Category Archives: Fire Info

Thomas Fire Evacuees invited to complete survey for chance to win $200

The Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) and University of California, Berkeley Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (UC Berkeley) encourage Ventura County wildfire evacuees to participate in a study

VCTC and UC Berkeley announce the launch of a research project, Understanding the Decision Making Process of Evacuees, designed to learn more about evacuation decisions by households that experienced the December 2017 Southern California Wildfires, including the Thomas, Rye, Creek, and Skirball Fires.

The research project will help gain insight about wildfire evacuations and analyze how individuals make decisions after receiving a mandatory or recommended evacuation order. According to The New York Times, these four wildfires resulted in the evacuation of more than 200,000 California residents.

“VCTC is one of many local partners helping UC Berkeley collect survey responses for this study. The Commission recognizes the critical role transportation systems play in a safe, effective evacuation process,” said Darren Kettle, executive director of VCTC.

Surveys take approximately 20 minutes to complete. Participants are not required to be evacuees to take the survey. All participants will be entered into a drawing to win one of five Amazon Gift Cards each valued at $200. All participants will also have the opportunity to participate in a future focus group.

To participate in the survey, visit this link: https://berkeley.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_5A2yZRTA2HI5ebb&Q_JFE=0

For more information about the Understanding the Decision Making Process of Evacuees survey, contact:

Susan Shaheen, Professor (Faculty Sponsor) [email protected] or 510-642-9168

Joan Walker, Professor (Faculty Sponsor) [email protected] or 510-642-6897

Stephen Wong, Doctoral Student [email protected] or 330-998-4533

The Ventura County Transportation Commission is the regional transportation planning agency committed to keeping Ventura County moving. Program information is available at goventura.org.

USDA announces additional wildfire recovery details

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has announced new details on eligibility for a new U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) disaster program, 2017 Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Program (2017 WHIP). In total, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will deploy up to $2.36 billion that Congress appropriated through the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 to help producers with recovery of their agricultural operations in at least nine states with hurricane damage and states impacted by wildfire.

“While USDA has a suite of disaster programs as well as crop insurance available to help producers manage their risk, Congress felt it was important to provide extra assistance to our nation’s farms and ranches that were the hardest hit last year,” Secretary Perdue said.

Wildfire Recovery: Any crop, tree, bush or vine, damaged by a 2017 wildfire is eligible.

Eligibility will be determined on an individual basis, using the level of insurance coverage purchased for 2017 for the total crop acres on the area for which the WHIP application is made. Eligible producers who certify to an average adjusted gross income (AGI) of at least 75 % derived from farming or ranching, including other agriculture and forestry-based businesses during the tax years 2013, 2014 and 2015, will be eligible for a $900,000 payment limitation with verification. All other eligible producers requesting 2017 WHIP benefits will be subject to a $125,000 payment limitation.

Crop Insurance Requirement: Both insured and uninsured producers are eligible to apply for WHIP. However, all producers opting to receive 2017 WHIP payments will be required to purchase crop insurance at the 60% coverage level, or Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) at the 60% buy up coverage level if crop insurance is not available. Coverage must be in place for the next two applicable crop years to meet program requirements.

The WHIP factor ranges from 65 % to 95 %. Producers who did not insure their crops in 2017 will receive a 65 % WHIP Factor. Insured producers, or producers who had NAP, will receive between 70 percent and 95 percent WHIP Factors; those purchasing higher levels of coverage will receive higher WHIP Factors.

Drought, wildfires and other disasters continue to impact farmers and ranchers, and 2017 WHIP is just one of many programs available through USDA to help with recovery.

FSA will hold a sign-up for 2017 WHIP no later than July 16. Additional information on WHIP is available on FSA’s 2017 WHIP webpage.

Up to $8,550 in incentives makes rebuilding with more energy-saving systems more affordable

Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) announced that, for customers who lost homes in the Thomas Fire or January 9th debris flow, the company will substantially increase financial incentives for those who wish to rebuild using sustainable designs and ultra-efficient appliances. The incentives will be offered through the California Advanced Homes Program (CAHP), which helps offset the costs of creating environmentally-friendly energy-efficient homes and communities.

“SoCalGas understands that those who need to rebuild their homes are faced with many challenges, and we hope this additional incentive encourages those who want to build to the highest energy-saving standards can do so more a bit more affordably,” said Lisa Alexander, SoCalGas vice president of customer solutions and communications. “The improved energy savings will allow customers to also save money through reduced energy bills.” If you are not someone who has lost their home in the fire but are concerned about the amount of energy you are consuming at home, you could look into a site like Simply Switch, who can help you find the cheapest energy plans and the latest deals around to save money on your energy bills.

For Thomas Fire and January 9th debris flow victims, SoCalGas will increase CAHP incentive dollars by 50 percent and will work with planning officials from Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties as well as the Ventura County Regional Energy Alliance (VCREA) to identify those who are eligible. By rebuilding with more efficient appliances, homeowners stand to save on monthly energy costs. The more efficient appliances will also help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Speaking of saving, it is not only homes that can switch to become energy efficient. Businesses can make positive changes like these too. It could be as simple as checking out sites like Utility Bidder, in the hopes of making this change to your business. By doing this, you may find that managing this side of your business has never been easier.

“Ventura County is working diligently to assist residents who lost their homes in the Thomas Fire, and we would welcome and support these efforts to make their new homes more sustainable and energy-efficient,” said Chris Stephens, director of the Ventura County Resource Management Agency.

To further reduce greenhouse gas emissions, SoCalGas is working to increase the amount of renewable natural gas – sourced from agriculture and waste – it delivers to customers. A recently-released analysis found that California could achieve the same greenhouse gas reductions as electrifying homes and buildings—but at a much lower cost—by replacing just a fraction of the natural gas that is delivered through our pipelines with this renewable natural gas.

Customers who want to rebuild using CAHP incentives work with their building contractor and a HERS (Home Energy Rating System) Rater to have their home features tested and rated using certain California Energy Commission standards. More information is available at socalgas.com.

To date 7 countries and 49 states responded by providing quilts

Volunteer Staci Brown and Kat Merrick proudly display one of the quilts available for those affected by recent tragedies.

On December 4, 2017 the Thomas Fire and mudslides devastated Ventura and Montecito. Watching this devastation unfold the Ventura Modern Quilt Guild(MQG)

and “superbuzzy” Fabrics & Craft Supplies Store decided to help by creating quilts for those affected. To date 7 countries and 49 states responded by helping in the quilting efforts and over 400 quilts were delivered to the Modern Quilting Guilds headquarters in Ventura.

Seeing the need for help in distributing the quilts to those affected they contacted Kat Merrick Founder of Totally Local VC’s Local Love Project for help.

On Thursday, March 8, the Modern Quilting Guild, Mission San Buena Ventura, The Jewish Federation of Ventura County and Totally Local VC’s Local Love Project hosted a Pop Up Shop to distribute quilts along with other donated houseware items. The event took place in the Parish Hall at the Mission.

Besides the handmade quilts the Jewish Federation donated sheet sets, Totally Local VC’s Local Love Project donated many items as did FOOD Share.

Scott Griffin, Ventura MQG VP and Kelly Stevens, Ventura MQG founding member and owner of superbuzzy, each began projects to bring comfort and loving warmth to the fire and slide victims. As the fire spread northwards, these efforts were coordinated to answer the quilt needs of victims in both Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties.

When founder Kat Merrick created Totally Local VC (TotallyLocalVC.com) over 9 years ago she and her team made a solid commitment to our community. When she lost her home in the Thomas Fire her commitment to helping others became even stronger.

She stated “Our goal is to activate members of our community in the aftermath of a traumatic event within Ventura County and the 805 to provide relief and support to those affected by disaster or in a time of need. We work to solve immediate needs for those impacted by either a disaster in our community or those in need as well as provide the necessary items to help our neighbors as they work to restore their lives.”

How did World Central Kitchen come to help Ventura during the Thomas Fires?

Chef Jose Andres at the Plaza Park benefit held for fire victims. Photo by Pam Baumgardner

by Jennifer Tipton

The nonprofit organization, World Central Kitchen was launched by Chef Jose Andres (born Jose Andres Ramon Puerta), a Spanish American chef credited for bringing the small plates dining concept to America. The celebrity chef owns 27 restaurants that spread from Las Vegas to Miami and has been recognized by Time Magazine as one of the most influential people in the world. He received the James Beard Award for his humanitarian work here during the Thomas Fires (it was not his first).

Ventura’s very own Dr. Susanne Lammot, a pediatrician known for her charitable involvement with the Boys and Girls Club had a connection with one of the relief directors at World Central Kitchen. Responding to a local disaster like the Thomas Fires, the organization likes to connect with a local chef and Susanne called our own Chef Jason Collis on December 6th, just two days after the Thomas Fires erupted and relief efforts began.

I spoke with Chef Jason, one-time owner of Ventura’s restaurant “Jonathan’s” and “J’s Tapas & Martini Bar”. Jason and his wife, Jocelyn have a son and daughter, they sold the businesses when he realized how many birthdays and holidays he had missed, “I didn’t want to be stuck behind the grill to realize one day that I’d missed seeing my kids grow up”.

Their new business, “Plated Events” does exclusive catering and venue management for Limoneira Ranch and The San Buenaventura Mission, doing weddings, corporate events and local fundraisers including being one of the co-producers for the benefit at Plaza Park. Jason said, “when I saw how big it was with World Central Kitchen, I called up Chef Tim Kilcoyne and we worked side by side throughout the entire relief effort along with other local chefs such as Kayla Hernandez, the instructor for the culinary program at Ventura High School”.

World Central Kitchen “tries to tap into local resources to stimulate the local economy” (buying from local farmers and businesses), but they were blown away with the generosity of Ventura”, said Jason. FOOD Share, local farmers and businesses all donated. Buena, Villanova and Thacher schools provided food because “schools were closed, and they had all that food in the cafeteria!”. Ventura Party Rental was instrumental in donating their time and resources by picking up and delivering everything in their trucks.

With 200 volunteers a day for 60 days straight, the World Central Kitchen delivered greater than 35,000 meals to first responders and victims of the Thomas Fires in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, they were presented a portion of the proceeds from the Plaza Park benefit because the committee from the benefit “felt the City of Ventura was blown away with what they did, and we wanted to pay it forward to help the organization with Chef Jose Andres’ mission”, I was told.

Chef Jason contributed 16 hours a day of his own time December 7th to December 27th with World Central Kitchen. Catholic Charities gives an award to those that go “above and beyond”; the San Buenaventura Mission has nominated Chef Jason and wife Jocelyn for their help with World Central Kitchen and Thomas Fire relief efforts.

Ojai Studio Artists respond to the Thomas Fire

“Scorched Souls” is the upcoming exhibition of the Ojai Studio Artists at the Ojai Valley Museum. The exhibit documents the OSA artists’ reactions to the Thomas Fire, the largest fire in California state history.

The exhibit will run until June 17. A portion of sales from the show will be donated to a local fire relief fund.

Another highlight of the show will be the “Town Talk” at the show’s closing reception on Sunday June 17. OSA artists and OSA art collectors who lost work in the fire will discuss how they’re moving forward after the fire. Artists will also be on hand for a book signing of the “Scorched Souls” catalogue documenting this exhibit.

The Ojai Valley Museum is located at 130 West Ojai Ave. Hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. – Sunday, 12-4 p.m. For more information, please call 640-1390.

CAPS and your stories

Share recordings of the Thomas Fire for the historic project.

CAPS and your stories

CAPS Media is recording Thomas Fire Stories with the public, fire fighters, first responders and others who want to share their story. The extensive documentary project is a collaboration with Ventura City Fire and Police, Ventura County Fire, Sheriff, Office of Emergency Response and the Museum of Ventura County. The year-long, comprehensive project includes an ongoing series of television and radio archival interviews and recordings with first responders, individuals and families whose lives were dramatically changed the night of December 4th.

We began our first recording schedule Sunday March 11th at the Ojai Valley Museum. The stories we have heard so far were powerful and inspiring and we look forward to hearing many more. We will continue with our pop-up recording booths in libraries and museums throughout the months of March and April. The next one is scheduled for March 25th at the Ojai Library from 12pm to 4pm. The following session with be held at the CAPS Media Center on Saturday March 31st at 11am. On April 2nd at 5pm we will be at EP Foster Library and at the Avenue Library Saturday April 14th from 10am-2pm. The final two sessions will be held at the Ventura County Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula Sunday April the 22nd with the final session on May 20th at the Museum of Ventura County from 11am-3pm. If you can’t make one near you, feel free to stop by any location to share your story.

If you have photos or video to contribute to the legacy, CAPS Media has set up a simple process for the public to share recordings of the Thomas Fire for the historic project. Go to the CAPS Media website homepage (capsmedia.org) and click on the Read More arrow on the lower right corner of the Thomas Fires Stories image. The page presents more details on the project and step-by-step instructions on how to contribute photos, video and other media.

If you have a story to share, send an email to [email protected] or call the CAPS Media Center at 658.0500.

Members, producers, technicians, hosts, dee jays and performers are what makes CAPS Media Center click. Our mission is to create an engaged and informed community through participation in electronic media. Find out more about how you can be part of this enthusiastic community by attending orientation on the first Thursday of every month. Member classes include HD videography/camera class held on the 2nd Thursday, Final Cut postproduction editing class on the 3rd Thursday, and CAPS Radio (KPPQ, FM 104.1) two-part classes this month on the 5th week. In every training session Member/Producers receive hands-on instruction in videography, video editing, radio production and more. All classes begin at 6pm at the CAPS Media Center, 65 Day Road. Trained member/producers may check out CAPS Media’s video cameras, tripods, audio gear and other production equipment to record their story and then book editing suites to craft the story they want to tell. Go to capsmedia.org for information or call 658-0500.

Were you affected by Thomas Fire or the flood?

The Ventura and Santa Barbara County Lions Clubs have a onetime offer for Thomas Fire and flood survivors.

They have grant money to assist in your loss. If you need a one-time grant for assistance with rent, clothing, and vehicle or food expenses they want to help you.

Please email [email protected] and he will reply back with a grant request form.

All grant request forms must be received by April 1st, 2018. All our funds must be distributed by April 30th, 2018.

Donations funded by:

  • Camarillo / Somis PV Lions Club
  • Ventura Downtown Lions
  • Orcutt Lions Club
  • Camarillo High School Leos Lions Club
  • Santa Paula Lions Club, El Cajon Lions Club
  • Pismo Beach Lions Club, Nipomo Lions Club
  • Lincoln Lions Club, Saratoga Lions Club
  • Santa Maria Sunrisers Lions Club
  • Pismo Beach Lions Club
  • Templeton Lions Club
  • Lions of Multiple District C6 (Monterey, San Benito & Santa Cruz Counties)
  • Carpinteria Lions Club
  • Goleta Lions Club.

Valley Fever – more prevalent after Thomas Fires?

Dr. Brugman is a leading pulmonologist in Ventura.

by Jennifer Tipton

Native to the San Joaquin Valley (hence the name “Valley Fever”) this airborne fungal infection dates back as far as 1892 and may also be referred to as Desert Fever or Desert Rheumatism.

Valley Fever is due to the coccidioides fungus which enters the body through the respiratory tract when inhaled. The fungus is found in soil and is endemic or limited to certain regions such as Bakersfield or other desert areas along with the San Joaquin Valley.

I asked Dr. Brugman, a leading pulmonologist in Ventura, how the Thomas Fires contributed to the recent outbreaks of Valley Fever and he emphasized that the Santa Ana winds really perpetuated the problem but, “the fires were helpful in aerosolizing the fungus because the chaparral that burned had kept the dust on the ground”. He added, “the low humidity and the winds kicking up the dust are what really get it going”. He’s seen 15 cases of Valley Fever in the last few months where he usually sees 2-3 in a year. “A lot of people are coming in with pneumonia after inhaling the spores from the soil”, he reported.

Diagnostics may include a bronchoscopy where he can see the spores in the lungs and the treatment is most commonly an antifungal medication, some needed for up to 6 months.

The good news, most of the population have been exposed and aren’t even aware of it, while many others may have mild symptoms that usually go away on their own in a week or two. The bad news, the symptoms can progress to pneumonia or worse, disseminated cocci.
According to the C.D.C (Center for Disease Control), Valley Fever causes 15% to nearly 30% of community acquired pneumonias and time from contact until symptoms start is usually 1 to 3 weeks.
Symptoms such as fatigue, fever, headache, muscle aches, chills, sore throat, cough, and even weight loss or chest pain may occur.

If a case of Valley Fever becomes as serious as disseminated cocci, Dr. Brugman refers his patients to the dynamic infectious disease specialist, Dr. Gail Simpson.

Dr.Simpson tells me the organism that causes Valley Fever “is a dimorphic fungus and the spores can live in the soil for years and years until something stirs up the dust and puts it in the air”. She remembers a huge outbreak after the Moorpark fires when “even young, healthy people were in the I.C.U. (Intensive Care Unit) because the smoke causes stuff to sit in the air longer”.

Dr. Simpson reports she has seen a lot of cases since the Northridge earthquake in January 1994, “cocci just wasn’t that common before the earthquake, what happened is a lot of dirt from the cocci belt got redistributed all over the place”.

Valley Fever is not contagious and there is no medication to prevent it. Dr. Brugman’s advice for prevention, “if it’s dusty out, wear a mask, but it can’t be the cheap painter’s mask, it needs to be an N95 to filter out the dirt and particulate”. Good advice for anyone digging through the dirt and ash left by the Thomas Fires!

Thomas Fire stories

Do you have a story to share?

CAPS Media is recording Thomas Fire Stories with the public, fire fighters, first responders and others who want to share their story. The extensive documentary project is a collaboration with Ventura City Fire and Police, Ventura County Fire, Sheriff, Office of Emergency Response and the Museum of Ventura County. The year-long, comprehensive project includes an ongoing series of television and radio archival interviews and recordings with first responders, individuals and families whose lives were dramatically changed the night of December 4th.

Recordings of Thomas Fire Stories are being scheduled at locations throughout the county including the Museum of Ventura County, EP Foster Library, the Ojai Museum, the Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula and CAPS Media Center in Ventura. The public is invited and encouraged to share their story. Each recording will be conducted by CAPS Media producers and is expected to last 15-20 minutes. Selected stories will air on CAPS Television and CAPS Radio KPPQ 104.1 FM, and will stream on capsmedia.org. Visit capsmedia.org to find a convenient day and time to record your story and add it to the museum’s historic archive.

If you have photos or video to contribute to the legacy, CAPS Media has set up a simple process for the public to share recordings of the Thomas Fire for the historic project. Go to the CAPS Media website homepage (capsmedia.org) and click on the Read More arrow on the lower right corner of the Thomas Fires Stories image. The page presents more details on the project and step-by-step instructions on how to contribute photos, video and other media.

If you have a story to share, send an email to [email protected] or call the CAPS Media Center at 805.658.0500.

Season 3 of Mayor for a Moment is in full swing. The program is a collaboration with the City of Ventura, the Ventura Unified School District and CAPS Media. Each month an outstanding 5th grader is selected by the individual elementary schools. The “young mayor” is invited to gavel the start of a City Council meeting and present an essay on a leadership topic to the council and community. CAPS Media produces a profile on each young mayor that is shown at the council meeting and at the VUSD board meeting. Honorees thus far this school year are Braydon Rocco (Portola), Olivia Blomquist (Poinsettia), Allison Cabeza (Citrus Glen) and Isabella Coleman (Sunset). Congratulations to all the young mayors.

CAPS Media’s mission is to create an engaged and informed community through participation in electronic media. Join our community of enthusiastic engaged member/producers. To find out more come to orientation on the first Thursday of every month and learn how to become a member of CAPS. Member classes include HD videography/camera class held on the 2nd Thursday, Final Cut postproduction editing class on the 3rd Thursday, and CAPS Radio (KPPQ, FM 104.1) two-part classes this month on the 5th week. In every training session Member/Producers receive hands-on instruction in videography, video editing, radio production and more. All classes begin at 6pm at the CAPS Media Center, 65 Day Road. Once trained, member/producers may check out CAPS Media’s video cameras, tripods, audio gear and other production equipment to record their story and then book postproduction editing suites to craft the story they want to tell. Go to capsmedia.org for information or call 658-0500.