Honoring Lake County Resilience

The Valley Fire burned 76,067 acres, destroyed 1,955 structures and displaced thousands, inflicting hardship on countless families. Four firefighters were seriously injured and five lives were lost:

1. Bruce Beven Burns

2. Robert Taylor Fletcher

3. Robert Litchman

4. Barbara McWilliams

5. Leonard Neft

On September 9, 2025, District 5 Supervisor Jessica Pyska opened the Board proclamation, “Honoring Lives and Resilience: 10 Years Since the Valley Fire.” She reflected, “My Facebook post at 1:24 p.m. was the only alert we had at the time. Since then, our Office of Emergency Services (OES) and partnership with Cal OES have transformed. We have Genasys, zones and trained personnel now. I offer my heartfelt thanks to everyone. No one can do this alone; collaboration is our superpower.”

Sharing his sentiments, Sheriff Lucas Bingham noted, “I was a sergeant when the Valley Fire started in 2015. My parents lost their home in the fire…I’ve seen tremendous progress in the Sheriff’s Office, OES and Community Development Department (CDD). Today, when we hear of a fire, we embed immediately with Cal FIRE—a practice we didn’t have before. Communication with the community is far better now, and we’re always evaluating how to improve notifications and responses.”

CDD Director Mireya Turner added, “We’ve come a long way, thanks to a trained and dedicated workforce.”

To watch the Valley Fire Proclamation, click here.

To read the proclamation, click here.

Supervisor Pyska thanked the Middletown Rancheria Pomo Indians of California for their unwavering commitment. “Over the last 10 years, the Tribe has repeatedly opened their doors, partnering with the Red Cross and PG&E for community resource centers (CRCs). They’ve sheltered and fed people countless times without expectation of reimbursement."

District 1 Supervisor Helen Owen added, “The Middletown Rancheria is a vital part of our community. We cannot thank them enough.”

District 2 Supervisor Bruno Sabatier reflected, “This bronze plaque symbolizes partnership in our small, 68,000-strong community, and we are grateful for everyone who contributes to it.”

Pastor Shannon Kimbell-Auth recalled how the Tribe stepped up time and again: “For every disaster since then, the Middletown Rancheria has opened their event center”:

1. The Valley Fire (2015)

2. The Clayton Fire (2016)

3. Winter floods (2017)

4. The Sulfur Fire (2017)

5. The Mendocino Complex Fire (2018)

6. Public safety power shutoffs (2019, 2021)

7. The Cache Fire (2021)

8. The snowstorm (2023)

9. The Boyles and Harbor Fires (2024)

“As we’ve all said, collaboration in Lake County is our superpower.”

Tribal Chairman of Middletown Rancheria and former Lake County Board Supervisor Moke Simon expressed gratitude:

“Thank you to our employees, trained for disasters with the Red Cross and other organizations. That night, 43 homes in our organization, 38 employees and five tribal members were lost. Our tribe will continue to do what needs to be done. Thanks to the Red Cross, Team Lake County, Senator Mike McGuire, Congressman Mike Thompson, Callayomi Water District, our elected leaders and many individuals.”

Chair and District 3 Supervisor Eddie Crandell “Thank you, everyone. Thank you, Moke, for always opening your doors to help.”

To watch the Bronze Plaque Proclamation, click here.

On September 12, 2025, at the Mandala Springs Wellness Retreat Center in Cobb, attendees held a minute of silence, then replayed the September 12, 2015, 1:20 p.m. radio dispatch. After Sheriff Bingham read the names of those taken by the fire, Cal Fire Chief Paul Duncan rang a bell for each.

Duncan thanked firefighters’ and community members’ efforts. Cal Fire Director Joe Tyler noted firefighting resources have strengthened since 2015. Congressman Thompson highlighted the importance of funding to bolster Lake County’s resiliency. Cathy McCarthy and Cindy Leonard of the Cobb Area Council described community support, and Eliot Hurwitz of the Seigler Springs Community Redevelopment Association highlighted over 30 local groups sustaining the community.