LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – An out-of-area wildland fire – and not the Clayton fire – is the cause of the hazy air conditions over Lake County, according to the Lake County Air Quality Management District.

Lake County Air Pollution Control Officer Doug Gearhart said the Cedar Fire in the Sequoia National Forest near Bakersfield is primarily responsible for the smoke and haze currently visible throughout Lake County.

The Cedar fire began Tuesday, and by early Saturday had burned 12,790 acres and was 5-percent contained, according to the US Forest Service.

Satellite imagery showed extreme levels of smoke generation drifting into the San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys. Gearhart said smoke can be expected to intrude into all of Lake County, with potential for moderate to unhealthy for sensitive individuals possible through the weekend.

Gearhart said the district is implementing an air monitoring plan Clayton fire recovery area and is monitoring for the transport smoke impacts. 

Current air quality in most of the county including Clearlake is generally considered good to moderate, though conditions in localized areas could reach unhealthy for sensitive individuals through the weekend, according to Gearhart.

Unhealthy air quality in the Clayton fire recovery area may result during and after repopulation due to the disturbance of ash and dust, Gearhart said.

Gearhart said exposure to ash and particulate from the fire can cause irritation of the eyes, nose and air passages, which can be hazardous in young children, the elderly, individuals with heart conditions or chronic lung disease such as asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory conditions. 

He urged community members to take precautions to minimize their exposure and to prevent exposing the community to the ash and dust in the burn area.

Localized areas of unhealthy air, regional haze and particulate from the Clayton fire are expected to continue throughout Lake County through the weekend until the weather pattern changes pushing the transported smoke back toward the Sacramento Valley, Gearhart said.

Eroded mesas and buttes reminiscent of the U.S. Southwest shape part of the horizon in the latest 360-degree color panorama from NASA's Curiosity Mars rover.

The rover used its Mast Camera (Mastcam) to capture dozens of component images of this scene on Aug. 5, 2016, four years after Curiosity's landing inside Gale Crater.

The visual drama of Murray Buttes along Curiosity's planned route up lower Mount Sharp was anticipated when the site was informally named nearly three years ago to honor Caltech planetary scientist Bruce Murray (1931-2013), a former director of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California. JPL manages the Curiosity mission for NASA.

The buttes and mesas are capped with rock that is relatively resistant to wind erosion.  This helps preserve these monumental remnants of a layer that formerly more fully covered the underlying layer that the rover is now driving on.

Early in its mission on Mars, Curiosity accomplished its main goal when it found and examined an ancient habitable environment.

In an extended mission, the rover is examining successively younger layers as it climbs the lower part of Mount Sharp.

A key goal is to learn how freshwater lake conditions, which would have been favorable for microbes billions of years ago if Mars has ever had life, evolved into harsher, arid conditions much less suited to supporting life. The mission is also monitoring the modern environment of Mars.

These findings have been addressing high-priority goals for planetary science and further aid NASA’s preparations for a human mission to the Red Planet.

For more information about Curiosity, visit http://www.nasa.gov/msl or http://mars.nasa.gov/msl .

LIVE on #Periscope: 081916 #ClaytonFire community meeting - Clearlake https://t.co/QWgS3uAAVs

— Lake County News (@LakeCoNews) August 20, 2016

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – The Konocti Unified School District has announced a new school year start date for its campuses in Clearlake and Clearlake Oaks, while its Lower Lake schools aren't yet ready to reopen in the wake of the Clayton fire.

School in the district was to have opened on Monday, but the beginning of the Clayton fire two days earlier forced the temporary closure of schools while several of its campuses were in the mandatory evacuation area.

The new school year start date for four campuses is Monday, Aug. 22, according to Superintendent Donna Becnel.

Parents of students enrolled in the following schools are asked to plan on having their children at school in time for the beginning class time noted by each school:

– Burns Valley Elementary, 8:15 a.m.;
– East Lake Elementary, 8 a.m.;
– Konocti Education Center (including the School for the Arts and Health Magnet School), 8:10 a.m.;
– Pomo Elementary, 7:50 a.m.

Becnel said district staff currently are cleaning schools in the Lower Lake area in anticipation of reopening.

She said those schools will reopen as soon as the district can assure a safe learning environment for students and staff.

The district's schools in Lower Lake include Blue Heron School, Carlé Continuation High School, Lewis Center, Lower Lake Elementary and Lower Lake High School.

Lake County Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg reported this week that some of Konocti Unified's schools had been damaged by the fire, in particular, Lower Lake Elementary, which had damage to several portable classrooms.

Updates will be posted at the district Web site at www.konoctiusd.org .

In related news, the Woodland Community College Lake County Campus in Clearlake, which also was closed because of the fire, will hold its first day of the fall semester on Monday as well, a delay of one week from its original start date, as Lake County News has reported.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – After a devastating arson fire delayed the start of the school year for local families and destroyed the local Habitat for Humanity office in Lower Lake, Pacific Gas and Electric Company has committed $40,000 to local organizations that are supporting the community in its recovery.

PG&E has been working around the clock since the Clayton fire broke out on Saturday, Aug. 13, restoring power, repairing and replacing damaged equipment, and supporting Cal Fire as it extinguishes the blaze.
 
The Konocti Unified School District will receive $15,000 and Habitat for Humanity Lake County will receive $25,000 from PG&E’s Foundation.

The funds will go toward school supplies and to help rebuild Habitat’s local office.
 
"We’re here to help our Lower Lake families and businesses get back on their feet. This is the second major fire in the area over the last 12 months. That’s unimaginable loss and creates a real struggle to maintain normal life for many people. We’re proud to contribute to both the school district and Habitat as they help everyone rebuild and recover," said Carl Schoenhofer, the local division manager for PG&E.
 
“While the fire has delayed the start of school, PG&E’s donation will help kids get a head start by filling an immediate need of school supplies, clothes, and whatever else they may have lost in the fire,” said Konocti Unified School District Superintendent Donna Becnel.
 
As of Friday afternoon, PG&E had restored power to all customers who were able to receive electric service.

PG&E customers who have questions and need support can call the company’s helpline day or night at 800-743-5000.

Lake County, Calif. – Emergency responders, including the Lake County Fire Protection District, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, CAL FIRE, CHP, as well as the Lake County deartment of Public Health, PG & E, AT&T, and Lower Lake Water District #1 are nearing completion of work necessary to allow entrance into the areas in Lower Lake affected by the Clayton Fire.

The following informational messages are provided to assist returning property owners: PG&E- If you see electrical wires on the ground, stay clear and contact PG&E immediately.

Trees and poles with deep charring, particularly if still smoking, should be considered hazardous. PG&E would like to remind everyone that, “As you return to your home, please do not connect a generator without a licensed electrician. Also there may be other hazardspresent that you should be mindful of as you return.”

PG&E - 

Ready to assist and will have a mobile command vehicle, customer service and reconnection staff to answer questions and provide resources. This will be located at 9960 Highway 53 in Lower Lake, in the Century 21 parking lot. PG&E can also be contacted by dialing 1 (800) 743-5000.

AT&T-

Crew members have completed some initial repairs and continue to work around the clock to restore landline service to remaining affected areas in Lake County. 

All wireless service is running normally.

Wires may be on the ground as crews continue with repair work. We advise residents to not touch those wires. Customers impacted by the Clayton Wildfire can call the following numbers for help with their service:  U-verse and Landline Call Center 1-800-288-2020, DIRECTV Call Center 1-800-531-5000

Lake County Behavioral Health-

Lake County Behavioral Health has services available to you, call 1-800-900-2075 any time 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Feelings such as overwhelming anxiety, constant worrying, trouble sleeping, and other depression-like symptoms are common responses before, during, and after wildfires. Other signs of emotional distress related to wildfires include:

Having thoughts, memories, or nightmares related to the wildfire that you can't seem to get out of your head

Worrying a lot of the time; feeling guilty but not sure why 

Excessive absences from work or school

Other resources available include the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 in Spanish Call 1-800-985-5990 and press "2" From the U.S., text Hablanos to 66746

County of Lake, Health Services Department-

Environmental Health Division-

Debris and ash from residential fire may be hazardous ash and debris from burned buildings and homes can contain toxic substances due to the presence of synthetic and hazardous materials. Many building materials may contain asbestos and older buildings often contain lead. 

Household hazardous waste such as gasoline, cleaning products, pesticides, and other chemicals may have been stored in homes, garages, or sheds that may have burned in the fire. 

These materials can become concentrated in ash and soil following a fire. It is important not to expose yourself, your family or others to any of these materials. Exposures can occur by sifting through ash and debris, causing ash to become airborne and inhaled or ingested. 

Lake County Public Health is working to secure assistance from State agencies that will ensure proper handling and disposal of debris and ash from the fire. In the meantime, in order to protect their health and the health of their neighbors, property owners are strongly recommended to not begin cleanup activities. 

Because ash and debris generated in the fire may be considered hazardous waste, do not transport ash or debris to landfills and transfer stations at this time. 

It is recommended that debris and ash from burned structures remain undisturbed until further instructions are issued. This recommendation is in place to protect the health of anyone who may come into contact with the waste, including solid waste facility employees, solid waste haulers, and the public. 

All documents are available on the County of Lake website; http://health.co.lake.ca.us under Current Topics, Clayton Fire.

For more information call 707-263-1164

Advisory information -
Please drive slowly as emergency personnel continue to operate in the area.

When you have the opportunity to re-enter your property and evaluate damage, be aware that hazardous conditions may exist, particularly if a residence or out-building has burned. Hazards may include asbestos, heavy metals, by-products of plastic combustion and various other chemicals.

For additional information, Lake County residents can visit: www.LakeCountyRecovers.com

For additional information on returning home after a wildfire, go to: WWW.ReadyForWildfire.org

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – State Sen. Mike McGuire will host a Friday evening community meeting to give updates on the Clayton fire.

The meeting will be held at the Highlands Senior Center, located at 3245 Bowers Ave. in Clearlake.

The event will kick off with a free barbecue at 5:30 p.m. The meeting starts at 7 p.m.

McGuire said the Office of Emergency Services, the California Department of Insurance, Cal Fire, the Lake County Sheriff's Office, county of Lake representatives and others will be in attendance to offer the latest information on the incident.

Firefighters have held the Clayton fire to just under 4,000 acres, with the latest damage estimates putting the total structures destroyed at 300, which includes nearly 200 homes.

The fire has resulted in thousands of people having to evacuate at the fire's height. Many fire area residents remain under an evacuation order, with three shelters in Kelseyville, Lakeport and Middletown still open.

Konocti Unified School District plans to reopen its schools in Clearlake and Clearlake Oaks on Monday, however, Lower Lake schools may not be ready by that point, according to district officials.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.