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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – Nearly a week after the Wye Fire began burning along two areas of Highway 20, firefighters fully contained the incident.
Cal Fire reported Saturday morning that the Wye Fire – burning since last Saturday afternoon – had reached 100 percent containment.
The incident includes two different fires east of Clearlake Oaks – the Wye, at Highway 20 and Highway 53, and the Walker, at Walker Ridge Road, in Lake and Colusa counties.
Cal Fire Incident Management Team 4, which has been based at the Lake County Fairgrounds, is managing the two fires as one.
Altogether the Wye Fire burned 7,934 acres, with firefighters stopping the expansion of acreage about midweek, when personnel on scene totaled more than 1,200.
A total of three structures were burned and two were damaged during the week, with Cal Fire still investigating the fire's cause. Three injuries also were reported to firefighters.
Evacuations had been in effect early in the week in the Spring Valley and Wilbur Hot Springs area, and Highway 20 had been closed through Monday evening, as Lake County News has reported.
Crews were continuing to be demobilized on Saturday. Cal Fire said 138 personnel remain on scene, along with 10 engines, four fire crews, one helicopter, two bulldozers and three water tenders.
Cal Fire reported that crews would continue to patrol and work the area after full containment was reached.
Highway 20 east of Clearlake Oaks is still under a strictly enforced 45 miles per hour speed limit due to firefighters and fire equipment continuing to work in the area. Hunting also has been restricted 10 miles north and south of Highway 20, between Highway 53 and Highway 16.
Agencies cooperating with Cal Fire included the Lake and Colusa County Sheriff's offices, California Highway Patrol, Caltrans, Pacific Gas & Electric, Red Cross, Bureau of Land Management, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and dozens of fire agencies from around the state. The Mendocino National Forest said its firefighters also had assisted on the fire.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A meeting for residents in the Spring Valley, New Long Valley, and Old Long Valley areas who were impacted by recent wildfires will be held on Monday, Aug. 20.
The meeting will take place from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Moose Lodge, located at 15900 E. Highway 20 in Clearlake Oaks.
District 3 Supervisor Denise Rushing will lead the meeting, with participation from state and local agencies including first responders and those that provided support and assistance.
For more information call 707-263-2368.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
LOWER LAKE, Calif. – The service of a search warrant on Thursday by the Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force, California Department of Fish and Game, California Highway Patrol and the Lake County Sheriff’s SWAT Team has resulted in one arrest, the seizure of marijuana and dogs, and the recovery of a stolen vehicle.
Sgt. Steve Brooks said 32-year-old Matthew Ritchie Vines of Lower Lake was arrested during the operation.
On Thursday at approximately 7:15 a.m. narcotics detectives assisted the California Department of Fish and Game with the service of a search warrant for Vines’ person and home, Brooks said. Also assisting Fish and Game was Lake County Code Enforcement and Lake County Animal Control.
When officers arrived, Vines and a female adult were detained without incident, Brooks said.
During the search, officers located 180 marijuana plants that Vines admitted were his. Vines said he was a member of a marijuana cooperative, according to Brooks.
Fish and Game Officers investigating the case determined that Vines had built a large dam which blocked a seasonal creek. Brooks said the investigation revealed that Vines was diverting water from the creek to water his marijuana plants.
Numerous firearms were located in several different locations on the property along with a vehicle which had been reported stolen out of Texas, Brooks said. Vines had told officers that he and his female companion had recently moved from Texas to Lake County.
Also located on the property were 13 adult dogs and several puppies. Brooks said the dogs did not have an adequate supply of water or food and appeared to be suffering from malnutrition. Lake County Animal Control Officers seized the animals and sought medical attention for them, with one of the animals appearing to have a facial injury.
Vines was arrested for cultivation of marijuana, vehicle theft, possession of a stolen vehicle and water diversion. Brooks said he was transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and Booked.
His bail was set at $15,000. Jail records indicated he later posted the required percentage of bail and was released.
The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force can be reached through its anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A special enforcement sweep conducted in Clearlake on Monday netted five arrests.
Clearlake Police Det. Ryan Peterson said officers from the Lake County Gang Task Force conducted the sweep in the city of Clearlake.
The Lake County Gang Task Force sweep agencies involved included the Clearlake Police Department, Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Lake County Probation and California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation State Parole, Peterson said.
During the operation Clearlake residents James Jordan, 28; Forrest Ranous, 33; Shy Savok, 21; David Row, 29; and Shavon Vestal, 31, were arrested for numerous different violations and booked into the Lake County Jail, according to Peterson.
During the enforcement sweep, numerous other CDCR Parole and Lake County Probation searches were conducted in regard to known criminal street gang members as defined by penal code 186.22 otherwise known as the Street Terrorism Enforcement and Prevention Act, Peterson reported.
He said it’s the goal of the Lake County Gang Task Force to prevent criminal street gang activity in the county of Lake to flourish as it has in many other communities.
Peterson said the task force contacts known criminal street gang members, tracks gang trends and enforces local and state laws.