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Local officials reported that Pacific Gas and Electric had indicated rotating power outages were anticipated to happen between 5 and 10 p.m. on Monday, similar to outages that other parts of the state have experienced over the weekend.
However, shortly before 9 p.m. the company said the blackouts weren’t needed based on forecasts at that time for electricity supply and demand.
On Monday, the California Independent Systems Operator, which oversees the state’s power grid, has called a Flex Alert for voluntary conservation through Wednesday due to excessive heat driving up electricity use and putting strain on the grid.
Later in the day, California ISO declared a statewide Stage 2 Emergency. As a result, PG&E said customers in portions of 42 counties – including Lake – were notified on Monday via automated calls about the potential outages.
California ISO canceled the emergency at 7:30 p.m., saying the rotating power outages were not necessary thanks to reduced demand due to consumer conservation and cooler than expected weather, with demand coming in lower than forecast.
Lake County’s weather was considerably cooler than originally forecast on Monday, with thunderstorms with small amounts of rain occurring throughout the day.
The National Weather Service has placed Lake County under a heat advisory through 8 p.m. Tuesday, with temperatures expected to be well over the century mark.
Officials are continuing to urge conservation measures through Thursday because of continuing high temperatures, although the Lake County forecast shows that temperatures could remain around 100 degrees through the weekend and into early next week.
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The California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office said Stephen Collins, 20, of St. Helena and Robert Vogler, 48, of Kennewick, Washington, both suffered major injuries in the wreck, which took place at 1:45 p.m. Friday on Highway 20 west of Walker Ridge Road.
The CHP said Collins was driving his 2014 Chevrolet Volt eastbound in the No. 1 lane at an unknown speed, while Vogler was driving his 2006 Chevrolet 2500 van westbound at 55 miles per hour.
For reasons that the CHP said are unknown, Collins allowed his Chevrolet Volt to cross over the solid double yellow lines into the opposing lane of traffic, directly in Vogler’s path.
The vehicles collided head-on, causing Vogler’s van to overturn, the CHP said.
The CHP said all lanes of Highway 20 were blocked for approximately two hours as a result of the crash.
Collins and Vogler were life-flighted to out-of-area hospitals due to the extent of their injuries, the report said.
The CHP said neither drugs nor alcohol are suspected to be factors in this collision, and both men were wearing their seat belts.
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The new demographics report uses as its basis the 272 cases reported on Monday. That’s an increase of 32 cases since the previous report was issued on Aug. 10.
Public Health reports several key pieces of data: cases by gender, age range, source, and supervisorial district or zip code.
In cases by source, Public Health has traced 138 of the 272 cases to a close contact to a known case, a category up by 22 cases since last week.
That’s followed by 51 cases that are classified as “under investigation,” three less than last week as they’ve been reclassified to other sources; 40 cases are categorized as “other/unknown,” up by seven; 25 are from out of county contacts, an increase of one; and 10 are presumed community transmission, up three; and six cases are classified as presumed occupational contact, up by two. The category for congregate living situations – specifically, the Lake County Jail, with two cases – had no change since the Aug. 10 report.
In the gender category, most cases in Lake County continue to be reported in females. Of the 272 cases, 146 are in females and 125 are in males. Cases in females are up by 13 and up 18 in males since last week. One case was classified as “other/unknown,” up by one from last week.
The largest number of cases – 58 – is once again reported in the 25 to 34 age group, up by four since last week.
As they did last week, the 13 to 24 and 35 to 44 age groups tied for second place; this week, they are at 47 cases each, up from 40 each last week.
Next is the 45 to 54 age group, 37, up by four; and age 55 to 64, with 32, up by two. Age 65 and above and age birth to 12 are tied at 25 each, up by three and four, respectively. The age for one case is reported as unknown, up by one from last week.
The case breakdown by supervisorial district for the week is as follows:
– District 1, Middletown and the south county along with portions of Clearlake: 40 cases, an increase of eight over the week;
– District 2, Clearlake area: 98 cases, up by seven;
– District 3, Northshore area: 50 cases, up by eight;
– District 4, greater Lakeport area: 41, up by six;
– District 5, Kelseyville, Loch Lomond and Cobb: 41 cases, up by three.
– Two cases are labeled as “unknown” for location, no change since last week.
The caseload breakdown by zip code shows, with the increased number over last week in parentheses, is as follows:
– 95422, Clearlake: 97 (7);
– 95453, Lakeport: 40 (6);
– 95451, Kelseyville: 37 (3);
– 95423, Clearlake Oaks: 18 (3);
– 95457, Lower Lake: 15 (no change);
– 95467, Hidden Valley Lake, 12 (1);
– 95485, Upper Lake: 9 (no change);
– 95458, Lucerne: 9 (no change);
– 95461, Middletown: 13 (7);
– 95464, Nice: 13 (5);
– 95426, Cobb: 4 (no change);
– 95435, Finley: 1 (no change);
– 95424, Clearlake Park: 1 (no change);
– 95493, Witter Springs, 1 (no change).
– Unknown: 2 (no change).
The next demographics report is set to be released on Aug. 24.
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MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – Mendocino National Forest officials said that at least 20 fires caused by lightning on Sunday are now burning on the forest and are being managed as one incident.
The August Complex is composed of at least 20 fires, ranging from one-tenth acre to 2,000 acres, with more fires anticipated to surface, forest officials reported.
A California Type 2 Incident Management Team has been ordered to manage the complex and is scheduled to arrive on Tuesday.
Several of the fires in the August Complex spread rapidly and gained ground on Monday, officials said.
The Doe fire, by Valley View Orchard 35 miles northwest of Willows, grew to approximately 2,000 acres and became established in Bear Canyon. The forest said about 100 personnel are assigned to the Doe.
On Monday evening suppression efforts were hampered by thunder cells and strong winds Monday afternoon on two fires west of Elk Creek: Rockwell and Pine Kop.
The Rockwell Fire is estimated at 400 acres and the Pine Kop is estimated at 750 acres, officials reported. These fires are 0-percent contained and have crews and engines committed.
The Box fire in the Snow Mountain Wilderness had minimal growth and stands at 25 acres. The Box is staffed by smokejumpers and aircraft, officials said.
Meanwhile, officials said several other small fires have been contained and will be monitored and patrolled.
Forest officials said they will be implementing a closure for firefighter and public safety on the M9 Road from the forest boundary west to the M4 Road.
Forest visitors should call the office nearest their destination for current information before traveling to the forest.
