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Placerville, CA – The King Fire area closure was effect in the Eldorado National Forest beginning September 17.  Beginning September 23, this Forest Order replaces Forest Order 03-14-109, removing the statement, “Owners of lessees of land in the area are exempt of this prohibition to the extent necessary to gain access to their land,” from the previous order. 

Pursuant to 16 USC 551 and 36 CFR 261.50(a) and (b), and to provide for public safety, the following acts are prohibited within the Georgetown, Placerville and Pacific Ranger Districts of the Eldorado National Forest.  This Order is effective from September 23, 2014 until the King Fire is declared out or by termination of the Order.

1.       Going into or being upon any National Forest System land within the King Fire Closure.  The King Fire Closure boundary begins at the intersection of Federal Highway 50 and Wrights Lake Road, then continues north along Wrights Lake Road to its intersection with the Pacific Ranger District boundary, then continues east along the Pacific Ranger District boundary to the Eldorado National Forest boundary, then continues northwest, west and south along the Eldorado National Forest boundary to its intersection with Meadowbrook Road, then continues southwest along Meadowbrook Road to its intersection with California State Highway 193, then continues south along California State Highway 193 to its intersection with Rock Creek Road, then continues east along Rock Creek Road to its intersection with Mosquito Road, then continues south along Mosquito Road to its intersection with Union Ridge Road, then continues southeast along Union Ridge Road to its intersection with Carson Road, then continues east 2.2 miles along Carson Road to its intersection with Federal Highway 50, then continues east along Federal Highway 50 back to the starting point.  36 CFR 261.53(e). 

2.       Being on any National Forest System road within the King Fire Closure Area, as shown on the attached map.  36 CFR 261.54(e). 

3.       Being on any National Forest System trail within the King Fire Closure Area, as shown on the attached map.  36 CFR 261.55(a). 

Pursuant to 36 CFR 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:

1.        Persons with a permit from the Forest Service specifically authorizing the otherwise prohibited act or omission.

2.       Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting force in the performance of an official duty.

These prohibitions are in addition to the general prohibitions in 36 CFR 261, Subpart A.

A violation of these prohibitions is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or both.  16 USC 551 and 18 USC 3559, 3571 and 3581.

The following popular recreation sites are within the closure area:

The west side of Desolation Wilderness on the Eldorado National Forest, the Crystal Basin area, including areas accessed by Icehouse Road, the Wrights Lake area, the Hell Hole area, Stumpy Meadows and Dru Barner campground. 

Recreation sites on the Amador Ranger District are not affected by the closure.   Visitors are asked to remember that fire restrictions are still in effect.  Open fires or stoves are prohibited unless in developed campgrounds.  Forest Service staff will be patrolling to ensure compliance.

The closure order and map are posted on the Eldorado National Forest website: www.fs.usda.gov/eldorado.

Additional Information about the King Fire can be found at:

https://www.facebook.com/KINGFIREPIO

http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4108

Jackson, California, September 29, 2014 – Working smoke alarms can make a life-saving difference in a fire. That’s the message behind this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives: Test Yours Every Month!”

Along with firefighters and safety advocates nationwide, the Jackson Fire Department is joining forces with the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) during Fire Prevention Week, October 5-11, to remind local residents about the importance of having working smoke alarms in the home and testing them monthly.

According to the latest NFPA research, working smoke alarms cut the chance of dying in a fire in half. Meanwhile, almost two-thirds of home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

“In a fire, seconds count,” said Cody Martinsen, Captain. “Roughly half of home fire deaths result from fires reported at night between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. when most people are asleep. Home smoke alarms can alert people to a fire before it spreads, giving everyone enough time to get out.”

This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign includes the following smoke alarm messages:

·       Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement.

·       Interconnect all smoke alarms throughout the home. This way, when one sounds, they all do.

·       Test alarms at least monthly by pushing the test button.

·       Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old or sooner if they don’t respond properly.

·       Make sure everyone in the home knows the sound of the smoke alarm and understands what to do when they hear it.

The Jackson Fire Department will be hosting activities at the local schools and senior center during Fire Prevention Week to promote “Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives!” Through these educational, family-oriented activities, residents can learn more about the importance of working smoke alarms and testing them monthly.

To find out more about Fire Prevention Week programs and activities in Jackson, please contact the Jackson Fire Department at (209) 223-9039. To learn more about smoke alarms and “Working Smoke Alarms Saves Lives”, visit NFPA’s Web site at www.firepreventionweek.org.

15-20 Covered Wagons are coming to Sutter Creek and Amador County September 25-28th! Come and join the excitement as we celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of the California Legislature creating Amador County in 1854 and the beginning of the Gold Rush Days!

Step back in time and witness over 15 actual covered wagons, accompanied by mounted horseback riders, as they make their way down the historic Highway 49, the original 49’r Gold Rush Trail. The wonderfully preserved historic Gold Rush towns of Amador County will make for a perfect backdrop for this Wagon Train. Lots of fun is planned along the way during this 4 day event, so come on up and spend the whole weekend! Experience what it might have been like to be a settler in a covered wagon adventuring west.

 “The Days of ‘49” celebration will be held September 25 through 28, 2014. It will include a four-day wagon train traveling from the Shenandoah Valley to Jackson, Ca. The plan for the wagon train is to depict an authentic look back in time at the first arrival of settlers and miners to the Amador County region. Don’t miss this wonderful event.

Schedule:

Day 1 of the wagon train will begin at Cooper Vineyards, with the first night spent at the Amador County Fairgrounds, in Plymouth. Everyone is invited to come to the Fairgrounds to get a free close up look at the wagons and possibly enjoy some “Grub” with the pioneers.

Day 2 the wagon train will travel through Dry Town and Amador City to reach Sutter Creek and stop for lunch on Main Street for a few hours of entertainment there. The second night’s encampment will be at the Oneto brothers’ Slaughter House Ranch, on Ridge Road. The public is invited to come and view the wagons there too.

Day 3 the wagon train will travel from the Oneto Ranch to Jackson Gate Road and on to the city of Jackson, where they will encamp at the back side of the Kennedy Mine at the Amphitheater. The public is invited to come to the encampment for a free viewing of the wagons and entertainment by the Mountain Men in the Kennedy Mine Amphitheatre.

Day 4 in the morning attend “Cowboy Church” in the historic and tiny chapel at the Kennedy Mine Amphitheater. Then the wagon train will participate as the lead entry in “The Days of ‘49” parade, in Jackson. It is anticipated that nearly 20 covered wagons and approximately 150 men and women on horseback will participate. In addition to the parade, Main Street will be closed on Sunday to accommodate food concessions and several interpretive historic displays, such as gold panning, melodrama acts, collection of horse-drawn wagons, a costume contest and, possibly, a fast-draw competition.

Organizers:
John Queirolo, Ron Scofield and the Kit Carson Mountain Men Club are organizing the event. The thinking was that most of the towns of Amador were first settled by miners in 1849, leading to the title, “The Days of ‘49.”

“Days of 49” Wagon Train Chairman is John Queirolo who, in the past,  has coordinated such events as Queen Elizabeth’s visit to Sutter’s Fort in 1982 and horse drawn wagons and living history groups for the 1999 2nd Great Gold Rush in Old Sacramento.  As chairman of the 1981 Highway 50 Wagon Train John rebuilt the caravan from 6 wagons in 1979 to 34 wagons in 1981. 

Ron Scofield is the Wagon Master for the event.  In 1976 he took his family on a 6 month journey (in a covered wagon) across the United States in the Bicentennial Wagon Train from Southern California to Valley Forge and is a resident of Fiddletown.  Ron owns The Red Mule Ranch which hosts the “Scofield’s Cowboy Campfire” on Saturday evenings, amidst a complete gold rush town that he built on his property in the Sierra Foothills, where he builds authentic stage coaches and wagons.

History: 
The discovery of gold nuggets in the Sacramento Valley in early 1848 sparked the Gold Rush, one of the most significant events to shape American history during the first half of the 19th century. As news spread of the discovery, thousands of prospective gold miners traveled by sea or over land to San Francisco and the surrounding area; by the end of 1849, the non-native population of the California territory was some 100,000 (compared with the pre-1848 figure of less than 1,000). A total of $2 billion worth of precious metal was extracted from the area during the Gold Rush, which peaked in 1852.

Join the celebration of Amador County’s 160th anniversary, also known as the Centennial Diamond Jubilee, September 25th -28th. Get a glimpse of what it was like to cross America in a covered wagon in search of riches in the Gold Rush of California. Be a part of history.

All inquiries regarding the Wagon Train should be addressed to John Queirolo who can be reached at (916) 965-1136. You can also contact the Sutter Creek Visitor Center for additional information: 209-267-1344.

Ted Novelli talks to Tom Slivick about the Supervisors Pre-Agenda Report.

The King Fire is burning in steep terrain in the South Fork of the American River Canyon, Silver Creek Canyon, and the Rubicon Canyon, north of the community of Pollock Pines. The fire has crossed into Placer County and burned onto the Tahoe National Forest north of the Eldorado National Forest.

Facebook Page for King Fire: https://www.facebook.com/KINGFIREPIO

Special Announcements:
On Monday, September 22, 2014, at 7:00 p.m. there will be two community meetings. One will be located at Golden Sierra High School, 5101 Garden Valley Road in Garden Valley. The second location will be at the Camino Seventh-Day Adventist Church at 3520 Carson Road in Camino. 

Evacuations: (2,819 people) Go to the El Dorado County Sheriff’s blog (pio.edso.org) and web page at http://www.edcgov.us/Government/El_Dorado_County_King_Fire_Information.aspx. The Sheriff’s office manages all evacuation activities for the county and is updating information as changes occur. To assist in this effort, the Chief Administrative Office of El Dorado County has set up a hotline and webpage. The hotline phone number is (530) 642-­‐7263. The hotline will be available from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday – Friday and 8:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m. Saturday -­‐ Sunday. Voicemail is available outside of the hotline hours. Information will also be updated via the County's Twitter @CountyElDorado and Facebook. Law Enforcement from several agencies continue to patrol the evacuated areas.

Shelter Locations: The Camino Seventh-day Adventist Church at 3520 Carson Road, Camino, CA 95709.

Road Closures: The King Fire Area is closed to provide for public safety. Granite Springs, Ice House Road (east side), Pickett Pen Road, Rubicon Trail, Windmiller Trail, Wrights Lake Road, including all Forest Service roads, trails, and access roads in the Crystal Basin recreation area between Ice House Road and Desolation Wilderness, north of the Highway 50 corridor, Ice House Reservoir, Loon Lake, Rockbound Lake, Rubicon Reservoir. White Meadows at Ice House Road, Rock Creek at 193, Mosquito Road at Union Ridge Road, Highway 50 (Sly Park to Union Ridge), Forebay at Deep Haven and Forebay at Blair is open to residents only, Canyon Edge at Randolph Canyon (hard closure by CHP), Ice House Road from Highway 50 to Wentworth Springs Road and Wentworth Springs Road from Quintette to Ice House Road and Wentworth Springs Road at Chiquita Bypass.

First Quarter: The Colusa Redhawks take on the Amador Buffaloes at Amador High School.

Frank Halvorson and Jim Vinciguerra preview this week's preseason match up between the Colusa Redhawks and the Amador Thundering Herd.

Second Quarter: The Colusa Redhawks take on the Amador Buffaloes at Amador High School.