HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – The Hidden Valley Lake Association reported that it is moving forward with closing its campground – which has been made available for free to Valley fire survivors – for the winter season.

The association said that, in the nearly three months since the Valley fire broke out, its campground has been a refuge for as many as a couple of hundred displaced people.

The county of Lake and HVLA had an agreement for fire survivors' free use of the campground that ended on Oct. 25, as Lake County News has reported.

Officials said it was necessary to end the agreement in order to avoid survivors losing benefits from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

However, HVLA allowed campers to stay there, and before Thanksgiving county Social Services staff held a resource fair at the campground where 11 families registered for assistance, according to a report given to the Board of Supervisors last week by Carol Huchingson, Social Services director and county recovery coordinator.
        
At that time, however, Huchingson reported that it was time for the campground to close due to weather conditions as well as a number of issues that have arisen, particularly with people who are not fire survivors coming to make use of the free facilities and the utilities available there.

Sheriff's deputies also have responded to the campgrounds due to fights, officials reported.

The association reported that it is working with the county of Lake and other social services agencies to support efforts to find more permanent facilities for the remaining individuals and families.

The campground lies in a flood zone, officials said. With the expected El Niño rains this winter and the imminent threat of the campgrounds flooding from nearby Gallagher Creek, the county and the association imposed a Dec. 7 deadline for closing the facility.

As of Monday afternoon, the 18 people who remained in the campground were preparing to move, according to the association, which reported that it was about to begin its usual efforts to winterize the tent and RV sites.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.