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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A wildland fire that spread from Clearlake Oaks to Clearlake early Monday has scorched thousands of acres, with numerous structures reported destroyed.

The Sulphur fire, first reported at about 1:15 a.m. Monday, quickly moved from its point of origin on Sulphur Bank Road near the Elem Colony into the city of Clearlake, prompting evacuations.

The fire is in the vicinity of Borax Lake, Mt. Baldy, the Elem Colony and surrounding unincorporated areas and areas within the city limits of Clearlake.

Shortly before 10 a.m. Monday the Lake County Sheriff’s Office reported that the Sulphur fire had burned 1,800 acres, with zero containment. Cal Fire raised that size estimate to 2,000 acres as of just before 11:30 a.m.

Fire crews have reported structures have been involved, but there was no estimate available mid-morning as to how many structures had been damaged or destroyed.

Battalion Chief Mike Wink is the Cal Fire incident commander and is supported by Northshore Fire District and the South Lake County Fire District. Other agencies assisting include the city of Clearlake, the city of Lakeport, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California Highway Patrol, Pacific Gas and Electric, Amerigas, Lake Transit Authority and others. Additional resources continue to respond.

Sheriff Brian Martin as the director of the Lake County Office of Emergency Services has proclaimed a local emergency throughout Lake County.

The Lake County Board of Supervisors has called a special meeting at 10 a.m. Tuesday in the Board of Supervisors’ chambers at the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St. in Lakeport.

At that time, the board will consider adopting a resolution confirming existence of a local emergency and ratifying Sheriff Martin’s disaster proclamation for the Sulphur fire.

Through the night and into the daytime hours firefighters have worked to protect structures and build line around the fire, according to radio reports.

On Monday morning, aircraft began to work the region’s fires and assess sizes, based on scanner reports. Some helicopters also remained engaged in rescue operations around the region.

In Clearlake, areas reported to be under mandatory evacuations include Second Street to 17th Street, San Joaquin to Windflower Point, the Burns Valley area to Smith Lane and North Drive in Clearlake and Sulphur Bank Road in Clearlake Oaks.


The Sulphur fire in Clearlake, Calif., on the morning of Monday, Oct. 9, 2017. Photo by Kurt Jensen.


Lake County Transit is assisting evacuees with transportation to evacuation centers, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office reported.

Evacuations and rescues also have been ongoing, with the Lake County Sheriff’s Boat Patrol responding to the area of the gooseneck and Pirate’s Cove to rescue residents, according to radio reports.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said the evacuation center at Twin Pine Casino in Middletown had reached capacity. A second shelter has opened at the Grace Church, located at 6716 Live Oak Drive in Kelseyville.

Due to the fire situation, on Monday morning the Lake County Office of Education said Konocti Unified School District, Lucerne Elementary, Middletown Unified School District and LCOE Clearlake Creativity School, located on Old Highway 53 in Clearlake, are closed. Kelseyville, Lakeport and Upper Lake schools are open.

Mendocino College reported that its Ukiah Campus, North County Center in Willits, Lake Center in Lakeport and Coast Center in Fort Bragg are all closed on Monday for the safety of staff and students. All classes are cancelled and staff and students are encouraged to check their e-mail as well as www.mendocino.edu for continued updates.

Woodland Community College’s Lake County Campus also is closed Monday, according to Executive Dean Annette Lee.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to communities in Northern California as the region deals with devastating fires,” California Community Colleges Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley said Monday. “Many community college students and staff are affected, and the focus of our colleges is on the safety of all residents, who are urged to follow the instructions of local emergency officials. The state chancellor's office will work with colleges forced to cancel classes to minimize any impacts on academic calendars. These colleges will play important roles as the region recovers from this emergency and moves forward.”

The sheriff’s office also reported that Mediacom is actively working on restoring services to customers in Clearlake and surrounding towns after the Sulphur fire destroyed some fiber optic lines.

Currently, video and high speed data services are impacted by the fire damage to our lines while customers with Mediacom phone service is not currently impacted in most areas, the sheriff’s office said.

On Monday morning there was not an estimated time to repair this damage as Mediacom’s engineers are still evaluating options to restore service as quickly as possible. Call 855-633-4266 for the latest updates.

In other news, Pacific Gas and Electric reported that thousands of Lake County residents in Clearlake and Clearlake Oaks remained without power on Monday morning. More than 2,500 residents had been without power since just before 10:30 p.m. Sunday, with no cause yet reported.

The Sulphur fire in Clearlake, Calif., on the morning of Monday, Oct. 9, 2017. Photo by Kurt Jensen.


Large fires continue to burn around the region, with thousands of North Coast residents in evacuation shelters.

In Napa County the Tubbs fire, located off of Highway 128 and Bennett Lane near Calistoga, had burned 20,000 acres as of 7:30 a.m., followed by the Atlas fire, located off of Atlas Peak Road, at an estimated 5,000 acres, and the Partrick fire, on Partrick Road, at 100 acres. Cal Fire has not reported any containment for those incidents.

In Sonoma County, the Nuns fire is reported to have burned 300 acres. It’s located of Highway 12, north of Glen Ellen, Cal Fire reported.

In Mendocino County, the Potter and Redwood fires had burned a combined 4,500 acres by Monday morning, with 11 structures confirmed destroyed in the Potter fire, Cal Fire said.

Additional information will be posted as it becomes available.

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.
The Sulphur fire in Clearlake, Calif., on the morning of Monday, Oct. 9, 2017. Photo by Kurt Jensen.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – An early Monday morning fire that began in Clearlake Oaks has burned into the city limits of Clearlake, triggering evacuations in both communities.

The Sulphur fire was first reported in the area of Sulphur Bank Road near the Elem Indian Colony in Clearlake Oaks at around 1:15 a.m.

First units to arrive on scene estimated it was about 10 acres, before revising that estimate to 75 acres and then to between 500 and 1,000 acres within the first 20 minutes of dispatch, based on radio reports.

By 3:30 a.m., the fire was reported to have burned 1,200 acres, according to radio reports.

With the fire headed toward the Elem Colony, evacuations were ordered there not long after dispatch as well as at nearby Orchard Shores. In Lake Village Estates, transformers were reported to be blowing.

The fire continued rapid progress toward Clearlake, cresting the top of Mount Baldy just after 2 a.m. and heading for the city.

Mandatory evacuations were ordered for Second Street to 17th Street, San Joaquin to Windflower Point, the Burns Valley area to Smith Lane and North Drive in Clearlake and Sulphur Bank Road, officials said.

The Lake County Office of Emergency Services said Twin Pine Casino in Middletown has been opened as an evacuation shelter.

The fire came during the midst of a hellish night of wildland fires around the North Coast, with Cal Fire and local agencies stretched thin as they worked to respond to fires in Mendocino, Napa and Sonoma counties.

The region is under a red flag warning due to high winds and extreme fire dangers, with officials confirming overnight that the winds were contributing to the chaotic conditions.

Additional information will be posted as it becomes available.

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.
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‘Fall- A leaf drops into the
mirror-like stillness of the
clear creek-
concentric circles delicately disturb
the surface'
– Kathleen Scavone

'Autumn wins you best by this- its mute appeal to sympathy for its decay.’
– Robert Browning

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The fall season is upon us once again, bringing solace and perspective.

Our autumnal equinox of Sept. 22 and the ensuing change of season have a certain feel to it.

At summer's end a particular slant to the light and a discerning scent on the wind reminds you that, yes, summer's long and languorous days are behind us, and the cooler clime is the new norm.

Cooler weather brings to mind comfy sweaters, cocoa and fall cleanup chores such as tidying up the garden.

Now is the time for scouting out the last of the local farmer's markets and finding fat melons, the last of the blackberries and a vibrant pumpkin patch.

The clowns of the woods, squirrel and woodpecker, dash and scuttle about the newly fallen acorns. Here come cooler days- and soon, a descent into darkness.

Autumn's etymology, or word-origins makes it way from old Etruscan roots, “autu” meaning “the passing year.” Next, the Romans turned the word into “autumnus,” giving us our “autumn.”

As fall transitions from the summer season, a kaleidoscope of color presents itself.

The hills light up with signature scarlet, burgundy and a pop of yellow- the original “eye candy.”

Take a walk and treat all of your senses. A heady and spicy tang of rot and decay that signifies the fall cycle is emitted now.

Nature's spent foliage drifts down like perfect poetry in action, while summer's lush undergrowth gives way.

At the creek a leaf is a delicate rowboat making its way downstream. It dips and nods on riffles before it is carried away.

Nature never takes a day off – even when it looks like she's done and there is not a leaf on a tree, she is not sleeping.

Instead, the seeds she has dropped are being consumed by birds and mammals – spreading the wealth for a later date. Down below her surface mycelium is colonizing and spreading out like underground webs.

The scientific reasons for fall's color palette involves an intricate choreography of weather, carotenoids and chlorophyll.

The warmth of fall's days and their brisk evenings create a domino effect of activity within the leaves.

Sugars which are made at daylight and then trapped in leaf veins and not permitted to move out, and cause the purples and reds that we love. These are known as anthocyanin pigments.

Also contained in leaves are carotenoids which create the showy golden yellows which we have come to enjoy so much.

There is so much to enjoy about alluring autumn!

Kathleen Scavone, M.A., is a retired educator, potter, writer and author of “Anderson Marsh State Historic Park: A Walking History, Prehistory, Flora, and Fauna Tour of a California State Park” and “Native Americans of Lake County.” She also formerly wrote for NASA and JPL as one of their “Solar System Ambassadors.” She was selected “Lake County Teacher of the Year, 1998-99” by the Lake County Office of Education, and chosen as one of 10 state finalists the same year by the California Department of Education.
Fall brings with it beautiful, deep colors. Photo by Kathleen Scavone.
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NORTH COAST, Calif. – Two fires that began overnight in Mendocino County had by dawn on Monday burned thousands of acres with nearly one dozen homes confirmed destroyed.

Cal Fire’s Mendocino Unit issued the update on the Potter and Redwood fires shortly before 7 a.m. Monday.

Efforts to fight both fires were hindered by the high winds that blew through the area overnight, according to the report.

The Potter fire, located on Busch Lane in Potter Valley, began Sunday night just after 10:30 p.m. Cal Fire reported.

Cal Fire said it had burned 1,500 acres as of Monday morning, with zero containment.

Eleven homes were confirmed destroyed in the fire, Cal Fire said. No injuries have so far been reported.

There are no evacuations or road closures due to the fire, Cal Fire said.

Resources assigned include 205 total firefighting personnel, 13 engine companies, 12 overhead personnel, six fire crews, four chief officers, two bulldozers and one water tender, according to Cal Fire’s report.

The Redwood fire, located north of Highway 20 and west of the Mendocino National Forest in Redwood Valley, was first reported at 12:45 a.m. Monday, Cal Fire said.

It had burned 4,500 by 7 a.m., with zero containment, according to Cal Fire.

Cal Fire said Monday morning that it did not yet know how many structures had been destroyed or damaged by the Redwood fire. No injuries are reported.

Resources that Cal Fire said are assigned to the Redwood fire include 231 total personnel, 11 overhead personnel, seven fire crews, six engine companies, five chief officers, two bulldozers and one water tender.

The causes of both fires remain under investigation, Cal Fire said.

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.
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NORTH COAST, Calif. – Strike teams of firefighters from Lake County and elsewhere around the region are battling a number of major wildland fires that began burning Sunday night and early Monday morning in Sonoma and Napa counties, prompting the evacuation of thousands of residents.

The Cal Fire Sonoma Lake Napa Unit put out the call for at least 10 strike teams Sunday night to respond to a growing number of late-night fires in Napa County in Sonoma County being fanned by high winds.

Reports from the scenes of the fires indicated the high winds on Sunday night and Monday morning were playing a part in the fires, resulting in “extreme fire behavior.”

Shortly before midnight, incident command ordered increasing numbers of evacuations from Calistoga to Santa Rosa, with evacuation centers opening up both in Napa and Sonoma counties.

Dispatch also repeatedly informed responding units that rescue is a priority, with structure defense and suppression where possible.

A call went out to all Lake County fire stations shortly after 10 p.m. Sunday for an immediate need strike team.

At least three engines and two water tenders from arounds around Lake County responded to the Tubbs incident in Napa County, with Lake County Fire Chief Willie Sapeta as strike team leader, according to radio reports.

The Tubbs incident is burning in the area of Highway 128 and Tubbs Lane. Late Sunday, there was no size estimate available, but structures were reported to be threatened.

Also burning in Napa County is the Atlas fire, located off of Atlas Peak Road, south of Lake Berryessa. Cal Fire estimated the Atlas to be about 200 acres.

Another fire in the 3000 block of Partrick Road in Napa County was reported shortly before 11:45 p.m. Sunday. At that point it was moving at a rapid rate, was 20 acres and threatening structures, with authorities looking for any available resources to respond.

In Sonoma County, dispatchers were overwhelmed with 911 calls in response to fires burning at Mark West Springs and Riebli Road in Santa Rosa, Shiloh and Conde in Windsor and Highway 116 at Fredericks Road in Sebastopol, Lawndale Road in Kenwood and Mark West and Ursuline Drive in Larkfield, according to the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office.

Evacuations have been ordered along Porter Creek, Petrified Forest, Franz Valley and Mountain Home Ranch Road, and in Larkfield, where the fire was on the east side of Highway 101, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office said.

The agency said “mass evacuations” were taking place.

In the city of Santa Rosa, several neighborhoods were under mandatory evacuation early Monday morning.

The city said evacuation orders have issued for residents of Cross Creek Road, Sky Farm Drive, Saint Andrews Drive, all residences north of Fountaingrove Parkway, and Montecito Heights

The fire expanded to west of Highway 101 in the northeast Santa Rosa neighborhood near the Kohl’s Store at Coffey Lane and Hopper Avenue, where there were several structural fires, the city reported.

The Napa County Sheriff’s Office said Silverado Trail is closed at Yountville Cross Road, with all Soda Canyon residents ordered to evacuate.

A hard closure is in effect on Highway 128 at Tubbs Lane, with a mandatory evacuation of Highway 128 west to the city of Santa Rosa.

The county of Napa reported that a local emergency had been declared as of 10:15 p.m. Sunday, and that it had opened its emergency operations center and emergency shelters in response to the series of wildfires burning there.

Areas evaluated included Atlas Peak Road, including Silverado Country Club, Knights Valley to Tubbs Lane in Calistoga, Monticello Road to Circle Oaks Subdivision and Soda Canyon Road.

Emergency shelters are open at Napa County Fairgrounds in Calistoga, 1435 N. Oak St.; Crosswalk Community Church in Napa, 2590 First St.

The Napa County Animal Shelter at 942 Hartle Court will shelter dogs, cats, rabbits and other household animals.

Additional information will be posted as it becomes available.

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.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control has adult dogs and puppies waiting for homes this week.

This week’s available dogs include mixes of cattle dog, Chihuahua, husky, Labrador Retriever, mastiff, pit bull and terrier.

Dogs that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed, microchipped and, if old enough, given a rabies shot and county license 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 hoping you'll choose them.

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

This young male pit bull mix has is in kennel No. 2, ID No. 8617. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

Male pit bull mix

This young male pit bull mix has a short brown brindle coat.

He already has been neutered.

He’s in kennel No. 2, ID No. 8617.

This male mastiff puppy is in kennel No. 4b, ID No. 8614. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

Mastiff puppy

This male mastiff puppy has a short tricolor coat.

He’s in kennel No. 4b, ID No. 8614.

This male Chihuahua is in kennel No. 5, ID No. 8558. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

Male Chihuahua

This male Chihuahua has a short tricolor coat.

He already has been neutered.

He’s in kennel No. 5, ID No. 8558.

This young female pit bull terrier is in kennel No. 7, ID No. 8607. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

Pit bull terrier

This young female pit bull terrier has a short white coat with brown markings.

Shelter staff said she gets along with other dogs.

She’s in kennel No. 7, ID No. 8607.

This male Labrador Retriever mix is in kennel No. 13, ID No. 8626. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

Male Labrador Retriever

This male Labrador Retriever mix has a short black coat.

He’s in kennel No. 13, ID No. 8626.

This young male pit bull terrier is in kennel No. 20, ID No. 8623. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

Pit bull terrier

This young male pit bull terrier has a short tan and black coat.

He already has been neutered.

Shelter staff said he gets along with other dogs.

He’s in kennel No. 20, ID No. 8623.

This male husky is in kennel No. 21, ID No. 8577. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

Male husky

This male husky has a long gray and white coat and blue eyes.

He already has been altered.

He’s in kennel No. 21, ID No. 8577.

This male cattle dog-hound mix is in kennel No. 31, ID No. 8462. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

Cattle dog-hound mix

This male cattle dog-hound mix has a short gray coat.

He’s in kennel No. 31, ID No. 8462.

This female cattle dog is in kennel No. 32, ID No. 8476. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

Female cattle dog

This female cattle dog has a short red coat.

She’s in kennel No. 32, ID No. 8476.

This female Labrador Retriever in kennel No. 33, ID No. 8477. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

Female Labrador Retriever

This female Labrador Retriever has a short black coat.

She’s in kennel No. 33, ID No. 8477.

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, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 11 a.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.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
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NORTH COAST, Calif. – The city of Santa Rosa’s manager, acting as Director of Emergency Services, has declared the fires in Santa Rosa as a local emergency.

The city said early Monday that several neighborhoods remain under mandatory evacuation:

- Cross Creek Road;
- Sky Farm Drive;
- Saint Andrews Drive;
- All residences north Fountaingrove Parkway;
- Montecito Heights;
- The Hopper Avenue Area West of Coffey Lane (Between Dennis Lane and Hopper Avenue to the north and south and Coffey Lane and Barnes Road to the east and west);
- All residences east of Fulton Road, between Piner Road and Guerneville Road;
- Kaiser Permanente Hospital and Sutter Hospital are being evacuated.

The city said residents need to heed evacuation orders and leave immediately.

Shelters are open in the following locations:

- Finley Community Center (THIS SHELTER IS AT CAPACITY) at 2060 West College Ave.;
- Veterans Building on 1350 Maple Ave.;
- Elsie Allen High School at 599 Bellevue Ave.;
- Petaluma Community Center at 320 McDowell Boulevard, Petaluma;
- Sebastopol Community Center, 390 Morris St., Sebastopol;
- Analy High School, 69 Analy Ave., Sebastopol;
- Animals may be sheltered at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds at 1350 Bennett Valley Road.

Officials said all Santa Rosa City School will be closed on Monday.

The following roads are blocked due to traffic:

- Highway 101 southbound from Mark West Springs Road;
- Highway 101 northbound from Bicentennial Avenue;
- Highway 101 at Highway 12 southbound.

Officials ask the public not to call 911 unless they are reporting an active fire.

Find updates on the fires at www.srcity.org/emergency.
Posted On

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Thanks to the tireless dedication and hard work of a small Lake County rescue organization, thousands of dogs have found new lives with loving families across Northern California.

Orphan Dog began as Lake County Animal Services in 2004, founded by Karen Schaver, a high school teacher and the organization’s director.

Schaver and her husband Mike held three jobs each to make their dream of rescuing dogs happen.

They didn’t wait for the lottery, they worked hard to buy their 80-acre ranch in Lakeport.

The engine behind Orphan Dog, Karen Schaver travels more than 3,000 miles per month for vet care, to and from shelters, picking up and delivering dogs as well as putting on adoption events each Saturday around Lake, Mendocino, Sonoma and Marin counties.

On Sept. 16 and 17, Schaver took dozens of dogs to the Bay Area Pet Fair in Pleasanton.

At right, Karen Shaver, director and founder of Orphan Dog, talking to an adopter at the Orphan Dog adoption event in Lakeport, Calif., on Saturday, September 30, 2017. Photo by Lucy Llewellyn Byard.

In addition to taking dogs from her own rescue, the city of Clearlake reported that she took eight from its shelter. Lake County Animal Care and Control Director Bill Davidson said one dog from the county shelter went, as that was all there was available after 13 other dogs went to rescue.

Schaver is highly regarded by local and regional shelters, who often seek her help to cure dogs affected by parvovirus.

Since founding her organization, she has rescued and adopted out 4,000 dogs; all done on a teacher’s salary.

Orphan Dog held one of its Lake County adoption events on Sept. 30 at Lakeport Cinema 5, where there was plenty of shade for the dogs to stay safe and cool.

Orphan Dog’s van arrived piled high with crated dogs and puppies along with metal pens, water, blankets, towels and boxes filled with paperwork and vaccinations; all quickly assembled in military fashion.

The Star Wars puppies litter and two pit bull puppies at the Orphan Dog adoption event in Lakeport, Calif., on Saturday, September 30, 2017. Photo by Lucy Llewellyn Byard.

Volunteers and prospective adopters helped unload the puppies and adult dogs.

“All animals are spayed, neutered, vet checked, vaccinated, microchipped and have 30-day pet insurance,” explained Schaver as she lined each pen with towels.

“Hands need to be cleaned before touching the puppies,” she explained to the crowd as she passed around towelettes.

Potential “parents” milled around the puppy pen, where the puppies were croodling – or nestling – in a big pile.

Schaver gives group names for identification purposes. This litter she dubbed the Star Wars puppies; their breed unknown.

Second shots were administered to the puppies without a whimper. Foster parents brought their foster dogs, hoping for them to be adopted. Several dogs were taken for walks.

Max, a 2-year-old black pointer mix and perfect ball hound, ran himself ragged playing fetch to impress his new forever mom.

Adam Black, a potential adopter, called home to his wife to get the OK to adopt another puppy, his second from Orphan Dog.

Gary, the gentle pit bull, is ready for his forever home. Photo by Lucy Llewellyn Byard.

She gave him the thumbs up. Then it was decision time; does he adopt the brindle pit puppy or the brown one?

Moose, the lucky brown pit puppy selected and adopted by Black, fell fast asleep in the arms of his new human sister, oblivious that he was about to journey to his new home filled with dogs, horses, miniature donkeys and assorted other animals. Farm life – a great forever home.

Gary, a white and black pit bull, was a favorite for this writer. During his walk, two dogs in one of the pens tried to fight with him. Gary was nonplussed and walked calmly away.

One Star Wars puppy was adopted, along with Moose the pit puppy, Max the pointer mix and Skylar the camera-shy German Shepard. Four total – four that found their new forever families, thanks to the hard work and dedication of Karen Schaver’s Orphan Dog.

To adopt or volunteer, check upcoming Orphan Dog adoption events at http://www.orphandog.org or https://www.facebook.com/OrphanDog/.

Lucy Llewellyn Byard is a freelance writer and photographer. She lives in Lucerne with her dog, Toby.
Adam Black and his new best friend, Moose, who was adopted at the Orphan Dog adoption event in Lakeport, Calif., on Saturday, September 30, 2017. Photo by Lucy Llewellyn Byard.
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College students working with NASA are helping devise solutions that may make living on other worlds possible.

Short for eXploration Systems and Habitation Academic Innovation Challenge, the X-Hab Challenge represents one of several platforms NASA leverages to crowdsource solutions to complex challenges in order to keep humans healthy and productive in deep space.

Universities submit their ideas and NASA's technical experts review and select the proposals. NASA surveys the agency for issues that need solutions to enable exploration.

“There are key issues needing solutions for food production in microgravity during exploration missions. These issues are water and nutrient delivery to the root zone and the recycling of nutrients from inedible plant materials and waste," said Charlie Quincy, Kennedy Space Center’s Life Science maturation manager. "This year, two projects tackled both watering plants in space and nutrient and material recovery."

Ohio State University in Wooster, Ohio, recently finished its project, entitled “Passive Watering and Plant Biomass Recycling Systems for eXploration Habitat.”

This project was two projects in one – while one team focused on designing a reliable, low-energy, low-maintenance water delivery system using wicking and capillary forces, a second team examined how to incorporate recycled inedible plant matter, including root and stems, into a rooting structure for the next plant growing cycle.

The passive water delivery portion examined alternate water delivery methods for the Veggie experiment on the International Space Station.

The addition this year was to use a collapsible reservoir and a device to aid fluid flow in microgravity.

The recycling team designed a bioreactor and a process of shredding and dehydrating plant matter to transform plant waste into plant-growth substrate that could be used to grow plants for food.

The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor tackled turning urine into plant nutrition. Its project, entitled “Space Life and Physical Sciences: Wastewater to Plant Nutrient Solution,” extracts water and plant nutrients along with edible sodium from the wastewater and urine generated by a human space habitat.

The student team members presented the design process, construction and testing of the subcomponents of their hardware and software, and demonstrated how the hardware works.

The system involves a multistage setup of pretreatment ultrafiltration to separate materials, electrodialysis to remove inorganic salts, and finally ultraviolet light to remove bacteria and viruses. The resulting water and nutrients could then be recycled to grow plants for food.

The students were able to demonstrate that water and plant nutrient output from their system could be used to grow plants that are safe for human consumption.

X-Hab is sponsored by Advanced Exploration Systems, or AES, a division in NASA’s Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate.

AES develops strategic partnerships and collaborations with universities to help bridge gaps and increase knowledge in architectural design trades, capabilities and technology risk reduction related to AES activities.

NASA Space Life and Physical Science Research and Applications Division provided food production research topics and funding for materials, parts and services for selected projects to address real spaceflight issues and inspire the future NASA workforce.

Amanda Griffin works for NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center.
An artist's illustration of a Mars greenhouse. Image credit: NASA.
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NORTH COAST, Calif. – A wildland fire burning in Mendocino County resulted in another round of evacuations on the North Coast during a frenzied night of fire activity.

The Redwood Complex was reported shortly before 1:45 a.m. Monday, within hours of fires that began in Lake, Napa and Sonoma counties.

Initial reports from the scene early Monday put the fire’s size at more than 600 acres, burning in all directions, with structures threatened and residents reported trapped.

The fire could be seen from Lake County, with the red glow hanging over Highway 20 early Monday. Local firefighters had received reports from area residents who believed it was in Lake County.

The Mendocino County Office of Emergency Services reported numerous areas were under mandatory evacuation and some roads were closed due to the fire complex.

In Redwood Valley, School Way from Highway 101 has been closed and East Road and West Road are under evacuation order, the agency reported.

In Willits, Tomki Road to Canyon Road is under evacuation order. Also ordered to evacuate were Golden Rule subdivision and Reeves Canyon, officials said.

Officials said shelters are opening for evacuees. Those south of the fire can go to Ukiah High School while those north of the fire can go to the Willits Community Center.

For large animal evacuation, residents are being directed to the Ukiah Fairgrounds.

Additional details will be posted as they become available.

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.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Did you know that only one-third of Americans have created and practiced a home fire escape plan?

Almost three-quarters of Americans have an escape plan; however, less than half ever practice it?

With these statistics, it’s time to stop being complacent and get the ball rolling in creating a home escape plan for you and your family and more importantly practicing it.

Oct. 8 to 14 marks Fire Prevention Week and this year’s theme is “Every Second Counts – Plan 2 Ways Out!”

Take time now to create an escape plan with your family and practice that plan twice a year. Knowing what to do and where to go can save precious seconds, helping you and your family escape safely without tragedy.

“Our goal is to make sure our residents are safe from fires, whether inside the home or outside,” said Lynne Tolmachoff, Cal Fire chief of public education. “Fire Prevention Week is one opportunity to initiate awareness of how to protect you and your family from harm’s way and to give you the tools you need to maintain a safe home and yard.”

Fire Prevention Week has been observed on the Sunday through Saturday period in which Oct. 9 falls, in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire, which began Oct. 8, 1871.

The horrific fire killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres.

Each year’s theme is to reinforce the importance of fire prevention.

Crafting your plan for escaping a home fire is easy to do:
  • Draw a map of your home. With all the members of your household, visit each room and identify two ways out.
  • Show all doors and windows on your drawing and mark the path to the outside from each exit.
  • Practice your plan during the day and at night to ensure that you and your family can get out safely at any time.
  • Make sure to teach your children how to escape on their own, in case you can’t help them.
  • Have a plan for the elderly as it may take more time to get them out safely.
  • Let everyone know to close the doors behind you as you leave – this may slow the spread of smoke, heat, and fire.
  • Once you get outside, stay outside. Never go back inside for anything.
  • Call 911 from outside and make sure your address is easy to see from the road.
If you happen to be caught in a wildfire, knowing two ways out is critical to getting out safely.

Create a wildfire evacuation plan that includes:
  • A designated emergency meeting location outside the fire or hazard area. This is essential to determine who has safely evacuated from the affected area.
  • Several different escape routes from your home and community. Practice these often so everyone in your family is familiar in case of emergency.
  • Have an evacuation plan for pets and large animals such as horses and other livestock.
  • Designate an out-of-area friend or relative as a point of contact to act as a single source of communication among family members in case of separation (cell and internet systems can be overloaded or limited during a disaster).
Posted On

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for Lake County and other parts of Northern California due to concerns for strong winds forecast to arrive on Sunday.

The agency said the red flag warning is in effect from 11 a.m. Sunday to 5 p.m. Tuesday.

A red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly, according to the National Weather Service, which also reported that a combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.

In the case of this latest warning, the National Weather Service said the highest threat across Northern California is in southern Lake County, the northern and western Sacramento Valley, and the adjacent foothills.

A combination of wind, low afternoon humidity and poor overnight recovery may create a period of increased fire starts or rapid spread through early Tuesday morning, according to the forecast.

The regional forecast calls for a gusty north to northeasterly wind to begin across the Coastal Range, northern and western Central Valley Sunday and spread across the Sierra Nevada Sunday night.

The wind is expected to range between 15 and 30 miles per hours, with gusts of up to 40 miles per hour in some parts of Northern California.

The specific Lake County forecast calls for light winds to actually begin on Saturday, with speeds ranging from the mid-teens in Lucerne and Lakeport into the mid-20s in the south county and Clearlake.

On Sunday night, wind gusts could range up close to 30 miles per hour on the Northshore and nearly 40 miles per hour in Middletown before tapering off on Monday, according to the forecast.

Temperatures in the coming week are forecast to range into the low 80s during the day and the low 40s at night.

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.

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