LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Air quality issues resulting from the devastating Camp fire in Butte County are continuing to lead administrators in a majority of Lake County’s schools to cancel classes due to health concerns for students.

The Lake County Office of Education said the following schools and districts will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 15:

– Clearlake Creativity School;
– Hance Community School;
– Kelseyville Unified School District;
– Konocti Unified School District;
– Lake County International Charter School;
– Lakeport Unified School District; and
– Middletown Unified School District.

Separately, the Kelseyville and Konocti districts reported that they anticipate to be closed for the remainder of the week and won’t resume classes until Nov. 26, after Thanksgiving break.

Middletown Unified reported that it will be closed for the remainder of the week, unless conditions dramatically improve. The conditions also led the district to cancel it Wednesday night board meeting.

The following school districts will be open on Thursday:

– Upper Lake Unified School District; and
– Lucerne Elementary Unified School District.

Lake County Office of Education preschools will follow the lead of their host school. If the host school is closed, the preschool will close.

School staff throughout Lake County will continue to actively monitor air quality levels to ensure student safety.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – On Wednesday Gov. Jerry Brown surveyed wildfire damage in Butte County along with federal officials and issued an executive order to cut red tape and help streamline recovery efforts in communities impacted by the devastating wildfires that continue to burn across the state.

During his visit, Brown held a briefing at the Incident Command Post in Chico with state, local and federal officials, including U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, FEMA Administrator Brock Long and the state’s top fire and emergency management officials.

“We can’t avoid catastrophe but we can prepare for it, we can recover from it – and we will,” Gov. Brown said at the Incident Command Post in Chico. “This community is pulling together – the first responders, firefighters, sheriffs, police and everyone else, including neighbors helping one another. Now is the time for solidarity.”

Gov. Brown also met with residents impacted by the Camp fire at the Incident Command Post in Chico and visited the site of Paradise Elementary School, one of more than 10,300 structures destroyed in the fire.

The executive order issued Wednesday includes provisions that: expedite cleanup and removal of debris from the fires; extend the state’s prohibition on price gouging during emergencies; expedite the use of suitable fairgrounds and state properties for temporary sheltering of fire survivors; suspend planning and zoning requirements and state fees for manufactured homes and mobile home parks to help displaced residents with housing needs; streamline regulations to allow hospitals and other health facilities impacted by the fires to remain open; and allow for the accelerated hiring of additional personnel for emergency and recovery operations.

On Monday, Gov. Brown announced that the state has secured a presidential major disaster declaration to bolster the ongoing emergency response and help residents recover from fires burning in Butte, Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

On Sunday, the governor officially requested a major disaster declaration and joined leaders of the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, Cal Fire, California Highway Patrol and California National Guard to provide an update on firefighting efforts at the State Operations Center in Mather, which has been activated to its highest level and is coordinating with local, state and federal emergency response officials to address emergency management needs.

A state of emergency has been declared in Los Angeles, Ventura and Butte counties due to multiple fires and late last week, California secured direct federal assistance to further support the impacted communities – within 24 hours of making the request.

Federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits have also been made available for workers who lost jobs or had work hours substantially reduced as a result of the wildfires in Butte, Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

Information on additional resources for residents impacted by the fires is available at http://wildfirerecovery.org/.

The USDA Forest Service reported that it is supporting fire suppression efforts in California, where two massive wildfires burn at opposite ends of the state.

Both fires – the Camp in Butte County and the Woolsey fire in Los Angeles and Ventura counties – started on Nov. 8

“The people of California are in need of our support,” said James Hubbard, Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment. “USDA’s Forest Service firefighters and law enforcement are standing shoulder to shoulder with our citizens, state and local partners to help communities recover and stop the devastation.”

At 138,000 acres in size, the Camp fire in the north started along the edge of the Plumas National Forest within the State Responsibility Area.

In just a week, the fire has devastated the town of Paradise in Butte County, where more than 10,300 structures have been destroyed and 56 fatalities have been reported.

An additional 15,500 structures, along with major power, transportation, and communications infrastructure, continue to be threatened. Another 8,876 acres have burned on private timber lands and Plumas National Forest.

At only 35-percent containment, the fire shows little sign of slowing down.

“Firefighters and law enforcement from the city, county, state, and Federal levels are proving their tenacity and resolve in answering their call to service. We owe them our gratitude,” said Hubbard.

The Forest Service is in unified command with Cal Fire, the Butte County Sheriff’s Office and the Paradise Police Department by providing 485 personnel, including five crews, three helicopters, 66 engines and two bulldozers.

The Forest Service is also supporting the Butte County Sheriff’s Department by providing 26 law enforcement investigators to help respond to a backlog of 911 calls. Law enforcement investigators also are conducting welfare checks of citizens unaccounted for and assisting with mandatory evacuations.

To the south, the Woolsey fire is burning in Ventura and Los Angeles counties.

The fire has already claimed three lives, burned 98,362 acres, including 83 percent of all National Parks Service land in the Santa Monica Mountains. To date, the fire has claimed more than 500 structures and continues to threaten an additional 57,000 structures.

The Woolsey fire was 52-percent contained as of Wednesday night, and is being fought by a team led by Cal Fire, the Ventura County Fire Department, Ventura County Sheriff Department, Los Angeles County Fire Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff Department and the National Park Service.

The USDA Forest Service has also provided 174 personnel to assist, including three crews and 20 engines.

The cause of both fires is still under investigation.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Continuing air quality issues due to the devastating Camp fire in Butte County have led several Lake County school districts to decide they will be closed for the remainder of the week.

On Tuesday night, Kelseyville, Konocti and Middletown Unified school districts announced closures for the rest of this week, while Lakeport Unified reported that it will be closed on Wednesday.

Kelseyville and Konocti Unified district officials reported on Facebook that those districts would resume normal operations on Nov. 26, after the Thanksgiving vacation.

The Upper Lake Unified School District reported that its governing board decided that schools there will remain open, and that monitoring of the situation will continue.

Lucerne Elementary School reported that it also will be open on Wednesday.

The Lake County Office of Education’s Hance Community School and Clearlake Creativity School will be closed on Wednesday, as will all of its preschools, with the exception of Lucerne. The agency said its preschools follow the lead of the host school.

As of Tuesday night, the Camp fire had burned 130,000 acres and nearly 8,000 structures, with 48 confirmed dead, making it the most devastating fire in California’s recorded history.

A number of local school districts had been closed late last week due to the smoke from the Camp fire, which began Thursday, as Lake County News has reported.

On Tuesday morning, following the Veterans Day weekend, Lakeport Unified, the Lake County Office of Education’s Hance and Clearlake Creativity schools, Lucerne Elementary, Kelseyville Unified, Konocti Unified and Middletown Unified canceled classes. Upper Lake Unified remained open.

In explaining the air quality conditions, Air Pollution Control Officer Doug Gearhart of the Lake County Quality Management District said Tuesday that smoke from the Camp fire settled in and remained throughout Lake County in the overnight hours, with most areas experiencing heavy smoke or haze with air quality reaching “unhealthy” to “very unhealthy” ranges.

The Tuesday night closure decisions followed air quality testing completed earlier in the day in school district classrooms and other common indoor areas with assistance from the Lake County Air Quality Management District, according to Rob Young, emergency preparedness and special projects coordinator for the Lake County Office of Education.

During Tuesday’s indoor testing, it was determined that the air quality rating was unhealthy for sensitive groups in many classrooms and school buildings. Children under the age of 18 are considered a “sensitive group,” Young said.

Young said school staff throughout Lake County will continue to actively monitoring air quality levels to ensure student safety.

In making their separate announcements, district officials explained the closures in light of those testing results.

Lakeport Unified Superintendent April Leiferman said in a post on the district’s Facebook page on Tuesday night that, although the air quality outside had improved a bit on Tuesday, the inside air was tested in classrooms and buildings throughout the district.

“Unfortunately, all classrooms that were monitored registered in the unhealthy for under 18 and unhealthy range. This means that even with the doors closed, the inside air is still too smokey for our children,” Leiferman wrote.

Similarly, Middletown Unified reported on its Facebook page that officials there discovered “discovered that the air quality in some of our classrooms and gym, after four days of being closed up, is at unhealthy levels or high moderate levels, very close to unhealthy. Our concern must always be the health of our students and staff.”

The post continued, “A second consideration is that all children are considered a sensitive group in terms of air quality. This means they need to stay indoors when air quality index is higher than 100. The forecast is for our air quality to stay well above 100 for the rest of the week. With the air quality in our classrooms being close to unhealthy or unhealthy, staying indoors may not be a healthy option.”

While acknowledging the unhealthy air quality conditions, Mendocino College said Tuesday that all of its locations were open for normal business hours going forward unless otherwise posted. The district encouraged everyone on campus to wear N-95 masks when outside with masks available at the vice president’s office on the Ukiah campus while supplies last.

The Lake County Campus of Woodland Community College said classes will be in session on Wednesday, with instructors to work with students who are unable to attend classes.

The Web site PurpleAir showed air sensor readings around Lake County that predominantly were in the “unhealthy” range, which conditions in Clearlake Oaks and in Cobb in the lower “warning” category.

Gearhart said Tuesday that Lake County’s air quality conditions remained in the “unhealthy” range.

He said the overnight forecast indicates a potential for settling of smoke into the basin. In areas that become impacted by smoke, “unhealthy” or “hazardous” air quality may be experienced. With light Northwest winds in the forecast, there is a potential for improving conditions through this week.

Weather forecasts do not show significant improvement in the next few days, but minor variations in wind direction can result in improved conditions, and all Lake County residents should be prepared for smoke throughout the region until the fire is out, Gearhart said.

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.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – At its meeting last week the Clearlake City Council welcomed new staff members, honored longtime employees, heard a report on the city’s Halloween event and discussed park projects.

The Nov. 8 meeting started off with Police Chief Andrew White swearing in new police Officer Britanya Shores and dispatcher Taylor Mackey.

Shores, a Clearlake native, initially was hired by the department in 2017 as a community services officer and attended the Basic Police Academy at the Santa Rosa Junior College Public Safety Training Center.

Mackey grew up in Middletown, graduating from Middletown High School, and taking college courses and working several jobs – including in a restaurant, as an instructional aid and a medical assistant – before her hire as a dispatcher.

“Welcome to the team,” Mayor Bruno Sabatier told them.

Several city staffers also received certificates of appreciation for service: Renee Crabbendam, payroll clerk; Police Officer Trevor Franklin; Sgt. Tim Hobbs; and Wendy England, police dispatcher.

White said one of the challenges his department is facing is recruitment and retention, which are priorities. He thanked the employees for their dedication and the work they do. “We all think about your safety all the time.”

Sabatier presented a proclamation declaring November as Native American Month proclamation to City Manager Greg Folsom, a member of the Choctaw tribe.

Folsom said he’s one of the few tribal members in California who is a city manager, and said Lake County is unique because of tribal membership in local governing bodies. He referred to the Board of Supervisors, which includes Moke Simon of Middletown Rancheria and, after the start of the year, EJ Crandall, of Robinson Rancheria.

Also on Thursday, City Clerk Melissa Swanson reported on the 10th annual City Hall-Oween, which hosted hundreds of community members.

This year’s theme was superheroes, and the all-donation event was organized by Tina Viramontes, Nicki Burrell and Vicki Leonard, Swanson said.

Swanson said they gave out “teal pumpkins” with small toys and pencils for children with allergies.

She said 336 slices of pizza were given out, and she followed up by estimating that Folsom ate a third of them (when Lake County News asked him later about his alleged pizza intake, Folsom denied it).

There also were 343 goodie bags given out during the three-hour event, Swanson said.

Keeping with the superhero theme, Swanson showed a picture of Assistant City Manager Alan Flora dressed as Folsom.

“We had a huge turnout this year, more I think than in any other year,” with the possible exception of a rainy year, according to Swanson.

In other business, on Thursday Folsom took to the council a discussion of potential programs for inclusion in the state Community Development Block Grant application.

The CDBG program authorizes the use of funds to assist low- and moderate-income families or aid in the prevention or elimination of slums and blight, according to Folsom’s written report.

Folsom told the council that the city held a hearing on Sept. 18 to discuss projects to apply for, with a second public hearing likely to take place in January.

He said the city is eligible to apply for one shovel-ready project, but the total cost can’t exceed $3 million. That project would need to be under construction within 12 months of the award.

Based on a study of the requirements, city staff’s top recommendations to the council were the Austin Park and Highlands Park rehabilitation projects, he said. The application is due in January with an award expected in the spring.

In response to questions from council members, Folsom estimated that the Austin Park project would be more than $2 million if the new pier is included, and about $1 million without it. Highlands Park would take more than $1 million for the park and $500,000 for road improvements.

Folsom recommended using the grant to pursue the Highlands Park work, explaining that other efforts are afoot to fund Austin Park.

He said the city’s grant consultant, Adams Ashby Group, which is completing the application, believes the city has a higher potential for success in securing the funds with Highlands Park.

Council members ultimately supported putting Highlands Park at the top of the list.

“I’m in favor of Highlands Park without forgetting Austin Park,” said Sabatier.

At the Thursday meeting Chief White also gave a demonstration of the new Animal Control Department’s kennel tracking software; the council approved an agreement with Tyler Technologies for provision of InCode 10 software and related services to upgrade the city’s finance, payroll and purchasing systems; a proposed agreement between the city and the county of Lake for collection of special taxes, assessments, fees, charges and abatements was approved; and held a public hearing for the second reading and adoption of building code amendments to the Clearlake Municipal Code; and the council held a first reading of an ordinance to amend Clearlake Municipal Code regarding sidewalk vendors and door-to-door sales in order to comply with new state law.

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.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Holiday food boxes will be available to those in need.

A cooperative undertaking among Lakeport Rotary, NCO Community Action, Lake County Hunger Task Force, Lake Family Resource Center, and the Lake County Record Bee, the boxes will be distributed in December before the holidays.

The funds for this food comes from the Lake County Holiday Fund which was collected during last year’s holiday season, as well as a grant from the Lake County Wine Alliance.

Funds for next year’s program will be collected from generous donors in our communities through Umpqua Banks branches and WestAmerica Bank branches during this year’s fund drive.

Registration for holiday food boxes for the communities of Kelseyville, Finley, Lakeport, Upper Lake, Nice and Lucerne and will be accepted beginning Monday, Nov. 26, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Lake Family Resource Center, located at 5350 Main St. in Kelseyville.

Applicants must provide a photo ID and proof of physical address. The first 500 people will receive boxes on Wednesday, Dec. 19, at an assigned time. Times will be assigned upon registration.

Registration for holiday food boxes for those living in Glenhaven, Clearlake Oaks, Spring Valley, Clearlake and Lower Lake will be conducted beginning on Tuesday, Dec. 4, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Lower Lake Park, located at 16375 Second St.

On Wednesday, Dec. 5, registrants can come to either the Clearlake Oaks United Methodist Church from 9 to 11 a.m., located at 12487 The Plaza in Clearlake Oaks, or the Highlands Senior Center from 1 to 5 p.m., located at 3245 Bowers in Clearlake.

The last opportunity to register will be on Thursday, Dec. 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., again at the Highlands Senior Center.

The first 700 people will receive boxes at an assigned time on Saturday, Dec. 15. If 700 people register before Dec. 6, there will be no further registration conducted. Just as with the other boxes, registrants must have a photo ID and proof of physical address.

The final day to register for Spirit of the Season boxes, for those living in Cobb or Middletown, will be Wednesday, Nov. 21, at the United Community Church in Middletown, from 4 to 6 p.m., located at 15833 Armstrong. Those boxes will be distributed at a location to be announced upon registration.

In all locations, only one box per address will be allowed.

KELSEYVILLE – An upcoming fundraiser will support the work of Operation Tango Mike.

On Saturday, Nov. 17, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Operation Tango Mike and KonocTees Screen Printing will host Tees for Troops, at 3897 Main St. in Kelseyville.

Various apparel choices will be available and the Operation Tango Mike logo will be emblazoned while you visit. A portion of profits from each purchase will be donated to Operation Tango Mike.

The all-volunteer nonprofit continues to ship 90 to 100 monthly care packages to deployed military personnel.

Visitors are invited to drop by the event to learn more about Operation Tango Mike, to bring donations of items for care packages and to peruse the selection of items offered by KonocTees.

“This event supports our troops, Operation Tango Mike and local business. It’s a win-win-win,” said Ginny Craven, founder of Operation Tango Mike.

Clay Godbout, a military veteran and owner of KonocTees said,“This is an easy way for people to get what they want, rather it’s a hoodie or tee shirt. It’s a good way to do Christmas shopping and support the troops too.”

On the third Thursday of every month, volunteers gather at 6 p.m. at Umpqua Bank, 805 11th Street, Lakeport, to prepare care packages for the troops.

Packing parties are family friendly and children are encouraged to participate.

For further information or to add someone to the care package recipient list, please call 707-349-2838 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area Office is pleased to welcome its new commander, Lt. Randy England.

Lt. England took charge of the Clear Lake Area on Monday, Oct. 1, after having served as the commander of the Garberville Area for the past two years.

He succeeds Lt. Hector Paredes, who retired in August, as Lake County News has reported.

England graduated from the CHP Academy in 1997 and was assigned to the San Francisco Area for the first year and a half of his career.

He transferred to the Ukiah Area in December of 1998 and was privileged to be assigned many duties during his tenure in Ukiah.

England has served as public information officer, range officer, physical methods of arrests officer and court officer. He also served in the Mendocino Major Crimes Task Force for over three years.

He was promoted to sergeant into the Garberville Area in 2012.

“I have lived in this area for the majority of my life, and over the past two years, I have been privileged to serve as the commander for the Garberville Area,” said Lt. England. “I am honored and excited to work in this community and with the allied agencies, as well as providing the highest level of service to the people of Lake County.”

KELSEYVILLE Calif. – Local officials will hold a meeting this week with Kelseyville residents to discuss fire mitigation.

The meeting will take place beginning at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14, at Riviera Elementary School, 10505 Fairway Drive.

One of the key lessons of the past four fire seasons, during which 60 percent of the landmass of Lake County has been burned by wildfire, is that disaster can strike anywhere, anytime.

Lake County is fortunate to have some of the most experienced, strongest and best coordinated disaster response teams in the state of California, but what can we do to stop fires before they start?

It is most productive to recognize the probability that the ongoing presence of brush and other fuels could eventually lead to wildfire, and do all that we can to reduce and mitigate the risk to our communities.

At the Wednesday meeting, representatives from Cal Fire, Kelseyville Fire Protection District, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, county administration and the insurance industry will join Supervisor Rob Brown for a public forum to discuss options for fire mitigation, with an emphasis on four communities: Buckingham, Clear Lake Riviera, Riviera Heights and Riviera West.

The discussion will include proposal of a county service area zone of benefit, as enabled by California Government Code Section 25210, for the purpose of removing brush and other wildfire fuel sources from private property.

All county residents are welcome to attend, but this discussion will be most specifically relevant to the 5,000 property owners that comprise the communities of Buckingham and the Rivieras.

“District 5 residents are aware it has been my privilege to serve in coordination with our firefighters and other first responders during each of our eight wildfire events since 2015, to stand with county residents, and bring a bit of comfort to those displaced from their homes, to connect people with resources in their time of great need,” Brown said.

Brown said it’s an even greater opportunity to work with many of those same partner agencies to find ways to proactively protect our communities from disaster, to harden neighborhoods against the threat of fire.

For more information, Brown may be reached at 707-349-2628.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council has approved the purchase of several new vehicles for the Lakeport Police Department’s fleet.

The main item of business on the council’s agenda for Tuesday, Nov. 6, was the proposed purchase by Police Chief Brad Rasmussen of four new fully outfitted 2019 Dodge Charger patrol vehicles.

The city has been gradually upgrading its police vehicles. The four new Chargers would replace aging Crown Victorias, Rasmussen said.

Matt Mazzei Chevrolet and Precision Wireless, both of Lakeport, were the low vendors for the vehicles and the equipment upgrades, respectively. Rasmussen said both asked for the 10-percent local vendor preference the city offers.

Watch Guard is a sole source provider for mobile audio video units required for each vehicle, Rasmussen said. He said the purchase only includes two MAV units, as they can reuse two of the MAVs in the current vehicles for several more years.

He said the total purchase package for the four vehicles is about $163,000, well below the $180,000 budgeted for the cars in the current fiscal year budget.

Councilman Kenny Parlet lauded staff for keeping the purchases local. “I think this is a great move,” and an investment in local business, he said.

Councilman George Spurr pointed out that, originally, the city was only going to get two new police vehicles per year. However, due to savings in past years – based on the hard work of staff to stay within budget – they can now afford all four.

Councilwoman Stacey Mattina moved to approve the purchase, which the council approved 5-0.

During the half-hour meeting the council also will approved having City Manager Margaret Silveira execute a professional services agreement with Foster Morrison Consulting for the development of the hazard mitigation plan.

The Nov. 6 meeting also featured the Lakeport Main Street Association presenting several awards to local businesses.

The awards included Business of the Quarter for the year’s second quarter, O'Meara Brothers in Lakeport; Taste of Lake County People's Choice Favorite Restaurant, Mis Chelas Mexican restaurant in Upper Lake; Taste of Lake County People's Choice Favorite Beverage, Kelseyville Brewery; and Business of the Quarter for the third quarter, Gaslight Grill in Lakeport.

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.

110618 Lakeport City Council agenda packet by LakeCoNews on Scribd

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Police Department said that an apartment building that was damaged in a Sunday night fire remains closed to residents.

The Bel Aire Apartments at 1125 N. Main St. caught fire on Sunday evening, as Lake County News has reported.

Police said that the apartment complex remains closed.

Police and fire investigators were on scene most of the day investigating the cause of the fire. So far, they’ve not reported on a finding.

Additionally, the complex has significant damage and is being posted against occupancy. The police department said it did not yet know when residents may be able to return.

Any apartment complex residents who have not yet contacted Red Cross are asked to call them for any needed assistance at 707-832-5482. Anyone having questions for the city of Lakeport can call City Hall at 707-263-5615 after 8 a.m. Tuesday.

Anyone found attempting to enter the property is subject to arrest for violations of the California Penal code or Lakeport Municipal Code.

City of Lakeport staff are in communication with Red Cross and the property owner and will advise residents of any changes.

Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. on Monday announced that the White House has approved California's request for a presidential major disaster declaration, submitted Sunday, to bolster the ongoing emergency response and help residents recover from devastating fires burning in Butte, Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

“We have a real challenge here, threatening our whole way of life,” said Gov. Brown alongside the state’s top emergency management officials yesterday at the State Operations Center. “It is a time of sadness, but also one to reflect on where we are and resolve to pull together and do everything we can to help those in need.”

A presidential major disaster declaration helps people in the impacted counties through eligibility for support including crisis counseling, housing and unemployment assistance and legal services.

It also provides public assistance to help state, tribal and local governments with ongoing emergency response and recovery, including the repair and replacement of disaster-damaged facilities and infrastructure, including roads, bridges and utilities.

The declaration includes hazard mitigation, which helps state and local governments reduce the risks and impacts of future disasters.

On Sunday, Gov. Brown joined leaders of the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, Cal Fire, California Highway Patrol and California National Guard at the State Operations Center in Mather to provide an update on the ongoing firefighting efforts.

Major fires burning in Northern and Southern California have claimed lives and caused extensive damage to residences and infrastructure.

The Camp fire in Butte County, which as of Monday night had burned 117,000 acres, claimed dozens of lives and decimated the town of Paradise, is already the most destructive fire in modern California history.

The Hill and Woolsey fires in Southern California have burned more than 98,000 acres. More than 8,000 firefighters are working the front lines of wildfires statewide.

A state of emergency has been declared in Los Angeles, Ventura and Butte counties due to multiple fires and late last week, California secured direct federal assistance to further support the impacted communities – within 24 hours of making the request.

The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services has activated the State Operations Center to its highest level and is coordinating with other local, state and federal emergency response officials to address emergency management needs.

Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance tomorrow by registering online at http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired.

The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.

More information on the FEMA disaster declaration process can be found here.