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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — A Kelseyville man reported missing earlier this week has been found dead in Clear Lake.

The body of Lee Allen Woodruff, 42, was found in Clear Lake on Tuesday afternoon.

Woodruff was reported missing after he was last seen leaving his home on Aztec Road in Kelseyville on Monday evening.

On Tuesday morning, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office posted on Facebook about Woodruff’s disappearance.

Authorities asked neighbors to look in their backyards and other structures in the event he was disoriented and seeking shelter.

Later on Tuesday morning, the sheriff’s office said more than 40 of its Search and Rescue members were in the Kelseyville Rivieras and around Konocti Harbor searching for Woodruff, using the Galilee Lutheran Church Community Center as a command post for the search.

Also taking part in the search were K-Corps, Mendocino Sheriff Search and Rescue, Marin County Search and Rescue, Sonoma County Search and Rescue and the Northshore Fire Dive Team.

The sheriff’s office said that on 1 p.m. Tuesday the Northshore Dive Team found Woodruff’s body in the water near the shoreline of Clear Lake.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office Coroner Unit notified Woodruff’s next of kin.

The sheriff’s office said a coroner’s investigation into the circumstances of Woodruff’s death is ongoing.

Lake County News asked the sheriff’s office for an update on the investigation but as of Wednesday no additional details were 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, and on Bluesky, @erlarson.bsky.social. Find Lake County News on the following platforms: Facebook, @LakeCoNews; X, @LakeCoNews; Threads, @lakeconews, and on Bluesky, @lakeconews.bsky.social.
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CLEARLAKE, Calif. — Blue Zones Project – Lake County announced that Aromas Café at Woodland Community College has officially earned the designation of a Blue Zones Project- approved restaurant.

This achievement was celebrated recently during the Lake County Restaurant Expo with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and certificate presentation.

During the ceremony, Chef Robert Cabreros, who also heads up the Woodland Community College Lake County Campus’s Culinary Arts Program, shared that although the café operates just one day a week during each school semester, the previous session saw over 350 Blue Zones Project-inspired menu items sold.

This success highlights the growing demand for fresh, healthy dining options among community members.

In pursuit of Blue Zones approval, Chef Cabreros incorporated a unique educational component into his culinary program. He developed a lesson plan that introduces students to the principles of the Blue Zones and the Blue Zones Project, equipping them with the knowledge to engage customers on the significance of dining at an approved restaurant.

As part of their learning, students also watch the Emmy award-winning docuseries Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones.

Aromas Café updates its menu weekly and has committed to offering at least one Blue Zones-inspired, plant-slant option each week. This dedication ensures that patrons seeking plant-forward healthy meals always have a nutritious and flavorful choice available.

Additionally, Aromas Café supports well-being beyond its menu by offering split plates at no extra charge—promoting portion control and affordability. Takeout containers are also available
to encourage the practice of Hara Hachi Bu, a mindful eating principle from Okinawa, Japan, one of the original 5 Blue Zones.

"Chef Rob’s leadership in bringing Blue Zones Project principles to both his culinary program and Aromas Café is truly inspiring," said Jamey Gill, executive director of Blue Zones Project – Lake County. "By integrating well-being education into his curriculum and ensuring that fresh, healthy options are available to patrons, he is making a lasting impact. We are thrilled to have Aromas Café as a partner in our mission to make Lake County an even happier, healthier place to live, work, and play."

Blue Zones Project is a county-wide health and well-being initiative designed to make healthy choices easier through lasting changes to the environment, policy and social networks. Inspired by
research on the world's longest-lived populations, the project aims to enhance community well-being and longevity.

For more information about the Blue Zones Project – Lake County, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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KELSEYVILLE, Calif. — The Kelseyville Unified School District is welcoming three new members to its board of trustees.

Sabrina Andrus, Mike Brown and Weston Seifert join trustees Gilbert Rangel, current board president, who has served since December 2020, and Rick Winer, former board president, who has served since 2001.

Kelseyville Unified Superintendent Dr. Nicki Thomas said she is excited to work with all of them. “Our new board members have a variety of experiences and perspectives that will round out the board. But most importantly, they are all committed to our community and want what's best for our kids,” she said.

“Sabrina was a Kelseyville High School graduate and she has been extremely dedicated to our community and our kids,” Thomas said. Mike has a wealth of knowledge and experience as a former educator and superintendent. I am sure there is a lot I will learn from him. And Weston will bring a unique perspective to our board given his involvement with the CTE program at the high school and across the county. He also has children in our district and has been really supportive of our schools and staff.”

Sabrina Andrus

Andrus was born and raised in Kelseyville. She graduated cum laude from law school in 2008, and practiced civil legal aid in Seattle before returning to California. She is a proud auntie to four KVUSD nieces and nephews, ages 6, 6, 8 and 9.

She has served in multiple leadership roles in Lake County and beyond. For the last two years, she has been the executive director of Mother-Wise, a countywide nonprofit that provides new mothers and families with respectful, informative, and judgment-free support to reduce the negative impacts of maternal mental health challenges.

Previously, she led If/When/How, a national nonprofit that trains and mobilizes law students and lawyers to foster legal expertise and support for the realization of reproductive justice.

She said, “I ran to serve on the Kelseyville Unified School District Board because I care deeply about a solid public education foundation for our young people, and knew I could bring my legal and board expertise to the table in a thoughtful way.”

Mike Brown

Brown has a masters degree in educational leadership and 34 years of experience in the field of education. He has also served on the Signal II JPA Board and the Lake County SELPA Board.

Brown moved to Lake County in 1988 and began his career in education as a sixth grade teacher in 1990. He later became a school administrator and spent the last 17 years of his career as principal and superintendent of Lucerne Elementary School.

“My previous job kept me quite busy across the lake,” Brown said. “Now that I am retired, I felt it time to invest in my own amazing community and school district. My wife and children all received a high-quality K-12 education from Kelseyville Unified. I hope that my long-term experience in education provides the district with insight and direction to continue striving to make Kelseyville Unified an exceptional place for students to grow and learn and staff to feel respected and appreciated.”

Weston Seifert

Seifert and his wife, Terra, moved to Lake County in 2008, and both of their children attend Kelseyville Unified schools.

Seifert owns the Saw Shop Public House and has served on both business and education boards and committees, including the Lake County Chamber of Commerce Board, the Kelseyville Business Association Board, the Workforce Alliance of the North Bay Board, and the KVUSD CTE Advisory Committee.

He said, “I am grateful for the opportunity to be able to sit on the Kelseyville Unified School District Board to support our students, faculty and administrators,” said Seifert. “I care deeply about our community and look forward to being a part of this great organization to facilitate educational opportunities for our children.”

Kelseyville Unified Board meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the district’s Dr. Peter J. Quartarolo Board Room, located at 4410 Konocti Road in Kelseyville or in the Tom Aiken Student Center at Kelseyville High School, located at 5480 Main St. in Kelseyville (as indicated on the agenda).

To learn more about Kelseyville Unified, visit KVUSD.org.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — With more atmospheric river storms arriving and expected to continue next week, the National Weather Service has issued a new flood watch and wind advisory for areas including Lake County.

On Wednesday, the National Weather Service said the flood watch had been issued for southern Mendocino and Lake counties from 10 p.m. through Thursday afternoon due to the incoming heavy rain that arrived overnight.

During the flood watch time period, forecasters said 1.5 to 3.5 inches of rain is likely across the area with up to 4 inches possible on the windward side of the highest ridges.

“With already saturated ground, such rates will increase the risk of localized urban and small stream flooding, especially around Clear Lake itself,” the National Weather Service reported.

On Wednesday, forecasters also issued a wind advisory that will be in effect from noon on Thursday to 2 a.m. Friday for southern Lake County.

Southwest winds of 20 to 30 miles per hour, with gusts of up to 50 miles per hour, are expected, based on the forecast.

The National Weather Services said its models suggest a break in the rain on Friday and Saturday, with another round of rain expected to begin on Sunday and continuing into early next week.

The Lake County forecast calls for rain through Friday morning, with temperatures in the low 50s during the day and low 30s at night.

From Friday night through Saturday night, conditions are expected to clear, with similar temperatures in effect, before chances of rain return on Sunday night.

Monday through Tuesday, partly cloudy and mostly sunny conditions are forecast, with a slight chance of rain again on Wednesday.

Clear Lake’s level hovered just under 8 feet Rumsey — the special measure for the lake — on Wednesday night.

Over the weekend, the lake had topped 8 feet Rumsey for 24 hours, which required boaters within a quarter-mile of shore to slow to idle speed.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, and on Bluesky, @erlarson.bsky.social. Find Lake County News on the following platforms: Facebook, @LakeCoNews; X, @LakeCoNews; Threads, @lakeconews, and on Bluesky, @lakeconews.bsky.social.
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With another significant winter storm system expected to reach California later this week, work continues statewide to ensure communities impacted by recent wildfires are protected.

To prepare for this storm, Gov. Gavin Newsom is directing a whole-of-government response to bolster local resources.

In Altadena on Tuesday, Gov. Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom surveyed ongoing work by state crews to prepare the Eaton Fire burn scar area ahead of rain.

At Gov. Newsom’s direction, the state has installed emergency protection materials to contain burn scar debris from the Eaton and Palisades fires from entering creeks, rivers and other bodies of water.

The state is coordinating locally requested materials such as K-rails (concrete barriers) to divert debris flow and has completed debris basin clean-up activities over the last month to mitigate potential impacts in vulnerable areas.

“California has been in a constant state of readiness preparing for extreme winter weather,” said Newsom. “Crews have been on the ground for weeks working to secure areas against possible mudslides and debris flows. If you’re in the storm’s path, please remain vigilant and follow all guidance of local authorities.”

California is monitoring storm impacts, in particular to burn scar areas that pose the threat of mudslides and debris flows.

The National Weather Service said this storm system will bring far-reaching impacts across the state, including risks of urban flooding and burn scar impacts in Southern California, high winds and heavy snow.

State actions to protect communities include:

• 319,000 sandbags and 5,600 super sacks have been deployed to Southern California locations through the Department of Water Resources.

• 242 total Cal Fire engines are deployed throughout the state to rapidly respond, including 109 engines Cal Fire Southern Region and 133 engines Cal Fire Northern Region.

• Cal OES has prepositioned flood fighting and debris flow resources and more than 400 personnel in eight counties, including Colusa, Fresno, Los Angeles, Orange, Glenn, Tulare, Ventura and Santa Barbara. In total the state is deploying through the Fire and Rescue Mutual Aid System the following: 48 fire engines, 8 dozers, 5 helicopters, 8 dispatchers, 6 hand crews, 8 swiftwater rescue teams, 3 local Incident Management Teams, 1 Regional Task Force, 2 excavators, 2 loaders and 5 heavy rescue teams

• Nearly 120 miles of emergency protection materials, including straw wattle, compost sock and silt fencing, have been installed through the California Conservation Corps to contain burn scar debris from entering creeks, rivers and other bodies of water.

• 30 watershed protection specialists have been deployed to burn scar areas.

• Caltrans is placing erosion-control devices, including wattles, to limit mudflows. Caltrans is mobilizing crew members to monitor for rocks and other debris falling from burned slopes on the Pacific Coast Highway and Topanga Canyon Boulevard.

• 14 geologists are deployed to study and map burn scars of the Palisades, Eaton and Kenneth fires. The California Geological Survey is using this information to determine where debris flow could occur and where to install mitigation. The department also coordinated aerial flights over the scars to gather LiDAR data to further study burn areas for possible debris flow.

• 70 soldiers and heavy engineering equipment through the California National Guard are deployed in the area to support debris removal efforts.

• The California Department of Social Services is coordinating with local partners on shelters and warming centers to serve impacted communities.

• The California Department of Public Health is supporting licensed healthcare facilities.

These early actions add on to the work the state has done in recent weeks to protect California communities and boost the state's water supply.

On Jan. 31, the governor signed an executive order to direct state agencies to direct additional water storage by maximizing excess water from winter storms.

Residents in affected areas are urged to stay informed about potential debris flow risks, especially during storms, and to follow guidance from local emergency officials.

Preparing for upcoming weather

On Thursday, rainfall rates could approach 1” per hour near thunderstorms. In addition, there’s anticipated heavy mountain snow, with levels dropping to 2,000-3,000 feet across the north and down to 6,500 feet in the far south. Parts of the state will see wind gusts of 35 to 55 miles per hour, particularly in Central and Southern California.

The incoming storm could bring an increased risk of power outages, flooding in small streams and low-lying areas, and debris, rocks and mudslides on roadways.

Residents are encouraged to not drive through flooded roadways, prepare in advance for power outages and reduce injury risks from falling limbs and trees by staying inside during high wind events.

Residents are urged to stay informed and listen to local authorities about actions they should take including evacuation orders or safety recommendations. In burn scar areas, officials recommend preparing for possible sudden debris flows by having a go-bag packed and knowing evacuation routes.

For more information on winter storm preparedness visit ready.ca.gov.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — A program to help homebuyers in high fire areas buy homes in communities with less fire risk is returning to Lake County for a workshop this month.

A key homebuyer workshop for the ReCoverCA Homebuyer Assistance Program will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 26, in Clearlake.

It will take place from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Best Western El Grande Inn, 15135 Lakeshore Drive.

The free workshop will provide valuable information about the program, which offers up to $350,000 in financial assistance per household to help qualifying individuals and families purchase homes in lower-fire-risk areas of California.

Attendees will learn how to apply for the program, understand the program’s policies and eligibility requirements, get step-by-step guidance on the application process from experts in the field and help raise awareness about the program and contribute to community recovery efforts.

To apply for assistance through the program, applicants must have owned or rented a primary residence in Zip Code 95422 in Lake County in 2017, within a High or Very High Fire Severity Zone. Additionally, applicants must meet the low-to-moderate income eligibility requirements, typically capped at 80% of the area median income.

“This financial assistance could really make a difference in people’s lives,” says Lake County Supervisor EJ Crandell. “When one family gains some stability, they are better able to show up in their employment, in their education, in their relationships with friends and family and in their community. When one family succeeds in taking a step forward in recovery, we all benefit.”

Potential applicants and community stakeholders — including wildfire recovery agencies, organizations, real estate professionals, residential service providers, and media members — are encouraged to attend the upcoming workshop and help raise awareness about this valuable resource.

Space is limited, so attendees are encouraged to register early to guarantee their spot. Pre-register for this free event at https://qrco.de/bfimJm. Interpreter services in Spanish, Tagalog and American Sign Language can be requested during registration.

The ReCoverCA HBA Program is provided by the California Department of Housing and Community Development and funded by HUD.

The program is a vital part of California's ongoing recovery efforts to support individuals and families impacted by wildfires. Since launching in June 2024, the Program has helped over 80 families become homeowners, with an average grant of $300,000 per household.

The assistance is fully forgiven after five years of homeownership and occupancy. There is no first-time homebuyer requirement and perfect credit is not needed to qualify.

Complete program policies, eligibility requirements, loan applications, interest rates, and APRs, are available through ReCoverCA HBA Lenders published on the GSFA website at www.gsfahome.org. 

To pre-register for the homebuyer workshop in Clearlake on February 26, 2025, please visit https://qrco.de/bfimJm.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Are you being impacted by the federal funding freeze?

If so, Congressman Mike Thompson wants to hear from you.

Late last month, President Donald Trump’s administration issued a broad freeze on federal grants and funds.

The courts have issued a temporary stay to prevent the funding freeze, with another judge ordering the Trump Administration to comply with that stay after states reported his administration was not following the court order.

Meantime, Thompson said he and his team are hearing reports from constituents who continue to be impacted.

If you are experiencing ongoing impacts due to this funding freeze, Thompson asks that you share your experience by filling out this survey.

Constituents also are urged to contact his nearest office directly with any questions or to seek support:

• Napa: 707-226-9898.
• Santa Rosa: 707-542-7182.
• Woodland: 530-753-5301.
• Washington: 202-225-3311.

Thompson also can be reached online.
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The Electronic Frontier Foundation and a coalition of privacy defenders led by Lex Lumina filed a lawsuit on Tuesday asking a federal court to stop the U.S. Office of Personnel Management from disclosing millions of Americans’ private, sensitive information to Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.

The complaint on behalf of two labor unions and individual current and former government workers across the country, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, also asks that any data disclosed by the Office of Personnel Management, or OPM, to DOGE so far be deleted.

The complaint by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, or EFF, along with Lex Lumina LLP, State Democracy Defenders Fund and The Chandra Law Firm argues that OPM and OPM Acting Director Charles Ezell illegally disclosed personnel records to Musk’s DOGE in violation of the federal Privacy Act of 1974.

Last week, a federal judge temporarily blocked DOGE from accessing a critical Treasury payment system under a similar lawsuit.

This lawsuit’s plaintiffs are the American Federation of Government Employees AFL-CIO; the Association of Administrative Law Judges, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers Judicial Council 1 AFL-CIO; Vanessa Barrow, an employee of the Brooklyn Veterans Affairs Medical Center; George Jones, President of AFGE Local 2094 and a former employee of VA New York Harbor Healthcare; Deborah Toussant, a former federal employee; and Does 1-100, representing additional current or former federal workers or contractors.

As the federal government is the nation’s largest employer, the records held by OPM represent one of the largest collections of sensitive personal data in the country.

In addition to personally identifiable information such as names, social security numbers, and demographic data, these records include work information like salaries and union activities; personal health records and information regarding life insurance and health benefits; financial information like death benefit designations and savings programs; and nondisclosure agreements; and information concerning family members and other third parties referenced in background checks and health records.

OPM holds these records for tens of millions Americans, including current and former federal workers and those who have applied for federal jobs. OPM has a history of privacy violations—an OPM breach in 2015 exposed the personal information of 22.1 million people—and its recent actions make its systems less secure.

With few exceptions, the Privacy Act limits the disclosure of federally maintained sensitive records on individuals without the consent of the individuals whose data is being shared. It protects all Americans from harms caused by government stockpiling of our personal data. This law was enacted in 1974, the last time Congress acted to limit the data collection and surveillance powers of an out-of-control President.

“The Privacy Act makes it unlawful for OPM Defendants to hand over access to OPM’s millions of personnel records to DOGE Defendants, who lack a lawful and legitimate need for such access,” the complaint says. “No exception to the Privacy Act covers DOGE Defendants’ access to records held by OPM. OPM Defendants’ action granting DOGE Defendants full, continuing, and ongoing access to OPM’s systems and files for an unspecified period means that tens of millions of federal-government employees, retirees, contractors, job applicants, and impacted family members and other third parties have no assurance that their information will receive the protection that federal law affords.”

For more than 30 years, EFF has been a fierce advocate for digital privacy rights. In that time, EFF has been at the forefront of exposing government surveillance and invasions of privacy—such as forcing the release of hundreds of pages of documents about domestic surveillance under the Patriot Act—and enforcing existing privacy laws to protect ordinary Americans—such as in its ongoing lawsuit against Sacramento's public utility company for sharing customer data with police.

2025-02-11 - Afge v Opm Sdny - Complaint by LakeCoNews on Scribd

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On Monday, Representatives Mike Thompson (D-CA) and Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) introduced legislation providing homeowners in disaster-prone regions with broad incentives to harden their properties against wildfires and other risks.

The legislation is intended to help address the ongoing insurance crisis in California and other states, as the rising frequency and intensity of natural disasters has led insurers to raise rates and, in several cases, exit certain markets entirely.

"Property insurance has quickly become one of the single biggest issues I hear about in my district. People can’t get covered: either the available options are completely unaffordable, or there are no options available at all. It’s an untenable situation," said Thompson. "By incentivizing homeowners to mitigate disaster risks on their property, we aim to bring insurers back into the market and bring rates back into more affordable territory."

"Homeowners should be able to lower their insurance costs by reducing the risks to their property, but right now, many are stuck with skyrocketing rates or no coverage at all," said Rep. LaMalfa. "This bill gives them a real chance to make improvements that not only strengthen their homes but also help bring insurers back to the market."

The Disaster Resiliency and Coverage Act of 2025 provides homeowners in disaster-prone regions with broad incentives to harden their properties against wildfires and other natural hazards to help address the ongoing insurance crisis in California and other states.

By incentivizing homeowners to mitigate disaster risks on their property, the legislation will help bring insurers back into the market and lower rates.

The legislation includes the establishment of a grant program, administered through State governments, through which certain individual households in designated disaster-prone regions are eligible for up to $10,000 for specified hazard mitigation work on their homes.

The legislation also provides a 30 percent tax credit for these mitigation activities conducted by individuals, farms, and businesses. The credit complements the grant program by providing meaningful assistance to larger property owners for whom mitigation activity costs would far exceed $10,000.

In addition, the legislation establishes that payments from state-run disaster resiliency programs and payments from various federal emergency agricultural programs are not considered income for federal tax purposes. It also advises states to direct insurers to consider plan owners’ disaster mitigation efforts when setting premiums.

"NAHB commends Reps. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) and Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.) for introducing the Disaster Resiliency and Coverage Act. With 130 million homes built before the introduction of modern codes in 2010, this bill focuses on improving older homes that are far less resilient than modern homes. The legislation would protect homeowners, reduce the financial burden of natural disasters, and increase the resiliency of our nation’s housing stock," said Carl Harris, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders.

"Americans all across the country are struggling to keep their homes insured in the face of rising premiums and shrinking options in the marketplace. This is not a ‘California problem.’ It is critical that we help households make the risk reduction improvements that improve their odds against extreme weather events and help them qualify for property insurance they can afford. We commend Congressman Thompson and the co-sponsors of this bill for advancing this important legislation," said Amy Bach, executive director, United Policyholders and member of the Federal Advisory Committee on Insurance to the U.S. Treasury.

"APCIA commends Representatives Mike Thompson (D-CA) and Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) for leading the Disaster Resiliency and Coverage Act of 2025. This bill will support homeowners in disaster-prone regions to undertake mitigation activities proven to reduce risk from natural catastrophes such as wildfires, flooding, hurricanes, and wind events. For communities at high-risk from natural disasters and severe weather-related damage, mitigation and hardening of existing structures must be prioritized and could also positively impact insurance availability and affordability. APCIA fully supports this legislation," said Kate Carey, senior department vice president and counsel, American Property Casualty Insurance Association.

"The National Association of REALTORS applaud Representatives Thompson and LaMalfa for introducing the Disaster Resiliency and Coverage Act. This vital legislation will empower homeowners in high-risk areas to take proactive steps to safeguard their properties through targeted grants and tax incentives. By investing in mitigation efforts before disaster strikes, we not only protect lives and property but also reduce long-term recovery costs. REALTORS strongly support these measures, which will help build stronger, more resilient communities, and we look forward to working with Congress to advance this important legislation," said Shannon McGahn, chief advocacy officer, National Association of REALTORS.

Thompson represents California’s Fourth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Lake, Napa, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo counties.
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LAKEPORT, Calif. — The man who authorities said was responsible for a fatal shooting in downtown Lakeport was back in court on Tuesday.

Joshua Jacob Tovar, 33, was in court on Tuesday morning to enter his not guilty plea in the shooting death of 32-year-old Vicente Zeta Colacion, also of Lakeport.

Colacion was shot and killed at Library Park on the evening of Friday, Jan. 31.

Tovar is charged with homicide, assault with a firearm, in this case, a handgun; felon in possession of a firearm; felon in possession of ammunition; and special allegations that include personal and intentional use of a firearm and inflicting great bodily injury.

He’s facing prosecution for separate drugs and weapons charges, and for violating the terms of his post release community supervision, which is given to inmates released from state prison. Tovar has previous felony convictions for assault and weapons charges.

He appeared to plead all of the cases on Tuesday and will return for preliminary hearing on March 26. He is being represented by the Public Defender’s Office.

A second man, Parker John Coggins, 27, of Lakeport, was arrested by police for assault with a deadly weapon on Colacion. However, District Attorney Susan Krones told Lake County News that her department is still investigating the case and formal charges have not yet been filed on Coggins.

Colacion’s life was commemorated at a candlelight vigil on Saturday night.

He was remembered by friends and family as a man who had great love for others, and who was a dedicated poet and artist.

Vicente Colacion’s aunt, Yvonne Colacion, told Lake County News in an email, “As Vicente's family and extended family work through this senseless violence that took away such a complex beautiful loving person; we simply can't understand how someone goes from writing poetry with a friend in the charming town of Lakeport, to minutes later dying in the arms of that same friend overlooking the lake.”

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, and on Bluesky, @erlarson.bsky.social. Find Lake County News on the following platforms: Facebook, @LakeCoNews; X, @LakeCoNews; Threads, @lakeconews, and on Bluesky, @lakeconews.bsky.social.
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On Tuesday, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) joined Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) and 13 other Democratic senators in urging senior Trump Administration officials to reverse the hiring and onboarding freeze of federal seasonal firefighters that threatens the safety of communities in California and across the nation.

The Trump Administration’s Jan. 20 hiring freeze of federal civilian employees inexplicably did not exempt federal seasonal firefighters, despite exempting other critical public safety personnel.

Federal seasonal firefighters risk their lives to protect communities and save lives. This hiring freeze is particularly dangerous as staffing and training ramp up ahead of peak wildfire season. While Padilla secured a temporary pay raise for wildland firefighters in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, recruitment and retention remain significant challenges as firefighters work long hours with insufficient pay.

The attrition rate of firefighters at the U.S. Forest Service has been 45 percent over the past four years — making the hiring freeze at the Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the National Park Service all the more dangerous.

“The Administration must not sacrifice the safety of the American people for the benefit of implementing a political agenda,” wrote the senators. “We urge you to immediately reverse course, begin hiring and onboarding seasonal firefighters again, and continue supporting and growing the federal firefighting workforce.”

“The bottom line is this: pausing the hiring and onboarding of federal seasonal firefighters — while historic wildfires destroy communities and upend livelihoods across the West — is simply irresponsible and dangerous,” continued the senators. “We will be woefully unprepared to fight the fires to come and instead will continue to see record levels of damage, ultimately costing communities and taxpayers even more at a time when the cost of living is already too high.”

Wildfires are increasing in frequency and destructiveness in California and across the nation. Last month, the devastating Southern California fires, including the Palisades and Eaton Fires, burned over 57,000 acres and destroyed over 16,200 structures, claiming the lives of at least 29 victims.

Nationally, over 64,800 fires burned 9 million acres in 2024, up from approximately 56,500 wildfires and 3 million acres in 2023. The rise in catastrophic wildfires demands even more seasonal firefighter hiring — not a freeze.

In addition to Senators Padilla and Rosen, the letter was also signed by Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Angus King (I-Maine), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

Last month, Padilla reintroduced the bipartisan Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act to protect the pay raise he secured for wildland firefighters in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. In 2023, Padilla and a bipartisan group of senators urged Senate leadership to avoid mass resignations within the wildland firefighter ranks by ensuring the prompt passage of their bipartisan legislation.

Padilla and a bipartisan group of senators also urged the Biden Administration to establish a special pay rate for federal wildland firefighters to prevent staffing shortages and strengthen wildfire response efforts in 2022. Following that request, the administration announced a temporary pay raise.

Additionally, Padilla’s Wildfire Emergency Act, announced last week, would establish a prescribed fire-training center in the West and authorize grants to support training the next generation of foresters and firefighters, among other important fire mitigation efforts.

The full text of the letter is below.

Dear Secretary Burgum, Acting Secretary Washington, and Acting Director Ezell:

We write today following reports that hiring and onboarding for federal seasonal firefighters has stopped due to the Trump Administration’s federal hiring freeze. We are extremely concerned to hear that this is happening across the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and National Park Service ahead of what’s expected to be another devastating wildfire year. The Administration must not sacrifice the safety of the American people for the benefit of implementing a political agenda. We urge you to immediately reverse course, begin hiring and onboarding seasonal firefighters again, and continue supporting and growing the federal firefighting workforce.

President Trump’s January 20th memorandum ordered a hiring freeze for all federal civilian employees. It also explicitly exempted public safety personnel from this freeze and allowed the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to grant further exemptions. We are appalled that federal seasonal firefighters are not already exempted, given the critical role they play in public safety throughout our communities. Federal seasonal firefighters are brave public servants who risk their lives to protect those around them. They work long hours in dangerous environments to not only fight fires on private, public, and Tribal lands, but also carry out hazardous fuels management, which is crucial to preventing and mitigating the effects of future fires.

Wildfires are increasing in frequency and destructiveness in the U.S., necessitating even greater seasonal firefighter hiring. In 2024, over 64,800 wildfires occurred across the country, which is up from approximately 56,500 in 2023. Additionally, fires burned nearly 9 million acres in 2024, compared to only 3 million in 2023. Such fires also no longer stick to a particular season, meaning that we must be prepared 365 days per year to fight fires, putting even more stress and strain on a workforce that desperately needs additional support and higher pay. While the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law led to some small increases from the 18,700 seasonal and career federal firefighters we had in 2022, this investment is still not meeting our current wildfire needs.

Although there is an urgent need to hire more federal firefighters, the Trump Administration’s hiring freeze does the opposite and is pausing hiring at a critical time for this already understaffed workforce.

On top of this, firefighter retention continues to be a problem, with reports indicating that the attrition rate of firefighters at the Forest Service has been 45 percent over the past four years. We therefore need to focus on recruitment and retention of this critically important workforce, rather than place more uncertainty within it through an arbitrary freeze. The federal seasonal firefighter hiring process is already time consuming, and we don’t need to delay it further with more bureaucratic red tape.

The bottom line is this: pausing the hiring and onboarding of federal seasonal firefighters – while historic wildfires destroy communities and upend livelihoods across the West – is simply irresponsible and dangerous. We will be woefully unprepared to fight the fires to come and instead will continue to see record levels of damage, ultimately costing communities and taxpayers even more at a time when the cost of living is already too high. We urge you to put the safety of families and communities across the country first and allow the federal seasonal firefighter hiring process to continue without delay. Every moment that we wait puts lives and livelihoods at greater risk.
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On Monday, U.S. senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.) joined Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and 10 other Western Democratic senators to sound the alarm over threats to the removal of hazardous fuels on U.S. public lands.

The Bureau of Land Management recently issued stop work orders to small businesses and organizations across America carrying out critical hazardous fuel removal projects on high-risk federal lands.

Delaying these treatments risks missing out on the right seasonal and weather conditions for safely treating hazardous fuels, the senators said.

The letter follows President Donald Trump’s executive orders cutting federal funds needed to mitigate and fight wildfires, despite the devastating fires that ravaged Southern California communities last month.

The BLM’s Ukiah Field office told Lake County News, “Hazardous fuels projects that are funded by base appropriations are continuing forward across the West. Fuels reduction work funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is currently undergoing review to ensure consistency with the Executive Order.”

The senators demanded that Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Acting Agriculture Secretary Gary Washington rescind the order to stop work on essential hazardous fuels reduction efforts and any other wildland fire management and risk-reduction programs.

“Catastrophic wildfires across the United States are an ongoing national crisis and responding to them must be a national priority. These stop work orders and funding freezes jeopardize communities that depend on a robust federal response to our wildfire crisis — and also jeopardize small businesses, often in frontier and rural communities, that are contracted to do the work on the ground to reduce hazardous fuels,” wrote the senators.

“As we’ve seen with the recent fires surrounding Los Angeles, wildfire does not distinguish between homes and trees. But we do have ways to mitigate the risk,” continued the senators. “One of the most effective strategies to reduce that risk is to reduce the hazardous natural fuels that surround our communities. These fuels reduction projects save lives and property, reduce the danger to firefighters, and return our lands to a fire-adapted ecosystem that can better withstand the threat to human life, communities, infrastructure, and property.

The hazardous fuel reduction projects are a core component of the Wildfire Crisis Strategy, to which Congress appropriated over $3 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act. These investments in fuels reduction treatments for high-risk firesheds were recommended in the nonpartisan Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission Report.

In addition to Senators Padilla, Schiff, Merkley, and Heinrich, the letter is signed by U.S. senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

Last week, Padilla introduced bipartisan legislation to create a national Wildfire Intelligence Center to streamline federal response and create a whole-of-government approach to combat wildfires. He also announced a package of three bipartisan bills to bolster fire resilience and proactive mitigation efforts, including the Wildfire Emergency Act, the Fire-Safe Electrical Corridors Act, and the Disaster Mitigation and Tax Parity Act, the last of which is co-led by Senator Schiff. Padilla’s legislation to strengthen FEMA’s wildfire preparedness and response efforts, the FIRE Act, became law in 2022.

Padilla previously questioned Secretary Burgum on his support for wildfire aid, securing his commitment to responding to wildfires regardless of which state they impact with all necessary resources and support possible.

The full text of the letter is below.

Dear Secretary Burgum and Acting Secretary Washington,

We are writing with great concern about reports from our constituents that the Bureau of Land Management has issued stop work orders for hazardous fuels reduction projects. We are further concerned that fuels projects overseen by the U.S. Forest Service will be next. These projects are integral to increased safety and resiliency and any delay in implementation puts those communities at greater risk. We urge you to immediately rescind these stop work orders, halt any further stop work orders or funding freezes, and instead work with the tools and funds Congress has provided to better safeguard our communities from the serious risk of catastrophic wildfire.

These projects are part of the Wildfire Crisis Strategy, funded by the Infrastructure and Investment in Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Investing in fuels reduction treatments is a primary recommendation in the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission Report, a nonpartisan strategy document to tackle the myriad challenges associated with wildfire across the country. We also note with alarm that this report was removed from federal websites this week.

In 2022, the Forest Service identified high-risk firesheds across the country to be prioritized for hazardous fuels reduction work through the Wildlife Crisis Strategy and Implementation Plan. The Forest Service chose 10 high-priority landscapes with the enactment of IIJA and an additional 11 landscapes with the enactment of IRA – each of these landscapes require significant investment to reduce wildfire risk. These 21 landscapes were awarded a total of $1.73 billion to protect at-risk communities, critical infrastructure, public water sources, and adjacent Tribal lands in 10 Western states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. The Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, States, Tribes, local stakeholders, and small businesses have been working together over the last three years to implement fuels reduction on these landscapes.

Catastrophic wildfires across the United States are an ongoing national crisis and responding to them must be a national priority. These stop work orders and funding freezes jeopardize communities that depend on a robust federal response to our wildfire crisis – and also jeopardize small businesses, often in frontier and rural communities, that are contracted to do the work on the ground to reduce hazardous fuels.

In addition to endangering communities, the President’s Executive Orders freezing funding are flagrantly illegal. The Government Accountability Office, the Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel (including in an opinion written by future Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, William H. Rehnquist), and the Supreme Court of the United States have all disavowed the notion of some “inherent Presidential power to impound,” as some in the Administration, as well as pending Administration nominees, have tried to argue without legal or textual basis.

Not only does the Constitution vest the power of the purse with Congress and provide no power to the President to impound funds, but there have been several bedrock fiscal statutes enacted to protect Congress’ constitutional power of the purse and prevent unlawful executive overreach, including the Antideficiency Act and the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (ICA). The ICA prohibits any action or inaction that precludes Federal funds from being obligated or spent, either temporarily or permanently, without following the strictly circumscribed requirements of that law, which have not been honored in this instance.

As we’ve seen with the recent fires surrounding Los Angeles, wildfire does not distinguish between homes and trees. But we do have ways to mitigate the risk. One of the most effective strategies to reduce that risk is to reduce the hazardous natural fuels that surround our communities. These fuels reduction projects save lives and property, reduce the danger to firefighters, and return our lands to a fire-adapted ecosystem that can better withstand the threat to human life, communities, infrastructure, and property.

By terminating or even pausing these projects, all of the progress made at protecting these communities is at risk. We are imploring you to rescind the order to stop work on these hazardous fuels reduction efforts, as well as any other wildland fire management programs that are working to reduce risk and safeguard communities from catastrophic wildfire.

We hope to work with you to combat the scourge of catastrophic wildfire.

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