California
Three miles of scenic Northern California coastline preserved in major redwoods deal
Before the Gold Rush changed California forever, and before California became a state, Fort Ross was a windswept outpost where Russian settlers and fur traders built a rugged community along the Sonoma Coast from 1812 to 1841.
On Thursday, a Bay Area environmental group announced the latest chapter at the venerable landscape: a $15 million deal to purchase 1,624 acres of redwoods and picturesque coastal meadows adjacent to what is now Fort Ross State Historic Park, expanding the protected lands around the site by 50%.
The redwoods property, larger than Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, includes 3.2 miles along Highway 1 that could have been developed into luxury homes.
Every year thousands of tourists, schoolchildren and others visit the historic wooden buildings at Fort Ross, and the purchase by the non-profit group Save the Redwoods League from Soper Wheeler timber company guarantees that rural part of the North Bay coast will remain as scenic open space, looking for generations to come much the same as it did 200 years ago.
“This property feels like the very best of California,” said Sam Hodder, president of Save the Redwoods League. “It’s true California coastline. It has spectacular redwood groves, sweeping vistas of the Pacific shoreline, and classic coastal bluffs with fingers of redwood forests coming up the drainages. It is just a stunning landscape.”
Save the Redwoods League, founded in 1918, has protected more than 220,000 acres of redwood and sequoia forests over the last century. By buying land and development rights from willing sellers, it has expanded 66 state, national and local parks around California, including Redwood National Park and Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park, along with Big Basin, Calaveras Big Trees, Del Norte, Emerald Bay, Grizzly Creek, Año Nuevo, Henry Cowell, Prairie Creek, Pfeiffer Big Sur, Jedediah Smith and other landmark state parks.
In 1989, the league purchased 2,157 acres adjacent to Fort Ross and sold it to California’s state parks department below the appraised price, expanding Fort Ross state park to 3,393 acres.
Hodder said the organization has been in discussion with state parks officials, along with Sonoma County parks officials, about selling the property in the coming years to allow public access and expanded recreation along the California Coastal Trail through the area.
The administrations of former Gov Jerry Brown and Gov. Gavin Newsom have resisted expanding the state parks system, citing budget constraints. Their two administrations have established only one new state park since 2009, Dos Rios State Park, which opened in June, and is 8 miles west of Modesto near the confluence of the San Joaquin and Tuolumne rivers.
“We’re trying to map out the strongest possible conservation outcome,” Hodder said of the newly purchased Sonoma Coast property. “It would be a terrific addition to Fort Ross state park.”
That may depend, he said, on voters passing Proposition 4, a $10 billion climate bond on the November state ballot that contains funding for parkland acquisition.
The property, inhabited for generations by the Kashia Band of Pomo Indians, is believed to be the first in California where redwoods were logged by Europeans, when crews working for John Sutter, the pioneer who purchased Fort Ross in the 1840s area after the Russian outpost declined.
It has some of the largest second-growth redwoods in California, towering 220 feet or more, along with several remaining old-growth redwoods estimated to be at least 1,000 years old.
Since 1980, it has been owned by Soper Wheeler timber company. Founded in 1904 and based in Nevada City, the company has been selling off its land holdings in recent years, said Aric Starck, executive chairman of its board.
It is owned by about 90 shareholders around the country, many of whom are direct descendants of founders James P. Soper Jr. and Nelson P. Wheeler. With California’s tough environmental rules and competition from other large timber companies, the shareholders decided it was time to move on, he said.
The company has sold much of its roughly 200,000 acres to Sierra Pacific and other timber companies. It is looking to sell 16,000 acres in other parts of Sonoma County, in Bonny Doon in the Santa Cruz Mountains and in other areas, Starck said.
“This property is a marquee piece,” Starck said. “It’s timberlands and beautiful coastal land. It would be great if it went to state parks and had a public use. That would be a fabulous outcome.”
Three years ago, the company sold 3,181 acres of rugged coastal redwoods along the Lost Coast in Humboldt County to Save the Redwoods League for $36.9 million.
“We’ve always practiced sustainable forestry,” Starck said. “We love what Save the Redwoods League is doing.”
Some of the Sonoma County property burned in 2020 during a wildfire. But much of the damage was moderate, and the forests already are recovering, Hodder and Starck said. The company planted 105,000 redwood seedlings on it over the past several years, working with Save the Redwoods League.
Caryl Hart, a Sebastopol resident and chairwoman of the California Coastal Commission, said she also would like to see the land added to Fort Ross State Historic Park.
“It’s a fantastic deal,” said Hart, a former director of Sonoma County Regional Parks. “It’s exactly what we should be doing — protecting these coastal areas that have been owned by timber companies and providing access eventually to the public. It’s a big deal. The preservation of this land is so important.”
The Line, Bridge and Airport fires have burned thousands of acres in Southern California over the last week, forcing evacuations and destroying homes and other structures.
Prompted by the destruction, families, community members and organizations have started fundraisers to help those who have been impacted by the fires.
MAP: See where the Airport, Bridge and Line fires are burning in Southern California
GoFundMe has included verified fundraisers to support communities impacted by the fires at www.gofundme.com/c/act/wildfire-relief/california.
Some of the verified fundraisers to help families impacted by the Bridge and Airport fires include:
The Salvation Army’s Southern California Division is operating two emergency shelters at the Jessie Turner Community Center and the San Bernardino County Fairgrounds for those impacted by the Line fire and is also prepared to help community members impacted by the Bridge and Airport fires.
As the fires continued, the organization encouraged anyone who is able to donate so that the Salvation Army can continue and ramp up its response efforts. Donations will ensure the organization can provide food, shelter, emergency services and spiritual care for families and first responders, the organization said.
Originally Published:
Three major wildfires in California have destroyed dozens of homes and forced thousands of people to evacuate, with triple-digit temperatures fueling the blazes, officials said.
Firefighters battling the blazes, all in the mountains east of Los Angeles, took advantage of Wednesday’s cooler weather to slowly gain the upper hand.
California is only now heading into the teeth of the wildfire season, but the state has already seen nearly three times as much acreage burn than during all of 2023. The wildfires have threatened tens of thousands of homes and other structures across Southern California since they accelerated during a triple-digit heat wave over the weekend.
No deaths have been reported, but at least a dozen people, mainly firefighters, have been treated for injuries, mostly heat-related, authorities said.
Gov. Gavin Newsom sent National Guard troops in to help with evacuations, and the White House said President Joe Biden was monitoring the situation.
The Bridge Fire
In the small community of Wrightwood, about 90 minutes outside Los Angeles, authorities implored residents to flee the exploding Bridge Fire, which has burned more than a dozen homes in the area. It’s not yet known what started the fire, which is the third-largest blaze in California this year.
Resident Erin Arias said she was racing up the mountain when she got the order to leave and did, grabbing her passport and dog. On Wednesday, she and her husband doused water on the roof of their still-standing home. Their cat was missing, she said.
“It’s absolutely scary,” Arias said, looking at the burned embers of her neighbor’s home. “We’re really lucky.”
UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain said the fire moved extraordinarily fast across complex terrain, likely giving residents less time to evacuate than usual and surprising even seasoned fire officials.
The Bridge Fire “had to go up mountain sides, burn down slope, jump across valleys, burn across new ridges, and then make it down slope again at least two other times in effectively one burning period,” he said.
The Airport Fire
The Airport Fire, which was reportedly sparked by heavy equipment operations, has burned more than 35 square miles of land in the Orange and Riverside counties. The fire was 5% contained as of Wednesday night, and on Thursday, cooler weather led to a “significant slowing” of the flames, according to CBS Los Angeles.
Orange County Fire Authority Incident Commander Kevin Fetterman said the blaze has been difficult to tame because of the terrain and dry conditions and because some areas hadn’t burned in decades.
Eight firefighters battling the blaze have been treated for injuries, according to Orange County Fire Captain Steve Concialdi. Those injuries are mostly heat-related. One area resident was treated for smoke inhalation, and another was burned, Concialdi said. Several homes have burned in the affected area.
In El Cariso Village, a community of 250 people along Highway 74 in Riverside County, an Associated Press photographer saw at least 10 homes and several cars engulfed in flames.
Thousands of mandatory evacuation orders have been issued.
The Line Fire
In San Bernardino County, some 65,600 homes and buildings were under threat by the Line Fire, and residents along the southern edge of Big Bear Lake were told to leave Tuesday. While firefighters initially managed to keep the blaze within the San Bernardino National Forest, winds started to sweep it toward homes — leading to the first set of mandatory evacuation orders being issued Saturday, according to CBS Los Angeles.
The blaze blanketed the area with a thick cloud of dark smoke, which provided shade for firefighters trying to get ahead of winds expected later Wednesday, said Fabian Herrera, a spokesperson for those battling the Line Fire. The fire was about 18% contained as of Wednesday evening.
Justin Wayne Halstenberg, 34, of Norco was arrested on suspicion of causing the fire. from the town of Norco suspected of starting the Line Fire on Sept. 5 was arrested and charged with arson, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said. Officials did not specify what was used to start the fire.
Investigators collected evidence from the man’s vehicle and home that suggests he could have been involved in starting other fires, San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus said Wednesday.
The third week of the 2024 Northern California high school football season in the Central and Sac-Joaquin Sections produced big individual performances across, as did the second week in five sections: Central Coast, San Francisco, Oakland, North Coast and Northern.
Here’s a quick look at some of the top stars and best individual performances from Week 2 of games across Northern California.
Note: Entries are based on information provided by coaches, statisticians, media members and high school football fans. Don’t see any details for your team’s game? Email some notes and/or stats to mitch@scorebooklive.com
Marley Alcantara, a senior QB at Pittsburg, completed 13 of 19 for 271 yards and three touchdowns and rushed six times for 63 yards in a 41-14 win over Bishop Manogue (Reno, Nev.).
Hayden Anderson, a senior receiver and DB for Windsor, had five catches for 139 yards and three TDs in a 42-0 win over Hayward.
Isaac Angulo, a senior running back at Orange Cove, rushed 19 times for 185 yards and three TDs in a 38-16 win over Parlier.
Carson Blair, a junior QB at Miramonte, completed 24 of 33 for 334 yards and five touchdowns and rushed for another in a 44-0 win over Alhambra.
Art Cachu, a RB and LB for Yosemite, had 29 tackles in a 42-14 win over Sierra. He also contributed on offense with 92 yards rushing and five catches for 92 more yards.
Trevan Crane, a senior RB-LB for Yreka, rushed 13 times for 114 yards and four touchdowns in a 38-18 win over Colusa, a week after he rushed 12 times for 200 yards and three TDs in a 41-12 win over Kenai Central (Ak.).
Eli Dukes, a sophomore RB for Palma, rushed nine times for 150 yards and three TDs in a 41-0 win over King City.
Tyler Franklin, a junior QB at Bullard, completed 11 of 15 passes for 232 yards and seven touchdowns in a 70-13 win over Hoover.
Jeremiah Fung, Palo Alto, had two pick 6s and caught a touchdown pass in a 40-0 win over Oak Grove.
Michael Herrera-Chavez, a senior RB at Santa Maria, rushed 13 times for 185 yards and five touchdowns in a 44-0 win over Bakersfield Del Oro.
JJ Johnson, a senior QB at Enterprise, completed 15 of 20 for 203 yards and three touchdowns, and rushed 12 times for 145 yards and another score, in a 36-0 win over West Valley.
Kingston Keanaaina, a senior running back at Saint Francis, rushed for 336 yards and scored three touchdowns in a 34-14 win over McClymonds.
Carson Lamb, a senior QB at Downey, completed 25 of 34 for 352 yards and four TDs in a 48-34 win over Merced.
Brandon Lambert, a senior running back at Grant, rushed 20 times for 218 yards and a touchdown in a 35-21 win over Inderkum.
Kayden Leaf, a senior QB at Red Bluff, accounted for 390 yards and four touchdowns in a 48-40 win over Lassen.
Randy Lenor, a junior running back at East Bakersfield, rushed 34 times for 252 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-27 win over Foothill.
Max Medina, a junior QB at Patterson, completed 20 of 24 passes for 308 yards and three touchdowns in a 38-17 win over Lathrop.
Roman Mercado, a senior WR for Las Lomas, had six catches for 199 yards and four TDs in a 35-0 win over Benicia.
Robert McDaniel, a senior QB at Hughson, completed 12 of 20 for 292 yards and five TDs in a 45-7 win over Pitman.
Jayden Najera, a sophomore quarterback at Golden West, completed 17 of 21 for 276 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for two scores in a 51-7 win over Mission Oak.
Elias Noyola, a senior linebacker at Hanford, had 11 tackles and three sacks in a 34-27 win over Santa Maria St. Joseph.
Nova Perrill, a senior QB at Healdsburg, completed 10 of 15 passes for 257 yards and six touchdowns, and rushed six times for 103 yards and two more scores in a 54-25 win over St. Helena.
Perry Phillips, a senior QB for Durham, completed 13 of 18 for 250 yards and five touchdowns in a 42-0 win over Trinity.
Tanner Pidgeon, a junior QB-LB for Ferndale, rushed 13 times for 168 yards and four scores in a 46-14 win over Fall River, the week after rushing for 202 yards and four more scores in a 39-12 win over Fort Bragg. He also had nine tackles and three interceptions on defense in two games.
Dominic Pierini, a senior QB at Monte Vista Christian, passed for more than 400 yards for a second straight game in a 42-6 win over Santa Clara. Pierini completed 29 of 36 for 421 yards and five TDs.
Cadillac Pina, a freshman WR for Golden West, had six catches for 172 yards and two touchdowns in a 51-7 win over Mission Oak.
Deagan Rose, a junior QB at Clovis, completed 20 of 30 for 320 yards and three touchdowns in a 57-27 win over Frontier. He also rushed for two touchdowns.
Zayne St. Laurent, Branham, caught seven passes for 251 yards and four touchdowns, in a 60-35 win over Scotts Valley.
Tristan Ti’a, a senior QB at Amador Valley, completed 16 of 18 for 267 yards and five touchdowns in a 54-7 win over Cosumnes Oaks.
Dylan Thomas, a junior QB at Las Lomas, completed 18 of 27 for 335 yards and four TDs in a 35-0 win over Benicia.
Owen Thomason, a senior running back at Arroyo, rushed 14 times and scored six touchdowns in a 37-29 win over Fremont Washington.
Diego Ultreras, a senior WR-SS for El Capitan, had three interceptions in a 34-0 win over Beyer.
Evan Vernon, a senior receiver and DB for Gilroy Christiopher, had eight catches for 125 yards and one touchdowns and had eight tackles in a 35-7 win over Piedmont Hills.
Braeden Ward, a senior RB-DB at Twelve Bridges, rushed 30 times for 273 yards and three touchdowns, plus caught six passes for 93 more yards, in a 52-34 win over Whitney.
Zak Willson, a senior QB at Sierra, completed 22 of 29 for 337 yards and five touchdowns in a 62-48 win over Modesto.
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