It will be difficult to forget 2015 — at least the part that started with a plume of smoke on July 29.
From the moment the Rocky Fire erupted that afternoon, Lake County endured a summer and fall of flame, of tragedy. Through six named events and several smaller flare ups, just over 20 percent of the county’s land was scorched. More than 1,300 homes were destroyed.
Barbara McWilliams, Bruce Burns, Leonard Neft and Robert Fletcher lost their lives in the Valley Fire.
The pace of the largest fires — Rocky and Valley — alarmed firefighters. One evening the Rocky Fire slashed through 20,000 acres in just five hours, a feat considered “beyond ridiculous.” CalFire’s computer models had predicted seven days for the same amount of damage.
But the Valley Fire was even more ferocious, burning 40,000 acres in half a day and forcing mandatory evacuation orders for more than 10,000 residents. Even veterans of the fight against Rocky were stunned, pointing out that the flames raced downhill just as quickly as they climbed up.
The government took notice, with President Barack Obama declaring the county a major disaster area and thus eligible for state and federal recovery funds.
In many ways the county is still reeling from these events. Yet the summer of fire also revealed a spirit and resilience that will also define Lake County in 2015.
Throughout August and September local residents urged on firefighters who arrived from all across California and other states, thanking them at every turn. Wildlife warden Timothy Little, on routine patrol when the Valley Fire started, dared the flames to rescue two women and a child. Barbara Flynn organized a fundraiser at the Village Pub on Cobb to benefit the owners of Mutt & Jess, who lost their home in the fire. The Moose Lodge in Clearlake Oaks opened its doors — and its grounds — to evacuees from Rocky, Jerusalem and Valley. Dozens of volunteers sorted donations or cooked meals at the facility. Those taking shelter at the lodge preferred the hospitality over the locations offered by the Red Cross.
Lori and Gene Thornton of Kelseyville, along with daughter-in-law Sharon Thornton volunteered daily for three months, first helping out at the Lion’s Club distributing donated items then overseeing the stacks of items held at the Work Right building. The owner of the 4,000 square foot warehouse opens its doors to tons of donated clothing, furniture and other goods.
Firefighters, veterinarians, experts, county officials and regular people scoured the fire zones rescuing animals. The Middletown Animal Hospital operated almost around the clock, thanks to veterinarians giving of their time. Also operating around the clock, KPFZ radio hosts remained on the air providing updates to those with no other source of information.
Donated items and money flooded into the county, long before the arrival of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Small Business Administration. As an example, the annual Lake County Wine Auction managed to raise $88,000 toward local schools and programs, despite cancelling its event.
As county supervisor Rob Brown declared just a day after the Valley Fire started, “this is a disaster for now. But Cobb will come back. Middletown will come back.”
The fires and recovery efforts dominate the images of 2015. But little dampened the spirit of county residents. The Pear Festival in Kelseyville, the summer concert series in Lakeport, the county fair, the Konocti Challenge and other events continued.
The year opened with news that El Nino — promised for 2014 — conditions were hanging around and beginning to build. Following a December 2014 deluge, Clear Lake rose from almost a foot below zero to plus 4 feet on the Rumsey Gauge by the end of winter. It remained at positive levels all year.
Discussions of the homelessness issue in Clearlake inspired several efforts, including a group constructing tiny homes at a site they call Cornerstone Village and a warming center, hosted by the Seventh Day Adventists Church in Lakeport. Lake County Transit agreed to provide transportation for those in need. Citizens Caring for Clearlake make regular outings to pick up discarded trash.
June proved deadly on Lake County roads as six people died in accidents.
Popular appeals overturned a proposal to build a Dollar General store in Kelseyville and a Verizon cell tower in Lakeport. Both cases dragged over several months. Lakeport’s Planning Commission approved the cell tower plan for a plot of land near High St. in May. But opposition sounded when the City Council first discussed the issue. The council continued the vote in July and again in September before turning against the tower plan earlier this month.
The county pulled its support for the State of Jefferson ballot initiative in December. This decision came after a narrow 3-2 decision to turn the proposal over to voters and a year of sporadic talks.
December also saw the conclusion of a lengthy spat between union golf course workers and the Hidden Valley Lake Association. Laborer’s Local Union 324 had filed nearly 30 claims with the National Labor Relations Board alleging unfair labor practices. In July the workers spent weeks picketing along the entry to the community.
The problems dated back to 2014, when contract negotiations between the union and HVLA broke down. The workers went on strike without pay in April of this year. In June the parties reached a settlement, but this agreement did not last. Union workers reopened their complaint at the end of August. Many of the complaints involved Cindy Spears, who left the position of HVLA general manager in the fall.
Days before a hearing with the NLRB the union dropped their complaint.
A snapshot of the year includes Clearlake struggling to amend its medical marijuana regulations, State Senator Mike McGuire and Assemblymember Bill Dodd opening in September what may be the county’s first legislative office, the long and frustrating saga of Cole Creek Bridge construction that diverted traffic from Soda Bay Rd. for months, the announcement that the federal government would investigate listing the hitch as an endangered species and so much more.
In more ways than one 2015 was a year to remember.
