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CLEARLAKE, Calif. — A wildland fire late Monday night prompted evacuations in the outskirts of Clearlake, and was followed early Tuesday morning by a second fire.
The fire, in the 12000 block of San Joaquin Avenue at Palomar Drive, was first reported just after 10 p.m.
Following the initial dispatch, a firefighter reported over the radio that he could see it from Adventist Health Clear Lake Hospital across town.
Within minutes of dispatch Lake County Fire Chief Willie Sapeta called over the radio for law enforcement to respond as he said there would be the need for evacuations.
At that point, Sapeta also requested that the Mendocino National Forest send an engine and a water tender to assist.
Radio reports said there were multiple structures threatened in the fire area.
The Clearlake Police Department sent an email alert about the fire at 10:15 p.m., asking people to avoid the area and reporting mandatory evacuations for Carter Lane and advisory evacuations for Mendocino Avenue.
Minutes later, firefighters reported that people were blocking the road on San Joaquin, making it so that equipment couldn’t get through.
Cal Fire’s helicopter from the Boggs Helitack did reconnaissance over the area. In addition, dispatch requested a night vision helicopter respond from Napa.
Based on radio traffic, firefighters made good progress quickly, and before 11 p.m. they reported that hose line was all around the fire. At that time, the Napa helicopter was canceled just after it had lifted off.
At 12:10 a.m. Tuesday, Clearlake Police sent a followup message to the community reporting that the evacuation warning for the Mendocino Avenue area had been lifted, but that the evacuation order for Carter Lane would remain in effect until 4 a.m.
Police also asked that people avoid the area due to fire personnel working at the site for the remainder of the night.
The fire was reported contained at 12:26 a.m. Tuesday, with incident command starting to release resources about 15 to 20 minutes later.
At the time of containment, a final size wasn’t reported.
At about 12:45 a.m. Tuesday, a new fire was reported near the Cache Creek Apartments on Dam Road.
Some units, including Chief Sapeta, were released from the San Joaquin fire to respond to the new start.
Units arriving on scene found that a tree was on fire and spreading into the vegetation.
Saptea reported over the radio that the fire was about 30 feet by 30 feet in size, with a slow rate of spread.
The Dam Road fire, which burned an estimated one-eighth of an acre, was reported to be out just before 2 a.m.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
CLEARLAKE, Calif. — The Clearlake City Council this week will discuss a fire mitigation fee program, an agreement for a school resource officer, and updates to management staff benefits and salary schedule.
The council will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 18, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
The agenda can be found here.
The meeting will be broadcast live on the city's YouTube channel or the Lake County PEGTV YouTube Channel.
Community members also can participate via Zoom. The webinar ID is 893 9230 7654, the pass code is 379358. One tap mobile is available at +16694449171,,85482512914#, or join by phone at 669-444-9171 or 253-205-0468.
On Thursday, the council will meet one of July’s adoptable dogs, will host a swearing-in of new police department employees, receive the 2023 annual tourism report and present a proclamation declaring July 2024 as Parks Make Life Better! Month.
Under business, the council will discuss a mitigation fee program on behalf of the Lake County Fire Protection District.
The council also will consider a memorandum of understanding with the Konocti Unified School District for a full-time school resource officer for the 2024-25 school year.
Police Chief Tim Hobbs’ report said that, under the proposed MOU, Konocti Unified will pay $160,992.62 to fund the cost of the full-time school resource officer, which includes salary, benefits, overtime, training and vehicle usage costs.
“The City can also recover additional overtime costs for other officers used at school events,” Hobbs said.
In other business, Finance Director Kathy Wells will ask the council to consider updates to the city’s management classification and benefits plan and city salary schedule.
Wells said the council is being asked to consider providing a 3% cost of living adjustment to management, as was provided to other bargaining groups beginning July 1.
“It should be noted that over the past five years, prior to Fiscal Year 22-23 the CPI provided to management had fallen behind the COLA provided to all other units, which resulted in increasing compaction of salaries over time,” Wells wrote. “In 22-23 Council voted to approve a 6% COLA to bring management to a level increase over time matching the City’s other bargaining units. Staff recommends Council consider a 3% increase, consistent with other agreements for this year.”
Also on Thursday’s agenda is consideration of holding the first reading of Ordinance No. 270-2024, which amends Section 2-3.7 of the Clearlake Municipal Code to authorize the city manager to sign documents as specified in Government Code Section 40602.
“These documents may include warrants, contracts, conveyances, or any documents requiring the city seal, such as resolutions or ordinances,” Administrative Services Director/City Clerk Melissa Swanson said in her staff report.
Swanson explained that the California Department of Housing and Community Development requested the change due to updates in Government Code sections 40601 and 40602.
On the meeting's consent agenda — items that are considered routine in nature and usually adopted on a single vote — are warrants; minutes of the June 12 Lake County Vector Control District Board meeting; authorization of an amendment of contract with Square Signs LLC for the Digital Marquee Signs Project in the amount of $48,583.75; consideration of amendment to agreement with OpenGov Inc. to expand services to include OpenGov/Cartegraph Suite; continuation of director of emergency services/city manager proclamation declaring a local emergency for winter storms; and notice of expiring committee appointments.
The council also will have a closed session to discuss the liability claims by Gina Doidge and Jeffrey Dryden; labor negotiations with the city’s unrepresented management employees; the city’s lawsuit against Highlands Mutual Water Co.; and the Koi Nation of Northern California’s lawsuit against the city that’s moved to the California Court of Appeal.
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
The council will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 18, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
The agenda can be found here.
The meeting will be broadcast live on the city's YouTube channel or the Lake County PEGTV YouTube Channel.
Community members also can participate via Zoom. The webinar ID is 893 9230 7654, the pass code is 379358. One tap mobile is available at +16694449171,,85482512914#, or join by phone at 669-444-9171 or 253-205-0468.
On Thursday, the council will meet one of July’s adoptable dogs, will host a swearing-in of new police department employees, receive the 2023 annual tourism report and present a proclamation declaring July 2024 as Parks Make Life Better! Month.
Under business, the council will discuss a mitigation fee program on behalf of the Lake County Fire Protection District.
The council also will consider a memorandum of understanding with the Konocti Unified School District for a full-time school resource officer for the 2024-25 school year.
Police Chief Tim Hobbs’ report said that, under the proposed MOU, Konocti Unified will pay $160,992.62 to fund the cost of the full-time school resource officer, which includes salary, benefits, overtime, training and vehicle usage costs.
“The City can also recover additional overtime costs for other officers used at school events,” Hobbs said.
In other business, Finance Director Kathy Wells will ask the council to consider updates to the city’s management classification and benefits plan and city salary schedule.
Wells said the council is being asked to consider providing a 3% cost of living adjustment to management, as was provided to other bargaining groups beginning July 1.
“It should be noted that over the past five years, prior to Fiscal Year 22-23 the CPI provided to management had fallen behind the COLA provided to all other units, which resulted in increasing compaction of salaries over time,” Wells wrote. “In 22-23 Council voted to approve a 6% COLA to bring management to a level increase over time matching the City’s other bargaining units. Staff recommends Council consider a 3% increase, consistent with other agreements for this year.”
Also on Thursday’s agenda is consideration of holding the first reading of Ordinance No. 270-2024, which amends Section 2-3.7 of the Clearlake Municipal Code to authorize the city manager to sign documents as specified in Government Code Section 40602.
“These documents may include warrants, contracts, conveyances, or any documents requiring the city seal, such as resolutions or ordinances,” Administrative Services Director/City Clerk Melissa Swanson said in her staff report.
Swanson explained that the California Department of Housing and Community Development requested the change due to updates in Government Code sections 40601 and 40602.
On the meeting's consent agenda — items that are considered routine in nature and usually adopted on a single vote — are warrants; minutes of the June 12 Lake County Vector Control District Board meeting; authorization of an amendment of contract with Square Signs LLC for the Digital Marquee Signs Project in the amount of $48,583.75; consideration of amendment to agreement with OpenGov Inc. to expand services to include OpenGov/Cartegraph Suite; continuation of director of emergency services/city manager proclamation declaring a local emergency for winter storms; and notice of expiring committee appointments.
The council also will have a closed session to discuss the liability claims by Gina Doidge and Jeffrey Dryden; labor negotiations with the city’s unrepresented management employees; the city’s lawsuit against Highlands Mutual Water Co.; and the Koi Nation of Northern California’s lawsuit against the city that’s moved to the California Court of Appeal.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
CLEARLAKE, Calif. — The candidate filing period for the Nov. 5 General Election has begun, and nomination papers are available for Clearlake City Council members.
The nomination period runs from Monday, July 15, to 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 9.
A list of offices currently up for election can be found on the city’s website.
“The election process at the local level is the heartbeat of our community. It ensures every voice is heard and every vote counts,” said Administrative Services Director/City Clerk Melissa Swanson. “The Administrative Services Department is committed to transparency and accountability, and we are excited to assist residents who are looking to serve Clearlake as City Council members.”
Nomination papers will be issued by Swanson. Interested candidates can make an appointment by email atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by calling 707-994-8201, Extension 106.
If any incumbent does not file to run for office by the deadline on Aug. 9, the filing period for that office will extend until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 14.
Candidates must be registered voters of the city of Clearlake.
The city of Clearlake is a general law city of the state of California operating under the city council/manager plan.
The council is the legislative body, and its members are the community’s decision makers.
The City Council approves the budget, determines public services, and focuses on community goals, major projects and long-term considerations like growth, financing and strategic planning.
The nomination period runs from Monday, July 15, to 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 9.
A list of offices currently up for election can be found on the city’s website.
“The election process at the local level is the heartbeat of our community. It ensures every voice is heard and every vote counts,” said Administrative Services Director/City Clerk Melissa Swanson. “The Administrative Services Department is committed to transparency and accountability, and we are excited to assist residents who are looking to serve Clearlake as City Council members.”
Nomination papers will be issued by Swanson. Interested candidates can make an appointment by email at
If any incumbent does not file to run for office by the deadline on Aug. 9, the filing period for that office will extend until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 14.
Candidates must be registered voters of the city of Clearlake.
The city of Clearlake is a general law city of the state of California operating under the city council/manager plan.
The council is the legislative body, and its members are the community’s decision makers.
The City Council approves the budget, determines public services, and focuses on community goals, major projects and long-term considerations like growth, financing and strategic planning.
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News reports
NORTH COAST, Calif. — Cal Fire Director/Fire Chief Joe Tyler has appointed Matt Ryan as the next Cal Fire Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit chief, effective Monday, July 15.
Ryan, 42, takes over as the Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit, or LNU, chief following Mike Marcucci’s retirement on June 28.
Ryan has intricate knowledge of the unit, having served the entirety of his 24-year Cal Fire career in LNU, and has worked in all five of its divisions since joining the agency as a firefighter in 2001.
“We are excited to have Chief Ryan in this leadership role for the Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit,” said Cal Fire Northern Region Chief George Morris III. “He has comprehensive knowledge of the region, its vast range of vegetation types, political climates, population centers and has fought through its dynamic fire history over the course of his 24-year Cal Fire career.”
In addition to his unit chief duties, Ryan also assumes command as fire chief for the Napa County Fire Department and the South Lake County Fire Protection District.
“I grew up here, have been serving our communities for the past 24 years and have seen the many partnerships evolve as we all come together to work towards keeping our communities safe,” Ryan said. “It will take the continued collaboration on every level, investments in our people, resources and technology that will allow us to fulfill our mission.”
Ryan has served as an incident commander-trainee for Cal Fire’s Incident Management Team 2, is a Type 1 Operations section chief and a qualified air tactical group supervisor.
He has served on many cadres, including being the cadre lead for the Northern Region C-234 firing operations class.
He most recently served as the unit’s deputy chief of state operations since September 2023.
In that role he oversaw LNU’s operations across the six North Bay counties that make up the Unit, the Emergency Command Center in St. Helena as well as the aviation and camp programs.
The year prior, Ryan was the assistant chief of LNU Central Division Operations with responsibilities encompassing training, safety, fleet and capital outlay.
From 2019 to 2022 he was a battalion chief for the training bureau with oversight of all training and EMS operations for the Unit and the Napa County Fire Department.
From 2011 to 2019 Ryan served in the rank of fire captain, working out of Cal Fire stations in Petaluma, Leesville, Clearlake Oaks and inside the LNU Training Bureau, and was a rotational helitack captain at Boggs Mountain.
As a firefighter he worked at Stations 38 in Gordon Valley and 24 at Spanish Flat, in addition to being on the Boggs Mountain Helitack crew.
In 2007 he promoted to the rank of fire apparatus engineer where for four years he was
assigned to the Schedule A program at Station 12 in Yountville.
Ryan, a Sonoma County resident, grew up in the Sonoma Valley and graduated from Sonoma High School in 2000.
He holds an Associate of Science Degree from Butte College.
Ryan, 42, takes over as the Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit, or LNU, chief following Mike Marcucci’s retirement on June 28.
Ryan has intricate knowledge of the unit, having served the entirety of his 24-year Cal Fire career in LNU, and has worked in all five of its divisions since joining the agency as a firefighter in 2001.
“We are excited to have Chief Ryan in this leadership role for the Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit,” said Cal Fire Northern Region Chief George Morris III. “He has comprehensive knowledge of the region, its vast range of vegetation types, political climates, population centers and has fought through its dynamic fire history over the course of his 24-year Cal Fire career.”
In addition to his unit chief duties, Ryan also assumes command as fire chief for the Napa County Fire Department and the South Lake County Fire Protection District.
“I grew up here, have been serving our communities for the past 24 years and have seen the many partnerships evolve as we all come together to work towards keeping our communities safe,” Ryan said. “It will take the continued collaboration on every level, investments in our people, resources and technology that will allow us to fulfill our mission.”
Ryan has served as an incident commander-trainee for Cal Fire’s Incident Management Team 2, is a Type 1 Operations section chief and a qualified air tactical group supervisor.
He has served on many cadres, including being the cadre lead for the Northern Region C-234 firing operations class.
He most recently served as the unit’s deputy chief of state operations since September 2023.
In that role he oversaw LNU’s operations across the six North Bay counties that make up the Unit, the Emergency Command Center in St. Helena as well as the aviation and camp programs.
The year prior, Ryan was the assistant chief of LNU Central Division Operations with responsibilities encompassing training, safety, fleet and capital outlay.
From 2019 to 2022 he was a battalion chief for the training bureau with oversight of all training and EMS operations for the Unit and the Napa County Fire Department.
From 2011 to 2019 Ryan served in the rank of fire captain, working out of Cal Fire stations in Petaluma, Leesville, Clearlake Oaks and inside the LNU Training Bureau, and was a rotational helitack captain at Boggs Mountain.
As a firefighter he worked at Stations 38 in Gordon Valley and 24 at Spanish Flat, in addition to being on the Boggs Mountain Helitack crew.
In 2007 he promoted to the rank of fire apparatus engineer where for four years he was
assigned to the Schedule A program at Station 12 in Yountville.
Ryan, a Sonoma County resident, grew up in the Sonoma Valley and graduated from Sonoma High School in 2000.
He holds an Associate of Science Degree from Butte College.
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News reports