of the road where the crew bus was located. Even though the crew bus was destroyed, the crew was able to continue with their assignment on the fire. There were no injuries. The incident is currently under review and there will be no further information at this time. CAL FIRE is committed to providing the public with regular incident updates and information. During past incidents, Butte County residents have demonstrated kindness and compassion through strong community networks. Residents are encouraged to continue the same level of support for their neighbors that they have in the past. ## # |
