CLEARLAKE OAKS- In response to the Pawnee fire which burned more than 13,000 acres and 22 structures as of Thursday, the Lake County Department of Social Services is working with local non-profit agencies, county and state organizations to address the many needs of impacted residents at a Local Assistance Center (LAC) this weekend. The center is used as a one-stop destination where a wide range of services will be provided by the various agencies through Saturday afternoon.
As of Thursday, according to CAL Fire officials, the Pawnee fire was 40 percent contained and evacuations had been lifted for some of the fire affected areas.
Some of the organizations on hand providing services and their expertise include the American Red Cross, North Coast Opportunities, United Methodist Church, Lake County Animal Control, the Department of Motor Vehicles, Behavioral Health, Social Security Administration, Social Services, Habitat for Humanity, to name a few.
Red Cross Disaster Action Team Coordinator Russell Colle said the primary job of the action teams is to respond to homes during a disaster. He said the last fire he worked was the Valley Fire in 2015 which killed four people and destroyed close to 2,000 buildings.
“This is a fairly minor event in comparison,” he said, but added that the LAC makes it easier for people to access needed supplies at a centralized location.
Those in need of food and assistance with medical care were encouraged to visit the LAC, as well as those with concerns about their animals, debris removal and even insurance related concerns.
A stationary Red Cross emergency response vehicle will be available to provide supplies, clean-up kits, water, gloves and masks, in addition to another vehicle which will go into neighborhoods today for approximately four hours, according to Colle.
Spring Valley Resident Paul Gubany said the fire burned close to his property line but he choose to say behind when evacuations were announced. He has been busy feeding animals and helping friends and neighbors. He said he was now concerned about potential price gouching.
The Lake County Sheriff Department authorized the repopulation of the Community of Double Eagle Ranch as of 9 a.m. Thursday, but they reminded residents fire personnel are still active in the area so they should reduce speeds and drive with caution.
Officials said the cancellation of additional evacuation orders is being evaluated based on a variety of factors, including potential fire behavior, and re-establishment of crucial infrastructure.
In addition, the LCSD noted they are working to secure assistance from state agencies for the purpose of handling and disposing debris and ash from the fire. In the meantime, in order to protect their health and the health of others in the community, property owners are strongly advised by officials not to begin cleanup activities at this time since the local landfill is not currently prepared to accept fire debris.
Gubany said as a resident of Spring Valley he has survived through every fire in the area since 2007.
He said a big need during the emergency for him was getting ice in order to keep his diabetes medicine and insulin at cooler temperatures.
Red Cross emergency team member David Pellet helped man the stationary vehicle parked in front of the LAC on Thursday.
Pellet said he is a veteran of various emergencies, having helped with logistics since joining the Red Cross in 2015. He estimated he has helped out in approximately 10 responses this year. He has assisted people in Puerto Rico during Hurricane Irma, the Chetco fire in Oregon and fires in Yosemite National Park. Pellet said he has learned adaptability is a key trait in emergency response and providing assistance.
“You have to be able to adapt to changing situations and you need to be resilient,” he said. “Everything is constantly changing so you need to be able to change to get people the help that they need.”
According to Theresa Showen, on staff at the Lake County Department of Social Services, the bulk of the agencies will be present today and tomorrow including the Contractor’s State License Board, DMV to help residents replace licenses and representatives from the Social Security Administration to help with vital documents.
The LAC will be open until 7 p.m. tonight and from 10 to 3 p.m. Saturday June 30 at the Spring Valley Community Center located at 3000 Wolf Creek Road.
