Lakeport >> At its peak, the evacuation center at the Napa Valley Fairgrounds in Calistoga sheltered more than 1,000 people displaced by the Valley Fire — which has solidified its place in California history as among the top three most destructive wildfires. The center is now in the process of closing which will be completed no later than Thursday at noon.
Lake County Supervisor Rob Brown made the announcement Tuesday afternoon during a media briefing at Library Park in Lakeport.
“It will be great to have Lake County residents back in Lake County near their hometown community to start the recovery and healing process,” Brown said.
And it will likely be a long process for many residents who have been left homeless.
Cal Fire Battalion Chief Mike Smith said damage inspection teams had nearly completed surveys of the fire area by Tuesday. The latest tally of structures destroyed by the blaze had risen to 1,910 with 1,238 being single-family homes. Other structures destroyed include 23 multi-family homes, 64 commercial structures, and 585 other structures such as sheds and smaller outbuildings. Those numbers may still rise as Cal Fire completes surveys and confirms incoming data.
The fire saw little growth Monday night, consuming less than 300 additional acres putting the total at 76,067 acres burned, Smith said. Containment stayed at 75 percent as the remaining 3,860 firefighters continued to mop up and secure more of the fire’s perimeter.
Evacuation orders are still in place in Cobb Mountain, Anderson Springs and Harbin Hot Springs. Lake County Sheriff Brian Martin said continued closures are necessary as there are ongoing fire suppression activities, debris removal and utility restoration in those areas.
While residents may not be able to return just yet, trespassers have still managed to gain access into disaster zones.
“Despite the effort that’s being required by law enforcement officers to fight looting activities, there are still people who continue to take advantage of these times,” Martin said.
Alleged looter Jose Manuel Rodriguez, of Kelseyville, was arrested Tuesday at about 1:40 a.m., according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office online booking log. Little information is known surrounding the details of his arrest, but the sheriff’s office received several reports in the Soda Bay area of a man lurking around neighborhoods seen with flashlights and have named Rodriguez as a suspect, Martin said.
“I will continue with the message that we will not tolerate looting in Lake County and we will take an especially hard stance during this time of disaster,” he said.
Martin also updated the status of missing persons. The number of people reported missing increased from Monday’s 11 to 15, but just Tuesday morning six more were accounted for and all but two remain missing. Three found are presumed dead, but the remaining people were found safe.
“Our community, their friends, their family and we at the sheriff’s office are grateful for their safe location,” Martin said.
Police continue to search for missing residents Robert Litchman, 61, of Middletown and Robert Fletcher, 66, of Cobb. Investigators have identified possible locations and have searched with cadaver dogs, Martin said. Those areas will require additional inspection by an anthropological team.
A crew from Fortuna puts away equipment after a day on the line. As containment increases, Cal Fire is pulling firefighters off the line.
