Sacramento, CA – Details are set for next week’s Lake County Strong Town Hall: A Community Update on Valley Fire Recovery & Rebuilding Efforts. Senator McGuire and Assemblymember Dodd are joining state agency officials, Lake County representatives and non-profit leaders in Middletown on Thursday evening, June 23 for the community-wide update.

“Since the devastating Valley Fire hit South Lake County, thousands have mobilized and over $100 million has been invested in the recovery and rebuilding efforts,” Senator McGuire said. “While we’ve made significant progress, there is a lot of work in front of us and we’re looking forward to the conversation at our June 23 Town Hall.”

The Town Hall will be held on Thursday, June 23at Middletown High School from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. A free hotdog BBQ with all of the fixings – hosted by CALPINE - will kick off at 5:30 pm.  

The Lake County Strong Town Hall: A Community Update on Valley Fire Recovery and Rebuilding Efforts will be an opportunity for all residents to participate in an important conversation and hear updates from Senator McGuire, Assemblymember Bill Dodd, the California Office of Emergency Services, CalRecycle (agency charged with clean-up efforts) and CALFIRE. There will also be reports from the County of Lake, including Board of Supervisors Chairman Rob Brown, Sheriff Brian Martin, The Lake County Planning and Building Dept., Environmental Health and more. Also providing updates will be representatives from local non-profit organizations to discuss donation distribution since the Valley Fire.

Here is the list of speakers for the Town Hall:

• Senator McGuire & Assemblymember Dodd
• Nancy Ward, OES Chief Deputy Director & Charles Rabamad, OES Assistant Director for Recovery
• Scott Smithline, CalRecycle Director
• Scott Upton, Chief, CAL FIRE Northern Region
• Lake County Supervisor Rob Brown
• Lake County Sheriff Brian Martin
• Lake County Public Works Director Scott De Leon
• Lake County Environmental Health Director Ray Ruminski
• Brett Martinez and Steve Falk, Lake County Fire Victims Relief Fund
• Patty Bruder, North Coast Opportunities, Lake County Fire Relief Fund 
• John Ruiz, Red Cross, Northern California Coast Region
• Kaj Ahlmann, Lake County Rising

“From day one, we have been active and engaged in the massive recovery and rebuilding process and we’re looking forward to bringing all of the agencies back together, to provide the community a comprehensive update on the State and County’s work over these past nine months, ” Senator McGuire said.

In total, the deadly Valley Fire scorched 76,000 acres, caused $1.2 billion in damage, destroyed 1,330 homes and nearly 1,900 businesses and agricultural buildings were lost, 20,000 people were evacuated in a matter of hours, and the fire cost four Lake County residents their lives.

Here are the event details:

What: Lake County Strong Town Hall: A Community Update on Valley Fire Recovery and Rebuilding Efforts

When: Thursday, June 23

BBQ: A free hotdog BBQ with all of the fixin’s kicks off at 5:30 pm

Town Hall: The Meeting kicks off at 6:30 pm

Where: Middletown High School, 20932 Big Canyon Road, in Middletown

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