NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Two fires burning four miles apart in Colusa County grew by several hundred more acres on Wednesday.

The 16 Complex, located off of Highway 16 in the Rumsey Canyon area, had burned 3,500 acres by Wednesday night, with 10 percent containment, Cal Fire reported.

Officials said an evacuation warning remained in effect for the Cortina Rancheria area, and Highway remained closed from the junction with Highway 20 to seven miles east of the Colusa/Yolo County line.

Approximately 1,516 firefighting personnel, 173 engines, 34 fire crews, three helicopters, 18 bulldozers and three water tenders were assigned to the incident on Wednesday.

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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Two wildland fires burning in Colusa County since Tuesday afternoon grew by several hundred acres overnight, causing an evacuation order to be issued for a nearby rancheria.

The “16 Complex” was sparked just before 4 p.m. Tuesday off of Highway 16, south of Highway 20, in the Rumsey Canyon area.

By Wednesday morning the fires had scorched 1,950 acres, with Cal Fire estimating containment at 10 percent.

Smoke from the fires was visible throughout Lake County on Wednesday morning.

The cause of the fires is under investigation, Cal Fire said.

On Tuesday night fire officials issued an evacuation warning for the Cortina Rancheria area, which remained in effect early Wednesday.

Due to the fire, officials had ordered Highway 16 closed from the junction with Highway 20 to 7.1 miles east of the Colusa/Yolo County line at Manzanita Avenue.

Cal Fire had approximately 600 of its firefighting personnel on scene Wednesday, along with 27 personnel from other agencies, and 150 engines, 28 fire crews, two helicopters, 16 bulldozers and three water tenders.

Along with Cal Fire, agencies involved in the response to the fire include fire and law enforcement agencies from Colusa and Yolo counties, the California Highway Patrol, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and Caltrans.

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A new report finds that seat belt use for teens in California jumped more than 2 percent in the past two years, from 94 percent in 2010 to 96.1 percent in 2012.  

The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) reported the findings on Tuesday.

The newly released information nearly matches the usage rate for all vehicle occupants in the state, which stands at 96.6 percent, the agency said. Both are now are at record high levels.  

Local rates were not available, as OTS told Lake County News that Lake County was not among the counties surveyed for the report.

The new teen rate is a large increase from the 88.9 percent observed just four years ago, according to OTS.

“We are encouraged by these latest results,” said OTS Director Christopher J. Murphy. “Everyone in the car buckling up for every trip, every day, is the single most effective way to protect people and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes.  This is especially true with teen drivers, the age group with the highest crash rates.”

Nationally, teen seat belt use is in the low 80 percent range.  

The reasons for California’s high rate are thought to be due to heavy enforcement and awareness campaigns like Click It or Ticket, as well as a large number of efforts aimed specifically at teens like Every 15 Minutes, Start Smart, Right Turn, Teen Smart, and Friday Night Live where seat belt usage is emphasized.

Researchers from CSU Fresno surveyed traffic near 100 high schools in 29 counties in the spring of 2012.  

They also found the usage rate for passengers, as opposed to drivers, is up markedly in just three years, from 85.7 percent in 2009 to 95.8 percent this year.

Slightly more teen girls regularly wear seat belts than teen boys, 97.8 percent to 96.1 percent.

In addition, pickup truck occupants are still the least likely to wear their belts at 93.7 percent, but that rate has steadily improved.

Surveyed observations in Contra Costa and Santa Cruz counties showed 100 percent usage, although ongoing day-to-day use is likely lower.

Monterey was the county with the lowest usage rate at 87.2 percent.

NORTH COAST, Calif. – Firefighters were able to keep the North Pass Fires in northern Mendocino County from burning new acreage on Wednesday.

The two lightning-caused fires have so far burned 41,983 acres and are 68 percent contained, according to Cal Fire and the US Forest Service.

Officials said the fire's northern portion continues to burn between Pothole Creek and Stick Lake Canyon.

Fire personnel assigned to the incident on Wednesday numbered 1,088, with 34 engines, 23 fire crews, two airtankers, seven helicopters, six bulldozers and 23 water tenders.

Evacuations remain in effect for portions of Indian Dick Road (Forest Road M-1) and Mendocino Pass Road (Forest Highway 7), with closures still in effect for all areas of the Covelo Ranger District north of Mendocino Pass Road to the Six Rivers and Shasta-Trinity National Forest boundaries.

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The number of reported hate crimes in California decreased 4 percent in 2011, with reports of such crimes in Lake County also down, according to a report from California’s attorney general.

California Attorney General Kamala Harris said there were 1,060 hate crime events reported statewide in 2011, a decrease from the 1,107 hate crime events reported in 2010.

“There is no place in our inclusive Golden State for hate crimes and their destruction of what makes California so special,” Harris said. “I welcome the decrease in these senseless crimes and commend state and local law enforcement for their efforts to protect every Californian.”

The report showed that in Lake County there were three hate crime “events” in 2011 with three victims and four resulting offenses. That’s down from six events, nine offenses and nine victims in 2010.

There were no suspects in any of the cases 2011 cases, according to the report.

Two of those cases were reported in the Lake County Sheriff’s Office jurisdiction and one in the city of Clearlake. None were reported in Lakeport.

In addition, the report showed two hate crime cases were filed by the Lake County District Attorney’s Office in 2011. No convictions were reported in the 2011 timeframe.

Hate crimes with race/ethnicity/national origin account for the most common type of hate crime in the last 10 years and represented 57.5 percent of all hate crime events in 2011.

Anti-black hate crimes account for 29.5 percent of all hate crimes. Since 2002, anti-Hispanic hate crimes have decreased by 43.6 percent.

Hate crimes events involving a religious bias have increased slightly, from 198 in 2010 to 201 in 2011.

Anti-Jewish hate crimes continue to be most common, accounting for 8 percent of all hate crimes reported since 2002. Of the 201 hate crimes involving a religious bias in 2011, 132 were anti-Jewish.

All police agencies and district attorney’s offices in California, in cooperation with the Department of Justice, have developed local data collection programs and submitted hate crime statistics for this report. Categories are established by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

A total of 313 hate crime cases were referred to prosecutors in 2011, and 253 cases were filed for prosecution. Of the 253 filed, 204 were filed as hate crimes. Of the 161 cases with a disposition available for this report, 46 percent (74) were hate crime convictions, 50 percent (80) were other convictions and 4 percent (7) were not convicted.

The hate crime reporting system was implemented by the Department of Justice in 1994. Law enforcement agencies are required to submit copies of initial crime reports to the department, and each agency has established procedures incorporating a two-tier review process.

The first level is done by the initial officer who responded to the suspected hate crime incident. Then each report is reviewed by at least one other officer to confirm that the event was, in fact, a hate crime.

The California Attorney General’s Office published its first hate crimes report in 1995. All previous reports can be found at: http://oag.ca.gov/cjsc/pubs#hate .

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Tuesday saw several additional wildland fires break out around the region.

Shortly before 4 p.m. the “16 Complex” broke out along Highway 16, south of Highway 20, in Colusa County’s Rumsey Canyon area.

The initial fire quickly grew in size, with a second spot fire starting three miles to the east of the first fire, according to radio reports.

Within the first hour a large order was made for air tankers and helicopters to respond as the first fire made a run to the north.

Cal Fire’s 7 p.m. update put the fires at 500 acres, but the main fire was estimated at closer to 1,000 acres and the smaller fire at 200 acres a short time later, reports from the scene indicated. Cal Fire confirmed the 1,200-acre estimate later Tuesday night.

At about 9 p.m. incident command issued an advisory evacuation for the nearby Cortina Rancheria, although the fire reportedly hadn’t yet reached the rancheria. Strike teams also were being ordered.

The 16 Complex has resulted in Highway 16 being closed from the junction of Highway 20 to 7.1 miles east of the Colusa/Yolo County line at Manzanita Avenue, according to Cal Fire.

In Yolo County, the “27 Fire” started at 3 p.m. on Road 27 and Road 28 near Madison. Shortly before 7 p.m. it was 175 acres and 90 percent contained, with Cal Fire reporting that forward progress had been stopped. It was said to be fully contained a short time later, based on radio reports.

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Cal Fire has increased staffing due to dry lightning and strong winds throughout much of Northern California.

A low pressure system along the coast is bringing subtropical moisture, which is causing isolated thunderstorms across Northern and Central California, many of which have little to no rain with them. Considerable lightning has already begun and is likely to continue into Thursday.

Dry lightning has already sparked over a dozen fires over the Sierra and northeastern California.

Ahead of the predicted dry lightning, Cal Fire staffed its reserve fire engines, placed additional inmate fire crews available 24 hours a day, and has held all personnel on duty.

In addition to department preparations, Cal Fire is in close communication with local, state and federal partners including the U.S. Forest Service, the California National Guard and the California Emergency Management Agency.

“This year we have seen a significant increase in lightning-sparked fires in California,” said Chief Ken Pimlott, Cal Fire director. “With the already tinder-dry conditions, this lightning storm system has elevated the fire danger even higher for this week.”

Cal Fire urges Californians to remain extra fire safe and help prevent new fires.

A few helpful reminders and safety tips include doing any mowing or weed eating before 10 a.m. (and never during extremely dry or windy conditions); never using lawn mowers in dry vegetation; ensuring campfires are permitted and, if so, extinguishing them completely when done; never pulling your vehicle over in tall dry grass

“We are well into fire season and it’s critical that homeowners have a family disaster plan in place, so that they know exactly what to take and where to go when a wildfire ignites in their area,”said Pimlott.

For more ways to prepare for wildfires visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org or www.fire.ca.gov .

NORTH COAST, Calif. – As two wildland fires in northern Mendocino County grew closer to full containment, officials released more firefighters and equipment on Tuesday.

The North Pass Fires’ estimated size was rolled back by approximately 251 acres to 41,983 acres total, with 65 percent containment, Cal Fire and the US Forest Service reported Tuesday evening.

The fires, caused by lightning, are burning in the Williams Valley, 10 miles northeast of Covelo.

The US Forest Service and Cal Fire, which share unified command of the incident because it’s burning on both state and federal lands, said crews continued to hold and improve fire line on Tuesday, with the fires holding at the Middle Fork of the Eel River.

Officials said the incident continues to progress west towards Castle Peak with single and small group torching, while the northern portion of the fire continues to burn between Pothole Creek and Stick Lake Canyon.   

There were 1,283 personnel assigned to the fires on Tuesday. Equipment assigned included 45 engines, 29 fire crews, two airtankers, 14 helicopters, 10 bulldozers and 28 water tenders.

Approximately 29 structures remain threatened, with evacuations still in effect for areas of Indian Dick Road (Forest Road M-1) and Mendocino Pass Road (Forest Highway 7).

The Covelo Ranger District north of Mendocino Pass Road to the Six Rivers and Shasta-Trinity National Forest boundaries remains under a US Forest Closure order.

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LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Sunday Lake County’s district attorney distributed funds from a program he implemented last year to local organizations to assist them with serving the community.

District Attorney Don Anderson was joined by Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen and California Highway Patrol Officer Kory Reynolds on Sunday afternoon at the Lake County Fair, where they handed out checks totaling approximately $14,531 to eight local groups, primarily nonprofits.

Groups receiving funds included the Kelseyville Fire Department, $6,000; Hammers for Hope, $3,000; Lake County Rape Crisis Center, $3,000; 4-H, $1,199; Future Farmers of Farmers, $1,166; Lucerne Alpine Senior Center, $1,166; Lake County Community Radio, KPFZ, $500; and Team DUI, $500.

Anderson’s alternative community service program allows people convicted in certain cases to convert community service hours into cash, which he then uses to benefit local organizations.

Since the program started in 2011 Anderson said it has raised $70,000.

Organizations wanting to be considered for an award from the program can contact Anderson at his office, 707-263-2251, and he said he will place them on a list for future distributions.

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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – A wildland fire complex in Colusa County continued to grow aggressively on Wednesday morning.

The 16 Complex, located in the Rumsey Canyon area off of Highway 16 south of Highway 20, reached 3,200 acres by the end of the morning, with 10 percent containment, according to Cal Fire.

The two fires, burning four miles apart, started Tuesday afternoon.

A portion of Highway 16 from the junction of Highway 20 to Manzanita Avenue seven miles east of the Colusa/Yolo County line remains closed, with the nearby Cortina Rancheria still under an evacuation warning, according to Cal Fire.

Assigned resources include 627 fire personnel, 150 engines, 28 fire crews, two helicopters, 16 bulldozers and three water tenders, Cal Fire reported.

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KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office is offering a free safety program for teen drivers and their parents in September.

The “Start Smart” classes will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 19, at the CHP office, 5700 Live Oak Drive, Kelseyville.

Traffic collisions are the No. 1 killer of teenagers in America.

Nationally about 5,000 teens will die in automobile crashes. About 10 percent of those deaths are in California alone.

In California in 2009, there were 61,029 collisions involving teenage drivers statewide, 346 resulted in fatalities.

The Start Smart program aims to help future and newly-licensed teenage drivers learn the responsibilities that accompany the privilege of being a licensed driver.

It is an educational tool for parents and teens to reduce the number of teen injuries and deaths resulting from traffic collisions.

The program provides information on defensive driving, state traffic laws, distracted driving, dynamics of traffic collisions, tips on avoiding collisions and DUI awareness.

Space is limited for this class. For more information or reservations, call Officer Kory Reynolds at the CHP office, 707-279-0103. 

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Several new kittens and adult cats of various breeds are needing homes this week.

The cats, from blue-eyed Siamese to the ever-popular tabbies, range in ages and sizes.

Cats that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed and microchipped before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.

If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets there, hoping you'll choose them.

The following cats at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (other cats pictured on the animal control Web site that are not listed here are still “on hold”).

Male orange tabby

This male orange tabby mix is 3 years old.

He has gold eyes, a short coat and has been neutered.

He’s in cat room kennel No. 13, ID No. 33975.

Male domestic short hair mix

This male domestic short hair mix is 5 months old.

He has a gray and white coat, gold eyes, weighs 6 pounds and has been neutered.

Find him in cat room kennel No. 24, ID No. 34121.

Short-haired calico

This female domestic short hair mix is 2 years old.

She has a calico coat and has not been spayed.

She is in cat room kennel No. 27, ID No. 34139.

Male Siamese mix

This male Siamese lynx point mix is 6 months old.

He has blue eyes, a medium-length coat and weighs just over 6 pounds. He has not yet been altered.

Find him in cat room kennel No. 32, ID No. 34120.

Female Siamese mix

This female Siamese mix kitten is 13 weeks old.

She has blue eyes and a short coat.

She’s in cat room kennel No. 55, ID No. 34114.

Male orange tabby

This male orange tabby is 5 months old.

He has a long orange coat and has not yet been neutered.

Find him in cat room kennel No. 58A, ID No. 33907.

Adoptable cats also can be seen at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Cats_and_Kittens.htm or at www.petfinder.com .

Please note: Cats listed at the shelter's Web page that are said to be “on hold” are not yet cleared for adoption.

To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .

Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .

For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .