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- Written by: Lake County News reports
Effective at 8 a.m. Monday, Nov. 1, Cal Fire will transition into winter preparedness mode, the agency reported.
The transition will include a reduction of seasonal firefighters – 185 personnel – as well as winter closing of selected Cal Fire fire stations and the end of fixed-wing aircraft for the season, officials said.
Cal Fire said the air tankers and air attack resources were released from service on Oct. 26, once the heavy rains blanketed the local area reducing the threat of a wildland fire.
However, Unit Chief Tim Streblow encourages residents to remember that even with increased rainfall, dry winds can still result in increased fire danger as fuels become dry.
The burn suspension was lifted on Oct. 25, but Cal Fire urged property owners interested in conducting control burns to check with their local fire agency and air pollution district to ensure they meet all fire and air pollution permit requirements prior to burning.
The unit includes the State Responsibility Areas (SRA) within six counties, Sonoma, Lake, Napa, Yolo, Solano and Colusa.
The Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit responded to more than 545 wildland fires within the six counties during the peak season, according to a Thursday report. The vast majority of these fires were less than 10 acres, due to aggressive initial attack by Cal Fire and local fire agencies.
Residents creating and maintaining 100 feet of defensible space around their homes had a major role in keeping these fires small, reducing the threat to life and property, the agency said.
“Creating a defensible space around structures has lead to many positive outcomes for the homeowner, as well as the firefighters who protect these structures during a wild and incident,” Streblow said.
Cal Fire reported that it will continue to respond to medical aids, hazmats, earthquakes and floods, or any statewide emergency from staffed stations throughout the unit.
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At 6 p.m. Wednesday the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office was contacted by the Mendocino Redwood Co. regarding Eric Grant, a company forest service technician whose truck had been located in the 200 block of North Highway 1 in Albion, according to Liz Evangelatos, an administrative assistant with the sheriff's office.
Evangelatos said sheriff's deputies were advised that Grant, a Fort Bragg resident, commonly takes his lunch breaks at the area of the bluffs in the afternoon, but did not return his truck to work or home.
Deputies, with the assistance of Mendocino Redwood Com. employees, Albion Fire, the U.S. Coast Guard and others searched the area of the bluffs as well as the trails and area of the sea shore to no avail.
At 9 a.m. Thursday the Mendocino County Search and Rescue team also joined the effort, which Evangelatos said is continuing.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
Thompson urged seniors to ignore an informational card sent from the “National Processing Center” warning about impending cuts to Medicare.
The mailing reportedly includes an informational card requesting personal information that it then asks the recipient to mail back.
“This mailing is a scam,” said Congressman Mike Thompson. “It is not official or factual.”
He added, “Do not be frightened of it or allow them to take advantage of you. Congress is investigating it.”
Those who receive the mailer in Lake County can make a consumer complaint to the California Attorney General's Office at http://ag.ca.gov/consumers/general.php.
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Lake County’s joint fire and air quality management district’s open burning program has incorporated both fire safety and air quality management since 1987. County officials say that the program has greatly contributed to the community’s superior fire safety and air quality.
Cal Fire said the recent wet weather has alleviated the dry fuel conditions which triggered the permit suspension earlier in the summer in the State Responsibility Areas.
“Although the suspension has been lifted, permits are still required, and that despite the welcomed rainfall, a period of dry windy condition could dry fuels to the point where wild land fires are possible,” said Cal Fire Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit Chief Tim Streblow.
Both local and state officials emphasized that burn permits are still required for all burning.
Contact your local fire protection agency for a burn permit or the Lake County Air Quality Management District to obtain a Smoke Management Plan.
A smoke management plan is required for all burns over 20 acres in size, multi-day burns, standing vegetation burns, and whole tree or vine removals over an acre.
A fee is required for all burn permits, payable at the time the permit is issued. Agricultural and Residential burn permits, as well as Smoke Management Plans, are $22 and Land Development/Lot Clearing burn permits are $68.
Only clean dry vegetation that was grown on the property may be burned. Residential burn permits
require a one-acre or larger lot, a burn location that is located at least 100 feet from all neighbors and 30 feet from any structure. Lot Clearing burns require special permits available at your local Fire Agency.
Burn only the amount of material that can be completely consumed during the allowed burning hours. Read your “burn permit” carefully and follow all the conditions.
Each day of the burning season is designated as a “no burn day,” a “limited burn day” or a
“permissive burn day.”
On “no burn days” all open burning is prohibited, unless an exemption has been given for a specific burn. Burning is generally allowed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. only on permissive burn days. Read your permit for allowed hours of burning.
To determine the daily “burn day” status, use the contact information found on your issued burn permit.
Consider using the vegetative waste pickup provided with your waste collection services or composting
as an alternative to burning leaves. Contact your local fire safe council for chipping information. For
South County go to www.southlakefiresafecouncil.org or your local fire station, for all other areas of the county call 707-279-2968.
The law requires that an able-bodied adult supervise all fires. Burning even a small amount of illegal
material can result in toxic ash and smoke that contain cancer-causing substances and contribute to other health problems. Burning prohibited materials can also result in significant fines.
Some people have smoke allergies and/or respiratory problems and their health is degraded by even small amounts of smoke. Please be considerate of your neighbors.
A permit does not allow you to create health problems for others and you can be liable for fines and other costs associated with your burning. Thank you for your cooperation this burn season.
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