LAKE COUNTY >> The initial cost estimates for damage, projects and fire suppression associated with the Valley Fire have reached more than $150 million, according to reports from the Lake County Auditor-Controller and CalFire.
The state firefighting agency told the Record-Bee that first estimates put fire suppression totals at $59 million. Most of that expense comes from repaying myriad local agencies that assisted CalFire in fighting the blaze, Public Information Officer Suzie Blankenship said. The expense includes setting up a base camp at the Lake County Fairgrounds, putting private bulldozers to use on the fire line and more.
“From tents, to planes, to engines, and food, we have to reimburse all agencies,” Blankenship said. “However, that number is an estimate. It can get higher or lower.”
At the Valley Fire Long Term Recovery Task Force’s meeting in Middletown on Tuesday, auditor-controller Cathy Saderlund said the initial estimated cost for approximately 28 recovery projects added up to be about $94 million, excluding fire suppression efforts from Cal Fire.
Meanwhile funds from governmental and other agencies is being disbursed to victims. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, has approved approximately $10.29 million in assistance, External Affairs Specialist Steven Solomon said. So far, 2,492 people have applied for assistance for housing and other help. Of that total assistance, the federal government has expended $6.69 million for housing aid and $3.46 million for other needs.
Despite being possibly liable for only approximately $4 million of all these costs, the county and its branches will rack up large bills.
Announced at Tuesday’s meeting, Special Districts will be responsible for eight of the 28 projects, which was first estimated at $2.6 million.
Many water systems in Cobb were heavily damaged and one district, Starview, was destroyed. According to Compliance Coordinator Jan Coppinger, the cost to rebuild the Starview District will come to nearly $1.5 million. The area once had 151 customers using the system, now it is down to 14.
The Bonanza Springs district also lost 57 customers, Coppinger said. It will cost nearly $900,000.
CalOES was not able to provide numbers for this report.
