By Mandy Feder —
Late Sunday afternoon after finishing some yard work, I sat at my desk to answer some emails.
Little did I know I would remain seated there for many hours, eyes fixed on the screen, fingers dancing on the keyboard.
I forgot to have dinner.
It all started when I got a message from one of the editors in my news group.
Rick said his wife and daughter were driving through Lake County when they saw the fires.
He sent me a photo and I began posting every bit of information I could find online.
The news of the two blazes on Highway 20, spread like … well, wildfire.
It certainly lit a fire under us natural newsies, and we hit the ground running.
Our sports editor Brian Sumpter jumped in and began posting updates. Paginator Allison Tuell went out and took photos and sent text updates regularly.
Jeremy Walsh hurried to the office. He collected information and answered telephones.
Everybody pitched in, friends, former employees and employees from other departments.
Photos, questions, concerns and information poured into my email.
It wasn”t even just us.
One of our sister papers, the Willits News, jumped in with links, updates, photos and phone numbers.
People outside of the newspaper industry offered expertise.
KHSL-TV Chief Meteorologist Kris Kuyper jumped in and explained pollutants in fires for our readers. He wrote: “PM 2.5 (particles that are 2.5 micrograms/cubic meter or smaller) … that would be the one to check for. Unfortunately, Lake County doesn”t have an observing station for those. Air Resources Board put a few mobile ones in up here as a result of the Chips Fire … perhaps they”ll do that with you now, too.”
The really good people of Lake County were there, as they always are, to help their neighbors.
Owner of the Lakeport Grocery Outlet, Jeff Hansen, immediately offered “water, food, or whatever is needed.”
Former Record-Bee photographer and creator of the Tibetan Photo Project, Joe Mickey, wrote to me: “There was a big Lake County fire when I was at the Record-Bee. Ultimately made national news and I did work for the Bee and AP photos went around the world. You learn how great it is that paying taxes gets you some of the best and hardest working firefighters on the planet.”
He is correct.
Director of the Lake Family Resource Center Gloria Flaherty offered shelter and food. She also wrote, “Casseroles? Water? Food? Games? Blankets? Care? What is needed?”
The Moose Lodge in Clearlake Oaks hosted displaced residents and gave them a real home cooked meal. They said that “everyone stepped out with open arms and helping hands.”
Cactus Grill in Clearlake donated 100 burritos, chips and salsa to feed the men and woman fighting the fires.
The Highlands Senior Center in Clearlake became an evacuation shelter.
Cole Creek Equestrian Center picked up and boarded horses.
Flying Diamond J Ranch in Lower Lake took in evacuated animals.
A woman wrote on the Record-Bee Facebook site, “I don”t have much, but I”ll do anything I can to help.”
Lower Lake High School Principal Jeff Dixon offered to open up the school as an emergency evacuation area.
It was a time of great tragedy, tremendous fear and immense sadness, but it brought out the absolute best in so many people.
And through the smoke, flames and ash, outstretched hands emerged.
Mandy Feder is the Managing Editor at Lake County Publishing. She can be reached at mandyfeder@yahoo.com or 263-5636 ext. 32. Follow on Twitter @mandyfeder1.
