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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – Containment edged up on the Wye Fire burning east of Clearlake Oaks on Wednesday, with Highway 20 fully reopened and air quality conditions improving.
In a Wednesday evening update, Cal Fire said the Wye Fire was staying steady at 7,934 acres, with 75 percent containment.
The Wye Fire consists of two fires being managed as one – the Wye Fire, near the intersection of Highway 20 and Highway 53, and the Walker Fire, near Walker Ridge Road, inside Lake and Mendocino counties.
Full containment is expected on Monday, according to Cal Fire spokesman Kevin Colburn, who was stationed at the incident command center at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Lakeport.
To date, there have been three injuries – all minor and to firefighters, according to Cal Fire officials.
There also have been three structures destroyed and two damaged, officials reported.
On Wednesday the remaining evacuations on the fire were lifted in the Wilbur Hot Springs area and Highway 20 was fully reopened to through traffic.
Motorists were warned that speed limits would be strictly enforced and additionally urged to be cautious because fire personnel and equipment remain at work in the area.
Fire personnel still assigned to the incident included 1,254 firefighters from Cal Fire and agencies around the state, 133 engines, 28 fire crews, four helicopters, 10 dozers and eight water tenders.
The Lake County Air Quality Management District on Wednesday issued a report anticipating air quality in the “good” category, but warning of the possibility for “moderate” to “unhealthy” conditions closer to the fire. The district urged caution as conditions can change rapidly.
Cal Fire said the fire’s cause remains under investigation.
The Wye Fire Call Center can be reached at 707-967-4207 or 707-967-4208; Lake County Air Quality Management can be reached at 707-263-7000.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
LAKEPORT, Calif. – A Clearlake man could receive a life prison sentence for his conviction last week in a 2009 burglary case.
Last Friday a jury found Joseph Michael Girk, 47, guilty of burglarizing two separate homes in Clearlake in September 2009, according to the Lake County District Attorney's Office.
The jury also determined that Girk committed thefts at both residences, which constituted two additional felony convictions, the District Attorney's Office reported.
Girk is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 19. Under California’s “Three Strikes Law,” because Girk had at least two prior strike offenses at the time he committed the four new felonies, he may face life in prison as a result of these most recent convictions.
His attorney, Barry Melton, declined to comment on the case.
Girk, who was arrested on Sept. 7, 2009, remains in custody awaiting the sentencing hearing.
Both residential burglaries occurred in September 2009.
The evidence at trial revealed that Girk entered the two homes when the residents were not present and stole jewelry and other items once inside.
Sgt. Dominic Ramirez of the Clearlake Police Dept. spearheaded the investigations into both burglaries.
The jury announced their unanimous verdicts on Friday, Aug. 10. Senior Deputy District Attorney John DeChaine prosecuted the case. Judge Andrew Blum presided over the jury trial.
The District Attorney’s Office also had alleged several special allegations against Girk, including that Girk had been convicted of three prior residential burglaries in 2001 and that he had served three separate prison sentences prior to the two burglaries for which he stood trial this year.
The three prior prison terms were for a second degree burglary conviction in 1989, a receiving stolen property conviction in 1994, and the three residential burglaries in 2001.
The jury was not aware of the defendant’s prior criminal record when they returned their unanimous guilty verdicts on Aug. 10.
In a separate proceeding, on Tuesday, Judge Blum found that the District Attorney’s Office proved the special allegations that the defendant had in fact suffered the three prior strike convictions as well as the three prior prison terms beyond a reasonable doubt.
The three prior residential burglaries also were to Lake County homes, the District Attorney's Office reported.
Residential burglary is categorized as a strike in California and Girk now has been convicted of five such strike offenses, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – Officials said Wednesday afternoon that the stretch of Highway 20 east of Highway 53 to Interstate 5 has been reopened to through traffic.
The portion of highway between Highway 53 and Highway 16 has been only open to single-lane, escorted traffic since Monday, when it was reopened in the wake of the Wye Fire.
The fire had burned 7,934 acres by Wednesday morning, with 70 percent containment, according to Cal Fire.
The highway was reopened as of 2 p.m., according to county and fire officials.
The maximum speed limit in the areas of the fires is 45 miles per hour and will be enforced by the California Highway Patrol.
The public is asked to use extreme caution when driving in areas where crews are working to provide for firefighter safety.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
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CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – As firefighters continued to gain ground on the Wye Fire on Wednesday, residents of another evacuated area were allowed home.
Cal Fire said the Wye Fire has hit 7,934 acres, with containment at 70 percent Wednesday morning.
The Wye Fire incident includes two fires being managed as one: the Wye Fire – burning near Highway 20 and Highway 53 – and the Walker Fire, near Walker Ridge Road, inside both Lake and Colusa counties.
At 10 a.m. Wednesday the evacuation order was lifted for the Wilbur Hot Springs area. Spring Valley residents, who had been evacuated on Sunday, were allowed to go home the following day.
Another injury was reported on the incident Wednesday, bringing the total to three, according to Cal Fire.
No additional damage to homes or property has been reported.
Fire personnel on scene Wednesday included 1,219 fire personnel from Cal Fire and many other agencies, 157 engines, 28 fire crews, two air tankers, eight helicopters, 24 bulldozers and 14 water tenders, according to Cal Fire.
Highway 20 east of Highway 53 to Highway 16 remained under single-lane traffic control, with the California Highway Patrol continuing to escort motorists through the area due to safety concerns.
Cal Fire’s incident management team said it was evaluating its fire operations in the area of the highway, with the goal being to reopen Highway 20 to full traffic sometime on Wednesday.
Cal Fire still as not reported what caused the fires, which remain under investigation.
Lake County remains under an air quality alert on Wednesday for “moderate” to “unhealthy for sensitive individuals” conditions due to the fires, particularly in the Northshore, Clearlake and the county’s eastern areas, according to the Lake County Air Quality Management District.
For information about highway closures, call Caltrans at 800-427-7623; the Wye Fire Call Center can be reached at 707-967-4207 or 707-967-4208; Lake County Air Quality Management can be reached at 707-263-7000.
Email Elizabeth Larson at