Six months ago, I lost my house in the Valley fire. I wanted to let the community know that after losing my house, the biggest, and currently only, obstacle to rebuilding has been the county of Lake.
 
The state of California cleaned my lot in a timely manner. The insurance company proceeds are sitting in the bank. My architect and contractor have been very responsive.
 
Ray Ruminski from Lake County Environmental Health has not been returning phone calls to my builder for over two months. My septic permit application has been sitting unanswered at the Environmental Health office for over four weeks.

The house that I lost was only eight years old and environmental laws cannot have changed that much. 

It is sad that the governmental organization that should be encouraging rebuilding and healing is the one keeping us from returning to our homes.
 
I miss living in Lake County. I want to come home.
 
Craig Waters' home in Anderson Springs was burned in September 2015 during the Valley fire. He is living in San Francisco while he attempts to rebuild.