CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The city of Clearlake and the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce are excited to announce that the inaugural Soap Box Derby is set for Saturday, Sept. 21.

With only 37 days remaining until race day, its important to register and start soon or miss out on the glory of the winner’s circle.

Registration closes on Sept. 6, so hurry to the Web site and sign up.

“We are thrilled to bring the community this new event. I have been pleased with how excited kids of all ages have been to participate in the inaugural derby and look forward to the friendly rivalries play out on the track,” said Race Director Tina Viramontes.

This inaugural event will be held on the newly constructed Dam Road Extension with four race categories.

The first race will be for the Little Turtles (ages 7-12), followed by the Turbo Teens (ages 13-17), and culminating with the Awesome Adults (ages 18 and up).

The final category will be for the Art Division, where racers will be judged on creativity rather than speed on the course.

Depending on the number of racers, each division will start with timed qualifying races, and finishing with a final heat for all the glory between the top cars with the best times.

All race cars will be inspected after check-in and before they are cleared to race.

Local celebrities and dignitaries Supervisor Bruno Sabatier, Clearlake Police Chief Andrew White, Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce President Denise Loustalot and Clearlake Mayor Russ Cremer will be judging the Art Division champions.

The event is free for spectators. Bring your chair and take a seat along the course or near the finish line.

Food and novelty vendors will be located near the finish line at Konocti Education Center.

Current event sponsors include DM Compassion Center, Hillside Honda, Matt Mazzei Chevrolet, Foods Etc., Lakeside Herbal, Rotary Club of Clearlake, Community First Credit Union, Dale and Karen Valentine, Flowers by Jackie, Enterprise Towing and Konocti Unified School District.

For additional information including online registration and race rules visit https://www.downtownclearlake.com/soap-box-derby .

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Clearlake Animal Control continues to offer many cool dogs who need loving homes.

The kennels also have many dogs that need to be reunited with their owners. To find the lost/found pet section, click here.

The following dogs are ready for adoption.

‘Bernard’

“Bernard” is a male Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix with a short brindle and white coat.

He already has been neutered.

He is No. 280.

‘Cadbury’

“Cadbury” is a female Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix with a smooth medium-length beige coat.

She is No. 1215.

‘Casanova’

“Casanova” is a male German Shepherd mix puppy with a sort blond and gray coat.

He is No. 2457.

‘Frank’

“Frank” is a male American Staffordshire Terrier mix with a short black and white coat.

He is No. 2345.

‘Hamilton’

“Hamilton” is a male German Shepherd with a medium-length brown and black coat.

He is No. 2177.

‘Melonie’

“Melonie” is a female American Pit Bull Terrier mix with a short red and white coat.

She is No. 2428.

‘Mira’

“Mira” is a female Queensland Heeler mix with a short red and white coat.

She is No. 2412.

‘Panther’

“Panther” is a female Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix with a short black and white coat.

She is No. 2418.

‘Sturgill’

“Sturgill” is a male Labrador Retriever mix with a medium-length yellow coat.

He is No. 2460.

‘Tyson’

“Tyson” is a male American Staffordshire terrier mix with a medium-length gray and white coat.

He is No. 1863.

‘Wiley’

“Wiley” is a male German Shepherd mix with a medium-length black and brindle coat.

He is dog No. 2451.

‘Wynn’

“Wynn” is a male American Staffordshire Terrier with a short brindle coat.

Staff said he is a lovely fellow who has been at the shelter for several months.. He loves affection and is available for adoption or through the foster to adopt program.

He’s believed to be about 6 to 7 years old.

He is No. 969.

Clearlake Animal Control’s shelter is located at 6820 Old Highway 53, off Airport Road.

Hours of operation area noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The shelter is closed Sundays, Mondays and major holidays; the shelter offers appointments on the days it’s closed to accommodate people.

Call the Clearlake Animal Control shelter at 707-273-9440, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to inquire about adoptions.

Visit Clearlake Animal Control on Facebook or at the city’s Web site.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This 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 average global temperature in July was 1.71 degrees F above the 20th-century average of 60.4 degrees, making it the hottest July in the 140-year record, according to scientists at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Centers for Environmental Information. 

The previous hottest month on record was July 2016.

Nine of the 10 hottest Julys have occurred since 2005 – with the last five years ranking as the five hottest.

Last month was also the 43rd consecutive July and 415th consecutive month with above-average global temperatures.

The period from January through July produced a global temperature that was 1.71 degrees F above the 20th-century average of 56.9 degrees, tying with 2017 as the second-hottest year to date on record.

It was the hottest year to date for parts of North and South America, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, the southern half of Africa, portions of the western Pacific Ocean, western Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean.

Record-low sea ice: Average Arctic sea ice set a record low for July, running 19.8 percent below average – surpassing the previous historic low of July 2012.

Average Antarctic sea-ice coverage was 4.3 percent below the 1981-2010 average, making it the smallest for July in the 41-year record.

Some cool spots: Parts of Scandinavia and western and eastern Russia had temperatures at least 2.7 degrees F below average.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Police officers on Wednesday arrested a parolee and gang member found to be in possession of a firearm.

Christian Alejandro Estrella, 25, was arrested on Wednesday night, according to the Lakeport Police Department.

At 8 p.m. Wednesday Field Training Officer Tyler Trouette and Officer Ryan Cooley were on routine patrol when they observed Estrella, who lives both in Lakeport and Sonoma County, standing next to his vehicle parked in front of his residence, police said.

Police said Estrella is known to Trouette to be on active state parole and is an active gang member.

The officers contacted Estrella and through the course of their search located an unregistered and loaded 9 millimeter pistol in the center console of the vehicle, which was easily within reaching distance of Estrella, police said.

Police said Officer Cooley placed Estrella under arrest and he was booked into the Lake County Jail on felony charges of a prohibited person in possession of a firearm, a prohibited person in possession of ammunition, concealed firearm not registered owner, concealed firearm in a vehicle, possession of a firearm by persons with prior weapons charge and a parole hold.

Estrella has an extensive history of gang enhancements, weapons charges, assault and robbery, police said.

Lake County Jail records show that Estrella remains in custody on a no-bail hold.

He’s due to be arraigned in Lake County Superior Court on Friday, according to his booking sheet.

A celebration 90 years in the making is under way at the California Highway Patrol.

Through legislation, on Aug. 14, 1929, California witnessed the evolution of traffic enforcement with the creation of a statewide law enforcement agency known today as the CHP.

The purpose of creating the CHP was to provide uniform traffic law enforcement throughout the state.

To this day, assuring the safe and efficient transportation of people and goods on California’s highway system remains the CHP’s primary purpose.

“The history of the CHP is storied tapestry,” said CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley. “Today, we, as an organization, celebrate 90 years of serving the people of this great state, which is possible because of the dedicated women and men who make up the CHP and the support of the public and our traffic safety partners.”

As California continues to grow and change, so does the span of enforcement responsibility of the CHP.

When the organization began in 1929 with its 285 personnel, California had a population of roughly 5.6 million people and 2.1 million registered vehicles.

Today, the CHP is comprised of nearly 11,000 dedicated professionals, uniformed and nonuniformed; California’s population has dramatically increased to nearly 40 million people, with more than 35 million registered vehicles.

The size and responsibilities of the patrol have not been the only changes through the decades.

Women joined the ranks for the first time in 1974, and various types of patrol vehicles have been implemented – including aircraft, horses, and bicycles.

Tragically, in the CHP’s 90 years, 231 officers have laid down their lives in service to the public.

For more on the history of the department, take a virtual tour of the CHP Museum located at http://chpmuseum.org/.

“While the CHP continues to evolve as a law enforcement agency, the priority of the Department and its personnel remains constant - fulfilling our mission while maintaining public trust,” added Commissioner Stanley.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Police Department said it has arrested a man who was caught while committing a burglary.

Damon Robert Monthei, 22, of Lakeport, was arrested on Tuesday evening, police reported.

At 7 p.m. Tuesday, Lakeport Police Sgt. Mike Sobieraj was dispatched to a burglary in progress at the old Natural High School building, owned by the Lakeport Unified School District, in the 800 block of North Main Street, according to the police report.

Police said a witness had called dispatch and advised that she saw a male subject break into the building and then leave the area in a white Ford F-150 pickup truck.

Sobieraj responded to the building and began checking it when he heard banging noises coming from the inside. The report said Sobieraj then located an open door and began making entry where he found a male subject inside and saw him set something down which was later identified as a crowbar. The subject also had another crowbar in his right pants pocket.

Police said Sobieraj arrested the male subject and identified him as Monthei.

During an interview, Monthei admitted that he intended to take things when he got into the building, police said.

Sobieraj continued his investigation and located Monthei’s white Ford pickup a short distance away from the scene, police said.

The police department said it’s not yet known if Monthei is connected to other recent burglaries that have occurred in the city, but police are investigating all possibilities.

“We thank the alert citizen for calling this incident in and would like to remind the public to report all suspicious activities and persons,” the agency said.

Monthei, whose booking sheet lists him as being employed in construction, remained in custody early Thursday on a misdemeanor charge of vandalism and a felony charge of first degree burglary, with bail for the burglary charge set at $50,000.

Jail records show he is scheduled for arraignment in Lake County Superior Court on Thursday.

Monthei was arrested in December for domestic violence, based on jail records.

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra has announced the arrest and arraignment of Dr. Thomas Keller of Santa Rosa for the deaths of five patients.

The patients’ deaths allegedly resulted from Dr. Keller’s practice of overprescribing dangerously high levels of addictive opioids and narcotics to his patients.

Dr. Keller allegedly prescribed powerful narcotics and opioids used to alleviate pain – including Vicodin, oxycodone, OxyContin, Percocet and morphine – at levels well outside accepted medical practice.

Dr. Keller faces multiple criminal charges related to nine patients, including charges of second-degree murder and felony elder abuse in connection with the deaths of five patients.

He was arrested on Monday in Santa Rosa and remains in custody, with further arraignment proceedings and bail review set for Aug. 20 in Sonoma County Superior Court.

“Doctors take an oath to protect patients and not engage in behavior that can risk their health and safety,” said Attorney General Becerra. “When we see evidence of a crime and patient harm, we must act. The opioid epidemic is destroying our communities and taking our loved ones. The California Department of Justice will continue to prosecute fairly and diligently all those who are alleged to have abused our healthcare system and over-prescribe drugs at the expense of their patients.”

The complaint, filed in Sonoma County Superior Court, alleges that between October 2011 and July 2017, Keller prescribed a wide range of highly addictive opioids, and consistently and drastically increased his patients’ opioid prescriptions.

It further alleges that he increased patients’ opioid dosage while prescribing medications such as Soma, a muscle relaxant and benzodiazepines – both of which are known to cause a dangerous drug interaction when taken with opioids.

Authorities said Keller often prescribed at maximum dosages and in quantities upwards of 180-300 pills per prescription, resulting in total daily opiate prescription dosages that far exceeded the recommended 50 mg Morphine Equivalent Dosage standard set forth by the Centers for Disease Control.

Keller is alleged to have continued his dangerous treatment despite red flag warnings from pharmacies and insurance companies, his own observations of his patients, and knowledge of his patients’ deaths from drug overdose.

The case stems from an investigation conducted by the California Department of Justice’s Bureau of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse, or BMFEA.

Through BMFEA, the Attorney General’s Office works to protect Californians by investigating and prosecuting those responsible for abuse, neglect, and fraud committed against elderly and dependent adults in care facilities.

BMFEA also regularly works with whistleblowers and law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute fraud perpetrated on the Medi‑Cal program.

The Attorney General’s Office said it is important to note that a criminal complaint contains charges that are only allegations against a person. Every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

A copy of the complaint is available below.

080819 - Sonoma County Superior Court - Complaint against Dr. Thomas Keller by LakeCoNews on Scribd

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Firefighters continue to make progress on wildland fires around the region, including incidents in Mendocino and Colusa counties.

In Mendocino County, the Moose fire began Monday evening on Moose Road at McNab Ranch near Hopland. The cause remains under investigation.

Cal Fire said firefighters are holding the fire’s size at 225 acres, with containment up to 65 percent on Wednesday night, at which point no structures were endangered.

So far, three firefighters have suffered minor injuries while working on the incident, Cal Fire said.

Cal Fire said 446 personnel remain assigned to the incident, along with 22 engines, 22 crews, nine water tenders, two helicopters and one dozer.

Firefighters have made steady progress and will continue to work until the fire is completely extinguished, according to Cal Fire’s Wednesday night report.

Also on Wednesday, firefighters with Cal Fire, Williams Fire and Maxwell fire contained the Spring fire.

The fire began just before 1 p.m. on Spring Valley Road and Highway 20, northeast of Wilbur Springs, as Lake County News has reported.

The Spring fire burned a total of 20 acres before being fully contained early Wednesday evening, Cal Fire said. It did not damage any structures.

Officials have determined that the Spring fire was caused by a mower blade hitting a rock.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Firefighters are close to fully containing a Colusa County wildland fire that began on Wednesday afternoon.

The Spring fire is located on Spring Valley Road and Highway 20, northeast of Wilbur Springs, according to Cal Fire.

Cal Fire and Williams Fire are in joint command on the incident, which began just before 1 p.m. Wednesday.

By early Wednesday evening, the fire was reported to have burned 20 acres, with containment at 80 percent, according to Bruce Lang of Cal Fire.

The Cal Fire report said the fire began as the result of a mower blade hitting a rock.

When crews first arrived at the scene, Cal Fire said the fire was approximately three acres, with straw bales and several bee boxes in its path.

Cal Fire said quick response from air tankers and firefighters stopped the fire from doing any damage to the bales or the bees, and no structures or infrastructure were damaged or destroyed.

Assigned resources include seven engines, three air tankers, two water tenders, one helicopter, one hand crew, two dozers and 65 firefighters.

In addition to Cal Fire and Williams Fire, officials said Maxwell Fire Protection District also Is assisting with the incident.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council voted during a special Tuesday evening meeting to approve a resolution to submit an application to the Lake Local Agency Formation Commission to annex 136 acres along South Main Street.

The south Lakeport annexation area has been a point of contention between the city and the county of Lake for nearly a decade.

The 50-parcel area is estimated to be the unincorporated county’s most lucrative commercial corridor, and therefore the county has been loathe to part with it.

About 20 people attended the special meeting, among them District 4 Supervisor Tina Scott and District 1 Supervisor Moke Simon, both of whom asked the council not to approve the resolution, and the council heard from business and property owners that both favored it and those that didn’t.

The area has been in the city’s proposed sphere of influence since the early 1980s.

Community Development Director Kevin Ingram said the city already provides wastewater treatment for the area, and plans include installing a water main throughout the annexation area in 2021 in conjunction with the South Main Street improvement project.

Ingram said the city and county entered into preannexation agreements in 1997, 2001 and 2002, which the city maintains remain valid.

The 1997 agreement in particular was raised repeatedly throughout the meeting as a key supporting document in the city’s plans. It can be found on page 118 of the staff report below. It calls for the city to pay the county $210,000 in tax revenue over seven years to offset the loss of the sales tax.

Ingram said the city’s general plan anticipates the south Lakeport area’s annexation, and so the city updated its sphere of influence and adopted prezoning predesignations for south Lakeport in 2015 in preparation for annexation.

“The timing is critical for moving forward with getting annexation completed,” Ingram said, noting the water project needs to get done. He said the city already is in the process of looping its existing water system.

Ingram said benefits for property owners in the annexation area include no property tax increases, enhanced police services, the ability to connect to the city’s water system, installation of fire hydrants to improve fire safety, continuation of cost-effective sewer service by the city, faster building permit turnaround and the ability to take part in Lakeport elections.

He said current city residents also will benefit with increased water reliability and a reduction in maintenance costs.

The action requested of the council on Tuesday – approval of the resolution to apply for annexation to the Lake Local Agency Formation Commission, or LAFCo – was the first of a two-step process. The second step – annexation approval – is up to LAFCo, he said.

It’s anticipated that LAFCo will begin a review process that will last through the end of the year. Ingram said the matter likely won’t be on a LAFCo agenda until early 2020.

A fiscal analysis completed for the city by Applied Development Economics Inc. said the county would have an $8,500 annual deficit following the annexation, which would be covered by the $210,000 in tax sharing payments, Ingram said.

Council hears from supervisors, property owners

During public comment, Supervisor Scott told the council, “This is a very charged topic as you know.”

She said she thinks constituents are best served when the city and county governments communicate and partner.

Referring to the 1997 preannexation agreement, Scott said it’s the county’s position that it’s not valid due to material changes in the intervening years.

While the city is proposing to pay $210,000 over seven years, Scott said that’s a fraction of the $450,000 to $500,000 in annual sales tax losses the county would experience.

“We need to reset. Vote no on this resolution,” she said.

Scott Lotter, president and owner of the Lakeport Cinema 5 and Lakeport Auto Movies, the drive-in next door, told the council, “This is long overdue.”

Lotter said that, 23 years ago when his company proposed to build the cinema, there was talk of the annexation. Since then, he said the county has drug its feet on the matter.

“The biggest thing for us is the water,” he said, explaining that he spends a small fortune – thousands of dollars a month – on services including water testing and filtration because of water quality issues with the property’s wells. The costs have hampered more developing, remodeling, renovation and landscaping.

A reliable source of water changes the economic game, Lotter said, adding that his stock and trade is popcorn and sodas.

Supervisor Simon said the city’s annexation application suggests the parties have agreed, when they haven’t.

Referring to the 1997 agreement, Simon said, “The agreement is no foundation at all at this point.”

He asked that the city and county work together for Lakeport residents, adding that they have some real opportunities to benefit everyone. “And the resolution before you isn't the answer.”

Business owner Paul Racine said he presented a survey of property owners to city and county officials in March of 2012 that showed a majority didn’t support annexation. Racine said the information remains basically the same today.

Michael Green, a city planning commissioner, supported the resolution, saying he wanted to get the matter on the table.

Besides input from property owners, Green said there was another key metric – what the vision is for the city of Lakeport. “So far the city has no influence in its own sphere of influence.”

He added, “I would ask that if you support the idea of community identity, if you support the idea of local control, you advance this to the next step.”

Advancing the annexation gets everyone to the table, he said. If it doesn’t fly, at least there will have been an informed debate instead of relying on 20-year-old debates.

Beyond services, Green urged them to consider what the council’s desire is, such as creating a brighter future for the city and growing into the space that the city has the chance to grow into.

“The resolution doesn't bind you to any particular course of action,” he said.

Justin Hamaker, manager of Lakeport Cinema 5, also is a state-certified water treatment operator and told the council about the water issues the theater and drive-in have had with their wells, which have high mineral content. The water quality means they have to spend more money on replacing and fixing equipment.

Business owner Nancy Ruzicka said she is against annexation, telling the council she is concerned about the city taking care of the land it already has, and wanting them to support Main Street merchants.

Council agrees on need, willing to continue negotiations

Councilman Kenny Parlet said he thinks the city and county need to work together but felt the sphere of influence is where the city needs to grow.

“We need to do it and we need to do it now,” he said.

Parlet said he also had concerns about the 1997 agreement. He said he resented the fact that the sales tax money the county gets from south Lakeport doesn’t go back into the area, but at the same time said a tax sharing agreement that's more amenable to Lake County is something he thinks is a necessity.

City Manager Margaret Silveira said the city can continue moving forward with its annexation application while also continuing the conversation with the county.

Mayor Tim Barnes asked how long the city and county have been meeting. Silveira said for years the city tried to get the county to the table. Once they did sit down to talk, they’ve had two meetings. While she said she wanted to continue talking to the county, she held that the 1997 agreement allows the city to move forward.

Councilwoman Stacey Mattina said the city has been offering the county a better tax share agreement for about eight years. “The county has not been willing to look at any of those offers.”

She said the only way to advance the city’s plans is to move forward with this agreement.

“A city's single greatest right is to grow,” she said, adding that the best tool for economic development is annexation, and that the annexation offers a boost to the entire county. “It should be a really, really exciting time for everybody.”

Councilwoman Mireya Turner, who formerly worked in the County Administrative Office, said she could attest to the continual start and stop on the matter.

Turner said the fire suppression benefits are important to her, and she also noted the issues with the two jurisdictions being involved in the wastewater system. She said she was comfortable moving forward and continuing negotiations.

Councilman George Spurr said fire safety is the most important issue for him. He also was OK with offering the county a better tax revenue share and said it’s LAFCo’s job to figure out if the agreements are legal or not.

Parlet said he felt Scott and Simon had brought a different climate to the discussion, noting more animosity with the county previously.

He asked City Attorney Davie Ruderman if he saw any issues with the 1997 agreement. Ruderman said that, in his assessment, it’s a valid agreement.

Mattina moved to approve the resolution, with Turner seconding and the council voting 5-0.

Also on Tuesday, the council unanimously approved a resolution declaring the council’s intent to form an underground utility district along 11th Street and North Main Street, and set a Sept. 3 public hearing.

Silveira said the district’s formation is to help protect more than $4,000 of the nearly $1 million in Rural 20 undergrounding funds the city has accumulated and which the California Public Utilities Commission wants to divert to a project in Live Oak.

After the 76-minute meeting, there are cordial discussions between Scott, Simon, council members and staff, who continued to indicate a desire to have further discussions regarding annexation.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

081319 Lakeport City Council special meeting agenda packet by LakeCoNews on Scribd

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – In the wake of the Golf fire incident of this past week, some community members have asked if the “1,000 Hands to Protect Lake County Homes” will still take place on Saturday, Aug. 17.

Supervisor Rob Brown, who has organized the event, said the answer is an emphatic “yes.”

“We knew this effort was vital before; now, we feel even more strongly it is truly critical,” Brown said.

“Like all Lake County residents, I am thankful for the quick and effective work done by firefighters and other first responders to contain the Golf fire. I am also even more committed to doing what I can to limit the chance that a wildfire happens again,” Brown said.

Brown said clearing roadside vegetation is one of our best opportunities to take action, and the area alongside Highway 281 in the Soda Bay corridor remains vulnerable.

“Twelve thousand county residents live near this high risk area, and we need 500 volunteers this Saturday,” Brown said.

The event will take place from 6 to 10 a.m. Saturday at six worksites in the Soda Bay corridor, beginning at the intersection of Highway 281 and Tenino Way in the Clear Lake Riviera.

Work sites will be marked A through F. Go straight to the worksite of your choosing, crew leaders will provide direction and important safety information.

The southbound lane of Soda Bay Road, from Riviera Heights Drive to Point Lakeview Road, will be closed for the hours of the project, in order to allow volunteers to safely work and park.

For maps, visit http://www.lakecountyca.gov/1000Hands/.

Participants are asked to bring nylon-stringed weed eaters; hand tools, including loppers and pruners; and shovels and rakes.

They should wear hats, sunscreen, long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and gloves that can be comfortably worn in warm weather

Water and gloves for those who do not own them will be provided.

Kelseyville Fire Protection District will also patrol and attend to medical needs.

All participants must sign a volunteer services agreement prior to starting work. It can be found at http://www.lakecountyca.gov/1000HandsAgreement/ and returned, by email, to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or your crew leader the day of the event.

As a special incentive, anyone interested in participating in the fire extinguisher giveaway the following morning, Sunday, Aug. 18, at Riviera Elementary School, can receive a voucher and be first in line to get a fire extinguisher by participating in the 1,000 Hands effort.

For more information call Supervisor Brown at 707-349-2628 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Sen. Mike McGuire, who represents Lake County in the State Senate, has introduced new legislation mandating electric utility companies provide early notification prior to planned power shutdowns.

With the size and scope of wildland fires in California intensifying, and electric utility companies planning to increase the use of power shutoffs to mitigate fire risks when severe weather is predicted, communication and advanced warning is more important than ever.

Residents, emergency officials and hospitals have been left with the possibility of being caught unaware without sufficient notice, which can be a life or death scenario.

As such, McGuire has introduced SB 560.

“You shouldn’t have to legislate common sense. You shouldn’t have to create a law requiring utility companies to communicate with health care facilities and first responders prior to a planned power shutdown. But, we’ve unfortunately learned that this is necessary to ensure the health and safety of Californians,” McGuire said. “SB 560 requires that police, fire, sheriff departments, health care facilities and telecommunication providers receive prior notification of de-energizing events when their facilities will be impacted. This will help ensure the health and well-being of neighbors during power shutdowns.”

SB 560 is a simple step to mitigate risks during times of crisis by requiring utilities to report de-energizing of electrical outages to first responders, healthcare facilities and telecommunication providers ahead of outages to ensure better coordination and communication.

Power shutoffs are intended as a utility’s last resort to mitigate the risk of fire. However, the growing threats of catastrophic wildfires and recent experience of the devastation and liability posed by wildfires means the voluntary use of power shutoffs is likely to increase.

Currently, despite requirements to create notification procedures, there’s not a requirement that the actual notifications occur to first responders, health care facilities, and telecommunication services.

Communities have unfortunately experienced the lack of communication and notification from Pacific Gas and Electric Co., and making it a requirement is the next step in ensuring proper notification is received.

“PG&E initiated a power shutdown in Lake County last October and what we saw was a complete lack of planning and inadequate notification on the part of the utility,” McGuire said. “There are medically fragile residents who are on oxygen and need electricity to survive. We have to know that first responders who will answer at their time of need get advanced warning when the power is being shut down.”

Electric utility companies must have concrete plans to effectively work with local communities to ensure critical stakeholders are getting the information they need to keep Californians safe, McGuire said.

McGuire said SB 560 is meant to ensure that state and local emergency officials, first responders and telecommunication companies have the crucial information they need to respond in de-energizing events.