WILLOWS
Stage 1 fire restrictions began this week on Mendocino National Forest
Ongoing drought and warming conditions have prompted forest officials to issue stage 1 fire-use restrictions beginning this week.
The prohibitions outlined in Forest Order No. 08-22-06 are designed to minimize the chances of human-caused wildland fires and are in effect through the end of the 2022 fire season.
“The decision to move into fire restrictions is based on fuel moisture levels and predicted weather conditions,” said Fire Management Officer Curtis Coots. “We want to help protect undeveloped areas of the forest and our surrounding communities.”
“At this stage, the public can still enjoy a campfire or stove fire in designated fire-safe campgrounds or in Wilderness Areas so long as they have a valid California Campfire Permit,” Coots said.
Fire restrictions prohibit the following activities:
- Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire.
- Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, or within the designated recreation sites shown in Exhibit A of the forest order. The order can be found online at https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1045687.pdf#page=2
- Operating an internal combustion engine, except on National Forest System roads or trails.
- Welding, or operating an acetylene or other torch with an open flame.
- Using an explosive.
- Possessing, discharging or using any kind of firework or other pyrotechnic device.
Exemptions include:
- Persons with a permit from the Forest Service specifically exempting them from this order.
- Persons with a valid California Campfire Permit are not exempt from the prohibitions listed in this order. However, persons with a valid California Campfire Permit may use portable stoves or lanterns using gas, jellied petroleum, or pressurized liquid fuel and may also build, maintain, attend or use a fire, campfire, or stove fire in the designated fire-safe recreation sites listed in Exhibit A, as well as in federally designated Wilderness Areas as shown on Exhibit B.
- Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.
- Persons with a Special Use Permit from the Forest Service for a recreation residence on the Mendocino National Forest are exempt from prohibition numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4 while they are at their recreation residence.
Similar restrictions are also in effect on neighboring public lands. Because restrictions can vary by jurisdiction, visitors should contact the area they plan to visit for specific fire restrictions and conditions.
—Submitted
LAKEPORT
Preschool/Daycare accepting applications for Fall program.
Lakeport Christian Center Preschool/Daycare is accepting applications for their 2022-2023 Fall Program. First day of Preschool is September 6. The Summer program is running right now.
Hurry! Spots fill up fast!! Pick up your packet at the preschool or on their website: lcchub.com
LCC Preschool provides a structured program which includes small groups (projects geared towards school readiness), art projects, science experience, social interactions, and so much more, plus an amazing Pre-K class with excellent KG prep success.
LCC Preschool/Daycare has 35 years experience providing a safe, fun and enriching environment for kids to flourish.
The Preschool is open 7:30 am to 5:30 pm and is located at 175 C Street. For inquiries call: 707-262-5520. License No. 173000812 for ages 2 to 5.
—Submitted
MARIPOSA COUNTY
Crews make progress on Oak Fire
Firefighters made progress Monday on the Oak Fire, California’s largest wildfire of the year blazing in Mariposa County near Yosemite National Park. Although it had grown to nearly 17,000 acres as of Monday morning, containment had reached 10%, according to Cal Fire. State fire officials told the New York Times they expected full containment by Saturday. Nevertheless, more than 6,000 people remained under evacuation orders Monday, more than 2,000 PG&E customers were without power and thousands of structures were threatened by the blaze, while its smoke prompted air quality warnings in the Sacramento region and the Bay Area.
Meanwhile, the National Weather Service said there was a 20% chance of isolated thunderstorms in the Sacramento area early Tuesday, which climate experts warned could increase wildfire risk.
UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain tweeted: If the thunderstorms “materialize, there is some risk of dry (or nearly dry) lightning. Not expecting a widespread event, but given dryness level of vegetation even a modest event could cause problems.”
—Emily Hoeven, CALMatters
CALIFORNIA
CalPERS’ Russian investments decline in value
CalPERS has been having a bit of a rough go of it lately. The nation’s largest public pension fund — which provides retirement benefits for about 2.1 million California state and local government employees — had about $765 million worth of public and private investments in Russia when President Vladimir Putin first invaded Ukraine, according to a March 2 letter that Theresa Taylor, CalPERS’ board of administration president, sent Newsom. But, as of last week, those investments were worth less than $195 million, according to figures the system provided the Sacramento Bee. And, although CalPERS has tried to sell some of those holdings, it’s had a hard time finding buyers.
CEO Marcie Frost told the Bee: “It’s been daunting, given that business activities are frozen and there aren’t buyers for assets that are rapidly losing their monetary value. Even so, CalPERS will keep doing everything it can to stand in support of the Ukrainian people and to protect our members’ long-term interests.”
CalPERS’ investments in Russia made up less than a fifth of one percent of its $450 billion portfolio in March, so their shrinking value doesn’t pose a significant problem to the pension fund, according to the Bee. But Russia’s invasion of Ukraine isn’t the only hurdle facing the system: Last week CalPERS announced a 6.1% loss on investments, its first annual decline since the Great Recession. And it’s under pressure from some state lawmakers to divest from the country’s largest oil and gas companies, though a proposal that would have forced it to do so was tabled last month.
—Emily Hoeven, CALMatters
—Compiled by Ariel Carmona Jr.
