SACRAMENTO – Have you ever dreamed of working for one of the largest firefighting agencies in the world?

Now is the time to apply. Cal Fire is currently accepting applications for seasonal firefighter and defensible space inspector (forestry aide) positions throughout the state for 2016.

“Working for Cal Fire can open the door to many exciting opportunities for someone interested in a career in forestry or fire protection”, said Chief Dave Teter, Cal Fire’s deputy director for fire protection. “The experience gained by working for our department can lead to a fulfilling career serving the public, protecting lives, property and California’s precious natural resources.”

Cal Fire’s seasonal positions can work up to nine months out of the year at any of Cal Fire’s over 350 facilities including fire stations, air bases and state forests from the Oregon border down to the Mexican border.

Each year Cal Fire hires approximately 2,300 seasonal firefighters and forestry aides.

Defensible space/forestry aide

This position’s primary role will be performing defensible space inspections and interacting with the public to provide fire prevention information as well as working at one of Cal Fire’s demonstration state forests.

Experience and education in forestry, fire prevention, firefighting, natural resource management or conservation is necessary.

The final filing date is Dec. 4, 2015.

For more information, follow this link: http://jobs.spb.ca.gov/wvpos/more_info.cfm?recno=644664 .

Seasonal firefighter

A seasonal firefighter is the entry level position in Cal Fire’s firefighting ranks. Seasonal firefighters respond to a wide variety of emergency and natural disaster incidents including wildfires.

The position requires not only emergency response, but is also responsible for repair and maintenance of equipment  and tools, as well as general facility housekeeping,

The minimum qualification for this position is to be 18 years of age, although experience and education in fire suppression and control is desirable.  

The final filing date is Jan. 31, 2016.

For more information, follow this link: http://calfire.ca.gov/about/downloads/careers/2016_FFI_Bulletin.pdf .

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Many pets were left behind to fend for themselves during the wildfires in California’s Calaveras and Lake counties resulting in serious injuries, death or disappearance.

This occurred because the fire came so fast many survivors had no time to save the animals.

"Pets are members of the family. You wouldn't want to leave a family member behind during a disaster would you?" said Deputy State Coordinating Officer Charles Rabamad. "Having a plan and emergency kit for your pets is just as important as having them for your mother, father, sister or brother."

With predictions of more severe weather and flooding this winter due to El Niño now is a good time to develop both a family and pet emergency plan.

Here are some tips on what to include in your pet plan:

• If your pet doesn’t have a microchip, ask your veterinarian about the possibility. Make sure your pet’s tags are up-to-date and fastened to its collar. If possible, attach the address and/or phone number of your evacuation site. If your pet gets lost, its tag is its ticket home.

• Make sure your pet’s immunizations are current and keep a copy of the veterinary records with you.
Take a photo of your pet and keep it with you for identification purposes.

• Make a pet emergency kit. You should have enough pet food, bottled water and medications for three days. Also, pack cat litter and pan, manual can opener, food dishes, leash and collar, brush, blankets, a first aid kit and other supplies. A full list of items to include can be found online at www.Ready.Gov . Information also is available at www.Cal-cares.com and www.CDFA.ca.gov .

• If you plan to shelter in place, identify a safe area of your home where you can all stay together. Put all emergency supplies in that room ahead of time, including your pet’s crate and supplies.

• Consider checking with your local animal control agency or emergency management office now to determine if a pet-friendly shelter is available in your area. Make a list of boarding facilities and veterinary offices that might be able to shelter animals in disaster emergencies.

• Make a buddy system with your friends or neighbors as a back-up emergency plan if you cannot care for your animals yourself. The buddy system will assure that someone is available to care for or evacuate your pets if you are unable to do so.

Those with larger animals such as horses, cattle, sheep, goats or pigs should also plan for these animals by:

• Ensuring all animals have some form of identification.
• Evacuating animals whenever possible. Map out primary and secondary routes in advance.
• Making sure vehicles and trailers for transporting animals as well as experienced handlers and drivers are available.
• Ensuring destinations have food, water, veterinary care and handling equipment.
Survivors can register for FEMA assistance online at www.disasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362; TTY 800-462-7585; 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

Registration continues through Nov. 23.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Blankets for the Children of Lake County and the Konocti Education Center have partnered up to give away handmade blankets to children of all ages. 

In January Debi Kinney of Kelseyville began quilting blankets for the children in need of Lake County, with a goal of making at least 100 blankets.

She has given approximately 40 away to the Lake County Sheriff's Office to give to children with whom they come into contact.

The remaining blankets will be given away on Dec. 9 at the Konocti Education Center.

The center is asking for nominations of children to receive these blankets. 

A nomination form can be found at http://goo.gl/forms/IJ4fFwqfyK .

Visit the Blankets for the Children of Lake County Facebook page or the Konocti Education Center Facebook page for more information.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Innkeeper Karan Mackey, her mother Ruth, and Karan’s sisters Jill and Marlene have transformed the rooms of the Lakeport English Inn to feature magical angels among the holiday decorations and English tea settings for this year’s “Victorian Christmas Faire and High Teas.”  

The faire is open to the public from 11 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays between Nov. 20 and Dec. 20.

Admission to the faire is free.

High tea at the inn, 675 N. Main St., Lakeport, is served every Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the faire with seatings at noon and 3 p.m.

Tea reservations are required. Call 707-263-4317 to reserve space and inquire about prices.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Valley Fire Recovery Coordinator Carol Huchingson, will not be holding office hours from Nov. 23 to 27, the week of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Huchingson will resume regular office hours on Nov. 30.

Huchingson's office is located in the back office at the Gibson Museum & Cultural Center at 21267 Calistoga at Callayomi streets in Middletown.

Regular office hours are held Mondays from 1 to 3 p.m., and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to noon.

These hours do not include the weeks of Thanksgiving or Christmas.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake Transit is kicking off the holiday season on Monday, Nov. 23, with new schedules featuring the return of Route 2 service to Cobb, revised evening hours, and more frequent North Shore service with better connections.

The schedules are in a new Rider's Guide booklet available on buses, at Lake Transit ticket sales locations, and many other places around the County.

Schedules also are available at www.laketransit.org .

Route 2 returns to its regular bus schedule serving Cobb Mountain communities along Highway 175 between Middletown and Kit's Corner on Highway 29.

The schedule includes four round trips daily to Anderson Springs, Cobb and Loch Lomond.

Connections are available at Middletown to Route 3 between Lower Lake and Calistoga, and at Kit's Corner to Routes 4 and 4A with service to Lower Lake, Soda Bay, Kelseyville and Lakeport. These connections also offer the fastest service between Middletown and Lakeport.

According to Transit Manager Mark Wall, “We are thankful this holiday season that we are restoring this service. It is the most important thing we are announcing.”

Evening hours return to many areas of the county on Monday.

Service in Clearlake, Lakeport and along the North Shore typically operate until 8 p.m. or later on weekdays, and until 6 p.m. or later on Saturdays.

In Clearlake and Lower Lake Routes 10 and 11 will run two hours later each evening with service ending at 8:45 p.m.

Route 12 will end at 6:49 p.m. and the night time only Route 5 service is discontinued. 

Lake Transit expects that riders will find the new schedules easier to use.

In Lakeport, the new Route 8 weekday bus schedules operate until 8:20 p.m. northbound to the Sutter Lakeside Hospital, and until 8:40 p.m. southbound to Mendocino College.

Route 1 travelers along the North Shore between Lakeport and Clearlake will be thankful for more frequent day time service and better connections to other bus routes. 

There are now 11 roundtrips per weekday with westbound buses leaving Clearlake from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m., and eastbound buses leaving Lakeport from 6:35 a.m. until 8:20 p.m.

The new Route 1 schedules are designed to provide smoother connections at Clearlake and Upper Lake for all passengers using Routes 1, 3 or 7 linking Napa County, Middletown, Clearlake the North Shore (Clearlake Oaks, Glenhaven, Lucerne, Nice, Upper Lake), Blue Lakes, and Ukiah.

Good connections remain at Clearlake and Lakeport for links to other Lake Transit routes.

For more information, please go to www.laketransit.org or call 707-994-3334.