KUKI News

Futher progress was made on the Mendocino Lake Complex yesterday, with the remaining evacuees in Mendocino County allowed to return home. The Redwood Fire is up to 55-percent containment, while the Sulphur Fire was at 90-percent containment as of last night. As for damage, during an afternoon briefing yesterday, Mendocino County Sheriff Tom Allman said no new destroyed structures were added to the complex’s standing count of 436, of which 136 were in the Sulphur fire.

A local assistance center for those affected by the Sulphur fire is open today in Clearlake and will remain open through Saturday, October 21st. The City of Clearlake and Lake County is partnering with community, state, and national service and relief organizations to provide the one-stop local assistance center. An experienced team is on hand to help impacted community members find assistance and walk them through the start of the recovery process. The LAC will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day at the Clearlake Senior Community Center, located at 3245 Bowers Ave. in Clearlake.

Mendocino College has provided their gymnasium at 1000 Hensley Creek Road in Ukiah for the local assistance center for those affected by fires in Mendocino County. That LAC is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily for the next two weeks starting today. Mendocino County will continue to provide services through the LAC as long as needed to meet the needs of local residents.

The latest CalFire update is that the Redwood fire, part of the #mendocinolakecomplex, has grown to 35,800 and is 45% contained. he Sulphur Fire is 80% contained. Evacuees from Tomki may be allowed to return home today. The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office will provide updates when more information is available. There will be another press conference with state and local agencies this afternoon at 3:30pm in Ukiah. The media briefing will be streamed live on Facebook.

Residents of Mendocino and Lake Counties who suffered damage or losses from the devastating fires that began October 8th, can now register for disaster assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Survivors who sustained damage to their primary homes, vehicles, businesses and personal property as a result of the recent fires may apply.

Individuals with access to the Internet may register online by going to www.disasterassistance.gov or they may call 1-800-621-3362. Operators can receive calls in English, Spanish and other languages and by video relay service. Individuals using a TTY may call 1-800-462-7585.

Disaster assistance grants may help pay for temporary housing to include rental and lodging expense, emergency home repairs, uninsured and underinsured personal prope rty losses, and medical, dental and funeral expenses caused by the disaster, along with other serious disaster-related expenses.

Disaster grants are not taxable income and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid, medical waiver programs, welfare assistance, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, food stamps, Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance.

Low-interest disaster loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA) may be available for businesses of all sizes (including landlords), private non-profit organizations, homeowners and renters. Low-interest disaster loans help fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged real estate and personal property. Economic Injury disaster loans are available to businesses and private nonprofits to assist with working capital needs as a direct result of the disaster.

Mendocino County officials are urging residents who are going back into burned zones to not clean up or move ash around your home. The state of California’s CALRecycle program will doing removal and cleanup, but if you begin to do it on your own, CALRecycle won’t touch your property and you will be on the hook to pay the thousands of dollars ofr clean up on your own. County officials say you can look through the ash to find valuables but don’t move things around or bring tractors or other equipment in to start cleaning up.

At least 40 people are confirmed dead in the widfires across Northern California. Five more deaths were confirmed Saturday in Sonoma County. The number of deaths in the Redwood fire remains at eight, according to Cal Fire. State officials say the death toll is likely to keep going up in what is already the deadliest wildfire event in California history.

The Southern portion of Redwood Valley is to be repopulated. Full details can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/MendocinoSheriff/photos/a.264516632966.140652.256614137966/10154969908657967/?type=3&theater

The California Army National Guard will be at Eagle Peak campus distributing masks and gloves for those individuals that are returning to their homes

The Sulphur Fire is estimated to be at approximately 55% containment and fire personnel continue to make progress in suppressing the fire. Power is in the process of being restored, the roads are being cleared of debris, and emergency personnel. The mandatory evacuation order for the Sulphur Fire has been lifted allowing for the repopulation of the affected areas.

Residents who live on the north side of Mendocino Street should use North Drive. Residents who live on the south side of North Drive should use Lakeshore drive. Residents who live south of Plumas can use Lakeshore Drive. Residents who live past Plumas should use the North Drive access

The latest from Calfire on the fires burning in and around Lake and Mendocino Counties.

The Redwood Fire has grown to 34,000 acres, 10% contained. The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office reports the death toll has risen to 8, and is expected to grow. The number of homes and structures destroyed which was last reported at 50 homes and 40 other structuresm is expected to double.

The Sulpher Fire is 2,500 acres, 55% contained.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is closely monitoring the Tubbs Fire that is burning south of the Middletown area. It’s at 34,770 acres – 10% contained. Although the fire is very active, there is still no immediate threat to the Middletown area. The Sheriff’s Office is receiving regular updates regarding the fire’s activity. Additional alerts will be sent out if at any time there is an immediate threat to the Middletown area.

Another Community Meeting is scheduled for local updates on the Mendocino Lake Complex Fire. It will be held at 6:30 PM, at the Ukiah High School Cafetorium. This meeting will also be broadcast live at the Willits Community Center. Agency representatives will be available to answer questions at both locations.