LOWER LAKE, Calif. – When the Clayton fire tore through Lower Lake last month, it destroyed homes and businesses in a county already staggered by wildland fires.

After the firestorm had passed, one of the casualties of the fire was Habitat for Humanity Lake County's office on Main Street in downtown Lower Lake.

While the building was gutted, the organization's mission is still standing strong. It's relocated to new headquarters in Clearlake and is moving ahead with its plans to build new homes for wildland fire survivors while, at the same time, continuing its longtime mission of serving low-income Lake County families who need quality housing.

“We're in pretty good shape,” said Habitat for Humanity Lake County President Richard Birk. “Luckily, we found an office very quickly.”

The organization had rented its previous building, and now has moved to a new rental at 15312 Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake, behind Foods, Etc. and owned also by the supermarket's owner, Dennis Darling, according to Birk.

“We're probably going to be here for quite some time,” Birk said.

Along with getting a new office, Birk said Habitat has received assistance in furnishing it.

Westamerica Bank donated furniture and computers to Habitat from a Central Valley bank it had just purchased, he said.

“We're here and ready to serve people,” said Birk.

Most of the group's records were kept in the Internet cloud, but some more recent paperwork was lost in the fire, Birk said.

As a result, he asked that anyone who had come into the office to apply for Habitat programs in the six weeks before the fire contact the new office to make sure that they have the information on file.

On Aug. 11, just two days before the Clayton fire began, Habitat for Humanity broke ground on its 20th home in Lake County.

The groundbreaking at the home site in Clearlake where the Pantoja family's new home will be built included a blessing of the ground conducted by Pastor Father Bernard D'Sa of Queen of Peace Catholic Church.

Birk said that the property was in the Clayton fire evacuation area. Now, however, work is moving forward on the project, he said.

Beyond that, the organization has many other projects on its plate, including working to finalize a Rocky fire home replacement – in the form of a modular home to be installed in the Double Eagle Ranch subdivision east of Clearlake Oaks – plus plans to assist survivors of the Valley fire and now the Clayton fire, according to Birk.

Birk said Habitat for Humanity has a “long list” of Clayton fire families it plans to help.

Days after the fire, Habitat for Humanity joined the Clayton fire's Local Assistance Center in Lower Lake, where it began gathering information on families in need, Birk said.

He said Habitat also is still gathering information and applications from families impacted by the Valley fire.

Birk said Habitat has purchased a home in Clearlake has is being rehabilitated for a Valley fire survivor.

The group also is picking up donated lots in the Cobb area. Birk said they have title on two lots and may be getting another three, all of which can be used for new homes.

Habitat continues to get donations from individuals and organizations. Birk said Walmart also donated $25,000 to Habitat a few months ago.

In addition, Birk has Habitat has continued to receive support for its veterans assistance program from the Home Depot Foundation.

Since 2014, the foundation has given Habitat from $150,000 to $200,000 annually for that veterans program, with the repairs needed to be finished within a year, he said.

Birk said Habitat also is continuing its general home repair program for low-income community members.

There also have been donations particularly now in response to the Clayton fire, he said.

In August, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. gave Habitat for Humanity Lake County $25,000 to help with rebuild the local office, as Lake County News has reported.

For those wanting to help, donations may be made via PayPal at www.lakehabitat.org ; contact Savings Bank of Mendocino at 707-462-6613; or send a check to Habitat for Humanity at P.O. Box 1830, Lower Lake, CA 95457. 

Besides donations of money, Birk said Habitat continues to need volunteers to help with construction at work sites. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 707-994-1100, and follow Habitat for Humanity of Lake County on Facebook.

For those who want to apply for assistance, contact the organization through the email or phone number above.

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.