MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Sen. Mike McGuire and Assemblyman Bill Dodd are joining state agency officials, Lake County representatives and nonprofit leaders in Middletown on the evening of Thursday, June 23, for the “Lake County Strong Town Hall: A Community Update on Valley Fire Recovery & Rebuilding Efforts.”

The town hall will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Middletown High School, 20932 Big Canyon Road.

A free hot dog barbecue hosted by Calpine will take place before the meeting at 5:30 p.m.

“Since the devastating Valley fire hit south Lake County, thousands have mobilized and over $100 million has been invested in the recovery and rebuilding efforts,” Sen. McGuire said. “While we’ve made significant progress, there is a lot of work in front of us and we’re looking forward to the conversation at our June 23 town hall.”

In total, the deadly Valley Fire scorched more than 76,000 acres, caused $1.2 billion in damage, destroyed 1,330 homes, and nearly 1,900 businesses and agricultural buildings were lost, 20,000 people were evacuated in a matter of hours.

The fire also cost four Lake County residents their lives.

The town hall will be an opportunity for all residents to participate in an important conversation and hear updates from McGuire; Dodd; Nancy Ward, California Office of Emergency Services chief deputy director and Charles Rabamad, OES assistant director for recovery; Scott Smithline, director of CalRecycle, the agency charged with cleanup efforts; and Chief Scott Upton of the Cal Fire Northern Region.

There also will be reports from the county of Lake, including Board of Supervisors Chairman Rob Brown, Sheriff Brian Martin, Lake County Public Works Director Scott De Leon, Lake County Environmental Health Director Ray Ruminski and the Lake County Planning and Building Department.

Also providing updates will be representatives from local nonprofit organizations to discuss donation distribution since the Valley fire.

They will include Brett Martinez and Steve Falk, Lake County Fire Victims Relief Fund; Patty Bruder, North Coast Opportunities, Lake County Fire Relief Fund; John Ruiz, Red Cross, Northern California Coast Region; and Kaj Ahlmann, Lake County Rising.

“From day one, we have been active and engaged in the massive recovery and rebuilding process and we’re looking forward to bringing all of the agencies back together, to provide the community a comprehensive update on the state and county’s work over these past nine months,” McGuire said.