USDA, DOI, FEMA provide firefighters, aircraft, grants to support local partners combating fires

Federal partners are working closely with first responders and firefighters from local, state and tribal agencies to combat and monitor wildfires in Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming as well as other states.

Through the National Interagency Fire Center, which coordinates resources from the US Forest Service, Department of the Interior and other federal agencies, firefighters, incident management teams, airtankers, helicopters, fire engines and other resources are being provided to supplement state and local resources as teams continue to respond to fires across the West.

As of Tuesday, there were 19 active large fires burning in nine states, including one of the largest wildfire in New Mexico history and one of the largest wildfires in Colorado history.

To help fight these damaging fires, federal agencies have made approximately 4,500 firefighters available to aid in efforts to suppress and contain the fires.

On Monday, the Forest Service announced the agency has mobilized eight additional aircraft to its firefighting fleet to ensure that an adequate number of airtankers are available for wildland firefighting efforts.

With these additional airtankers, the Forest Service has 16 large airtankers and one very large airtanker available immediately for wildfire suppression.

The Forest Service has the capability to mobilize an additional 11 large airtankers, should circumstances require it.

Additionally, the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior fire agencies can mobilize hundreds of helicopters and dozens of smaller aircraft, called “single-engine airtankers.”

To ensure states have the financial support they need, FEMA has provided Fire Management Assistance Grants to states with active large fires. These grants help cover eligible costs, on a 75 percent cost share basis, and can reimburse state and local costs associated with personnel and equipment used to combat fires.

On Saturday June 9, FEMA authorized the use of federal funds, through the Fire Management Assistance Grant Program (FMAG), to help with eligible firefighting costs for the High Park Fire located in Larimer County, Colorado and the Little Bear Fire located in Lincoln County, New Mexico. On May 26, an FMAG was approved for the Whitewater-Baldy Complex fire located in New Mexico.

While extremely serious fires are burning in several states, to date the season has been below average, meaning that additional resources remain available should they be necessary.

“We continue to support our state, local, and tribal partners as they work to contain and suppress the wildfires burning in the West,” said Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. “Our fire managers are bringing extensive resources to bear to respond vigorously to those wildfires threatening lives, communities, and cultural and natural resources, and we stand ready to provide additional eligible resources as necessary.”

“We’re bringing the full range of our federal, tribal, state, local and non-governmental resources together to manage these wildland fires and reduce risk to communities,” said Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. “We remain vigilant and continue to do all we can to ensure the safety of all firefighters in this challenging wildlife season.”

“FEMA continues to closely monitor the fires in several southwestern states, and is providing financial support through our Fire Management Assistance Grant program to assist efforts, led by firefighters, public safety officers, and emergency personnel, to fight and mitigate the volatile wildfire conditions,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano.

On average the USDA Forest Service and the Department of the Interior bureaus respond to more than 20,000 wildfires per year.

Federal firefighters, aircraft and ground equipment are strategically assigned to parts of the country as the fire season shifts across the nation.

Firefighting experts will continuously monitor conditions and move these assets as necessary to be best positioned and increase initial attack capabilities.

In addition, federal agencies are conducting accelerated restoration activities nationwide that will result in healthier forests and will lessen fire risks in years to come.

Federal land managers are also helping communities prepare for wildfire. Federal partnerships with tribal, state and local agencies strengthen preparedness programs, such as Firewise , http://www.firewise.org/ , and Ready Set Go!, http://www.iafc.org/readySetGo, that help families and communities prepare for and survive wildfire.

You also can visit FEMA’s Ready.gov at www.ready.gov to learn more about steps you and your family can take now to be prepared for an emergency.

Lake County Fair entry system now open; entry deadline set for Aug. 8

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Just about anything you can make or grow at home is eligible for entry into competition at the annual Lake County Fair.

The contest entry system is available now at www.lakecountyfair.com , with a final deadline of Wednesday, Aug. 8.

New contest categories are available for fly tying, wine barrel creations, recipes, decorative gourds, and decorated gift boxes, while several contest areas added in 2011 will also return, including the salad in a wheel barrow contest, new categories for honey and olive oil, and a number of new classifications of flowers.

All together, nearly three thousand competitive classes are offered, with prize money available in nearly all of them.

Exhibitor Contest Handbooks are available starting the middle of June in a variety of locations around Lake County, including the Greater Lakeport Chamber of Commerce, the 4-H office, senior centers, the Farm Bureau office, Kelseyville Drug, Rainbow Ag, Hardester's Markets, Middletown Feed, Lakeshore Feed, Riviera Foods, the Clearlake Chamber of Commerce, Pet Acres and the Redwood Empire Fair.

Lake County Fair contest entry forms must be filled out on the Internet. Contestants can access the forms from any computer with Internet access at the fair's Web site, www.lakecountyfair.com .

A high speed Internet connect is required. Computers are available in a variety of places, including schools, libraries and the fairgrounds office. Fairgrounds staff will be happy to assist contestants who visit the fairgrounds office during regular business hours.

Contestants are well advised to avoid the last minute rush and get their entries completed early.
 
One of Lake County's favorite summertime events, Lake County Fair is enjoyed by nearly 40,000 people each year, making it the largest single event in the county.

Lake County Fair features a variety of entertainment, food, exhibits, a carnival, and livestock shows, and traditionally occurs Labor Day weekend each year at the fairgrounds in Lakeport.

The 2012 fair dates are Thursday, Aug. 30, through Sunday, Sept. 2.
 
The Lake County Fair Board has chosen "Summer's Biggest Blast!" for the theme of the 2012 Fair.
 
The fair will continue its unwritten policy supporting local talent for 2012, and will feature many bands from the local area.

In addition, the Lake County Fair Talent Competition will take place on Saturday, Aug. 2, on the main stage.

Visitors also can take part in many impromptu talent opportunities, including a paddle ball contest, squirt gun contest, bubble gum blowing contest, hula hoop contest, fruit sculpture contest, and water balloon toss, all activities which will occur during the 2012 event.
 
A new low cost ticket promotion will debut in 2012, thanks to a partnership with Lake County Can. Visitors to Lake County Fair on Friday, Aug. 31, will receive free admission between the hours of four pm and seven pm if they donate four cans of food.

All food collected will be used to replenish food pantry operations in Lake County.
 
For more information about the Lake County Fair, residents can check www.lakecountyfair.com for regular updates, "like" the Lake County Fair's Facebook page, or call 707-263-6181.

Native Youth Olympics takes place June 29

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The annual Native Youth Olympics will return to the Lake County Fairgrounds this month.

The fun event, meant to inspire healthy competition among the county's young tribal members, will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, June 29, at the fairgrounds, 401 Martin St. in Lakeport.

The Lake County Tribal Health Consortium Inc. is sponsoring the event as part of its diabetes program.

An opening prayer will take place at 9 a.m.

The games will begin promptly at 9:30 a.m.

Main events during the morning will include t-ball, water balloon toss, softball throw, sack race, three on three basketball and the 25 yard run.

Lunch will be served at noon.

The tug-of-war will take place at 12:45 p.m., followed by a 1:15 p.m. awards ceremony and a raffle at 1:40 p.m.

For more information call Lake County Tribal Health at 707-263-8382, Extension 186.