KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – With another wildfire season now under way, a Lake County supervisor is asking community members to come out and volunteer part of a Saturday to reduce fire risks.
Supervisor Rob Brown put out the call this week as part of the “1,000 Hands to Protect Lake County Homes” effort.
Lake County residents are well aware that disaster events affecting one of our communities have the potential to impact all of us.
Brown said that’s why community members must take every reasonable proactive measures to harden homes, neighborhoods and roadways against the threat of wildfire.
“I am asking for around 500 volunteers to donate at least part of Saturday, Aug. 17, to clean up hazardous vegetation along county roadside in the Soda Bay corridor, from the end of Highway 281 to Soda Bay, including areas of the Black Forest,” Brown said.
Most wildfires are caused by roadside vegetation, and this is one of the areas of the county at the greatest risk, Brown said. “We need to act now to protect all county residents.”
If you have one hour to give, two hours or four, your help is needed, and crews will be working from 6 to 10 a.m.
Bring your hand tools: loppers, pruners, shovels and rakes. Bring your nylon-stringed weed eaters as well.
Whether you live in the immediate area or not, Brown invites you to join him, Lake County’s Department of Public Works, Lake County Waste Solutions, California Highway Patrol, Kelseyville Fire Protection District, Kelseyville Unified School District, Kelseyville Sunrise Rotary and the Homeowners Associations of Riviera Heights, Riviera West, Clear Lake Riviera and Buckingham, in acting to reduce the risk of a major wildfire event in Lake County.
“One thousand hands can make a powerful difference for 12,000 County residents living along this corridor, the 65,000 residents of Lake County, and all of those in the region affected by air quality and other consequences whenever a major wildfire occurs,” Brown said.
Volunteers can sign up by completing the volunteer services agreement. Copies are available from the County Administrative Office, Human Resources Office and Department of Public Works, and the form is posted online.
Brown said participants will meet at Riviera Elementary School, 10505 Fairway Drive in Kelseyville. Copies of the volunteer services agreement will also be available there.
All volunteers are encouraged to dress appropriately, with hats, sunscreen, long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and gloves that can be comfortably worn in warm weather.
Water will be provided, and they are also expecting to provide gloves for those who do not own them.
Please also note, the southbound lane of Soda Bay Road, from Riviera Heights Drive to Point Lakeview Road, will be closed for the hours of the project, in order to allow volunteers to safely work and park. The county apologizes for any inconvenience.
Brown invites those with questions to call him at 707-349-2628 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .