Lakeport >> Two weeks after the Valley Fire erupted, road blocks on Cobb will finally be lifted today at 5 p.m. But as Lake County Sheriff Brian Martin warned during his announcement Friday afternoon, roads opening should not be interpreted as a repopulation.
“For many there won’t be a repopulation for a long time as so many homes were lost, it’s simply a lifting of traffic restrictions,” Martin said in front of the Lake County Courthouse.
With an estimated 1,250 single-family dwellings destroyed by the fire and an average of 2.9 people per household, Martin said almost 3,700 residents have potentially been displaced – 5.7 percent of the Lake County population. In an area the size of Los Angeles, that would be comparable to leaving 550,000 people without homes, if a fire “would hit that county with the same ferociousness.”
Supervisor Rob Brown, who hosted a community meeting on rebuilding for fire victims, said that some temporary sites for RVs will soon become available on Cobb.
While Hoberg’s Resort sustained a significant amount of damage to its infrastructure, there are still large enough areas that went unscathed by the fire. Space currently taken up by PG&E will become available to fire victims once crews leave. Jellystone Camp beginning Sunday will also accommodate displaced residents with RV spots. Additionally, Hidden Valley Lake has 55 RV spaces.
Martin cautioned returning residents that they are entering at their own risk and to be aware of their surroundings as there is still much hazardous material and utility crews continue to work in the following days.
The Lake County Office of Emergency Services will provide masks, gloves and water free of charge for residents at two Points of Distribution – referred to as PODS. They will be located at South Lake County Fire Protection District stations in Loch Lomond at 10318 Loch Lomond Road and 21095 Highway 174 in Middletown once roads reopen.
Supervisor Rob Brown said CalRecycle hopes to complete debris removal in disaster areas by Christmas. However, it could potentially take longer and the process “will require patience” by the community.
Working with the Lake County Office of Education and WorkForce Lake, Brown said a job fair is scheduled to take place on Wednesday at Kelseyville High School from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. With so much to clean, repair and rebuild, the purpose of the fair is to “allow employers to have a bank of potential of applicants ready to work when the opportunity arrives,” he said.
As of Thursday afternoon, Cal Fire Battalion Chief Mike Smith said that the Valley Fire remains at 76,067 acres consumed and is approaching full containment at 92 percent with 2,431 men and women still on the scene doing mostly restorative operations to areas affected by initial firefighting efforts.
