[UPDATE 10:26 p.m.: Good news!] Fire Just North Of Garberville, Structures Threatened, Evacuations Underway
![Fire near Blue Star [Photo by Dylan Music]](https://kymkemp.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Fire-near-Blue-Star.png)
Fire near Blue Star [Photo by Dylan Music]
Reports over the scanner indicate the fire is between a 1/4 and 1/2 acre and near the Alderpoint Road.
The “whole sky is red,” one reader tells us.
According to the scanner, there are structures threatened and there are some nearby structures being evacuated.
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office and multiple fire departments are responding to the scene.
Please remember that this story is unfolding. Information is being reported as we gather it. However, some of the information coming from witnesses and initial official reports could be wrong. We will do our best to get the facts but, in the case that something is inaccurate, we will update with correct information as soon as we can.
UPDATE 10:00 p.m.: According Jeremy Ward, Cal Fire HUU Battalion Chief, the fire is about a 1/4 acre. “It is moving into the timber which should it slow down,” he said. He went on to explain that fires often look bigger at night. He added, that there have not been any additional call for resources which is a good sign.
UPDATE 10:11 p.m.: Video posted by KMUD taken from near Renner’s Station and the Caltrans Yard off Redwood Drive outside of Garberville.
UPDATE 10:15 p.m.:
Photo by Jimmy Hensley taken in Garberville about 9:45 p.m.
UPDATE 10:26 p.m.: Good news! According Jeremy Ward, Cal Fire HUU Battalion Chief, the structure threat is “mitigated” and the forward progress has been stopped.
UPDATE: Man Arrested and One Structure Damaged After Garberville Fire
PLEASE NOTE: We’ve corrected our title to read north of Garberville. We are sorry for any problems this may have caused.
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Title says south. It’s north of garberville
The firs is burning up to and into the county yard
ANOTHER fire in town folks… How long are we going to put up with this? We need to come together as a community and solve this problem ourselves since our Supervisors, Sheriff and State Parks can’t come up with any solutions. How do these people get away with trashing private and public land and long term camping on State property? No proper sewage. Selling drugs out of their motorhome like a drive up drug store. ALL DAY LONG, one after another. Why do the police let them do this?
These transients are ruining the environment, our prestine redwood forests, our town, our property value and everything about this place. What are the authorities waiting for? For them to burn our entire town and homes down? Where are the Police and Park Rangers? Why are they allowing this to continue? This is about the fifth time our home and our family’s homes have been seriously threatened. The homeless start the fires then just walk away.
Not sure about anybody else but we are sick and tired of these homeless fires, drug dealings and HUGE amounts of trash throughout the local area, wilderness, here in town and on the Sprowel Creek exit coming into our town. It’s an absolute disgrace! There are piles and piles of trash, beds, pallets, dressers, you name it. It’s sickening!!
We need to get folks without permission off private property and off public land now. We would love free river front camping any time any day for as long as we want. These people long term camp with no hook ups or fees and where you can do whatever you want with no police intervention. Where do these people get the free pass?
Maybe our new Supervisor has a solution……and just hasn’t had a chance to get to it yet 😉 How about some mental health services for these ill individuals?
Let’s not be another town like Paradise. Let’s get these drug addicted, mentally ill, alcoholic, methed out, heroined out, sick individuals and pedophiles the f*** out of here!! These losers contribute nothing to our society here. They just scare off potential homebuyers, elders and children, and many adults and have ruined most businesses in town because everyone is too worried to stop anywhere in town. Except for the Johnston’s Motel of course, it’s a walk up drug store too. ALL DAY LONG!
We personally already have dealt with heroin addicts ON the freeway on the Sprowel Creek ramp in the middle of the road puking, 3 losers by Dean Creek fighting in the street and almost ran one over then he spun around and slugged the quarterpanel of our truck, and had a machete pulled on us at Chevron a few days ago because our dog was barking inside our truck. We pay ALOT of money to live here and for taxes. We are sick and tired of those in charge allowing this to continue.
Anyone who disagrees just post your name and phone number so these lovely people can contact you for food and housing at your place. Maybe they will even help you start a fire or burn your brush for you.
Totally agree 100 percent with what you’ve stated here. Thank you for putting a reality spin on the homeless/transient issues that plague our communities. The majority of the homeless are not just down on their luck; they’re drug addicts with resulting mental illness as a result of drug abuse.
I agree 100% with your comment.
First, I have seen no official word on how the fire started.
Second, just because one redheaded man punches someone doesn’t mean that all redheaded men punch people. And the same goes for homeless people. You can not lay the sins of the few at the feet of the many.
Third, we all see that we have a problem with the homeless (though we might disagree on how much is the fault of those who are homeless). But what is your solution?
Kym we admire everything you do.. and no disrespect, but to address your comments to us, one… we seen where the fire was and we are familiar with the camps, we have personally picked up more than 1600 lbs. of trash, including human feces, jars of sperm and was the most sickening thing we’ve ever done and we will never do it again.. how about u, ever done that? Two… We know some people are travelers and others are down on their luck but that’s not who continue to live in the bushes and thrash our town. There are plenty of us here in town that have been willing to help those in need.. we personally have have housed and fed many in need and in between over the years. U? And third our final solution is to get folks without permission off private property and off public land now. If anybody should know if the homeless have been starting fires around here it should be you. And, why isn’t this article still on your feed without digging for it? Everyone in town was worried all night and I know it was up earlier…
We just can’t let this continue or you are going to be reporting that our entire town or those we love have been lost to fire. We have alot of friends and family here and we are over dealing with this. Those of you who want to defend the homeless should bring them to your house and shelter and feed them.
Do any of these solutions fit into your agenda? Or what solutions do you have? Maybe if everybody comes up with a few solutions we can figure this out as a community. Let’s hope so!
Yes I’ve picked up trash multiple times. If you want, I’ll link up some of the stories I’ve done over the years. Well, though, I haven’t dealt with jars of sperm…that is something I’m not sure I would recognize having never seen that particular item and I am somewhat concerned that you recognize it. (I do hope that came across funny.)
Second, the most recent stories push down the older stories…that’s the way my website and most news works. But there is a slider with the most recent important stories available in large pictures at the top of the site. Click on the Garberville Fire one and you will come here.
Also there is a search bar to find older stories.
Third, it is not a solution to bring the homeless to individual people’s property as you might know if you have brought people home with you as you said.
Fourth, you cannot advocate on my website for violently and illegally operating as vigilantes and throwing homeless people out of the encampments they have appropriated. I will eventually ban you.
Fifth, the only solution you offered “violently and illegally operating as vigilantes and throwing homeless people out of the encampments they have appropriated” is not only illegal but immoral and no, I do not think it will work. Towns have down that previously and the homeless go elsewhere or come back.
6th, yes, I do have some solutions. Continue to Donate to Groups that work with the homeless–Eel River Cleanup Party is one of my favorites. John Shelter’s group has begun working in SoHum. Other solutions include tiny homes and monitored camps, better healthcare–particularly mental healthcare, living wages–a number of homeless work low income jobs in SoHum, social workers with the resources and the time to assist people into homes, jobs and healthcare.
Unfortunately those aren’t quick solutions and they are expensive…but not as expensive as continuing to pretend homelessness doesn’t have a cost to society already.
Kym we replied to your comment to us with our solution. Don’t think we broke any rules… It should be posted along with any comments you may have. You addressed us openly, you should post our response openly as well. Thanks
You mean this? https://kymkemp.com/2021/09/13/fire-just-north-of-garberville/#comment-1423146
You’re comment is right there above this one. And I don’t always have the time to respond to people as quickly as they like. I have a job that requires me to jump to respond to fires, car wrecks, and crime. Sometimes that means that I ignore my own kid’s birthday so…try to be understanding if I don’t answer you as quickly as you would like or if I don’t answer at all.
And right now with as little sleep as I have had, I am pretty damn snappy. So please try to understand that I’m tired and I’m human.
If you want something done right you need to do it yourself, so run for office.
Then vote out Newsome and all the Democrats otherwise it will just get worse. Today’s the day. Then the supervisors like Bohn who condone it.
Keep us updated! 😲
Sounds like it’s from the homeless encampment there.
No. It started on the east side of 101 and burned up the hill.
👍🏼
Until there is evidence, that’s a good guess, NoBody. But if we dealt with the homeless crisis by providing homes for those that need them, then almost nobody would be living in the woods and all of us would be safer. I suggest supporting altering, or ignoring the building codes, until they can be redone or rescinded, so we could have tiny homes, live in vehicles, have rental units in the backyard, and most of all stop destroying existing homes. As your guess indicates, the present situation is unsustainable.
Giving people free everything doesn’t solve any issues, that approach has been proven to fail time and time again, have you raised children?! Put them in jail, this is a joke, is that like 7 fires they have caused in that area this year?!!!
We physically can’t put everyone in jail. Our jails are already filled beyond capacity. California state prisons are under a court order to REDUCE their population to 130% capacity! This is why they are keeping people in county longer and was the motivation for the restructuring of sentencing laws (which have had consequences that many have pointed out).
I agree that what we’re doing isn’t working, and I think that the idea of just jailing every petty drug criminal has shown to be a failure. So what can we do?
I think that what Ed is advocating, which i believe is to drastically reduce the burden of building codes so that there is more opportunity for more affordable housing, is one direction worth exploring. It seems like the container house village that Betty Chin’s group is operating is having some success.
I don’t know the answer, but I see that we need to try something that we haven’t tried before. Cause what we’ve done, and what we’re doing, obviously doesn’t work
It costs a lot of money to jail people, more than simple housing.
Liberal policies DO NOT WORK!!!!!!!!!!! They never have and they never will, because they do not make sense. Get these pos’s out of the woods and in jail where they belong.
I should be in jail? Lol You think a severe medical condition causes this? It’s called drugs, shelters don’t do a darn thing to mitigate homelessness, that is being proven. Don’t enable bad behavior, did ur mommy or daddy ever teach you that? Jail is where they all belong. Is it going to take ur house burning down by some drug addicts in the woods for you to feel similar? Maybe that is the only way folks like you will learn. Defending people who are a detriment to society is hilarious. Thanks for wishing something bad happens to my family SMH
Well said! Totally on point with this societal problem.
Do you have any idea how many in Ca alone are homeless from fires in the last 5 years?
No.
Do you know Americas #1 cause for bankruptcy?
No.
[edit]
Enlighten me oh wise Brian. So because people have become homeless because of fires…. That means the drug addicts in our woods setting more fires to make more people homeless are ok?! Lol why on earth are you people defending them in any way? It is truly astonishing to me. Makes me think you are making theses posts at a nice safe distance from the potential disaster this is becoming
Change your name or get banned
these people are homeless because their parents finally kicked them out. this area produces a large amount of tweaks and it is a product of poor parenting. the vast majority stem from conservative families. reckless kids become reckless adults.
Apparently, you have never seen a homeless baby in a stroller, or the pregnant homeless mother before that baby was even born.
Ever been to Shop Smart in Redway?
It seems like we are having trouble sharing. Please, share it with us.
do you think drug addicts don’t live in homes also? Or look at some of the growers among us, some of them are drug addicts too. Anyone can be a drug addict or an alcoholic. And not all homeless are drug addicts. There are all kinds of “detriments to society” that aren’t homeless.
I don’t like that we have our fair share of homeless here either but not every societial ail is the homeless’ fault.
7 fires in the woods in a few months threatening our community is exactly their fault, are you blind?! That is what we are talking about here
Yeah , jail. That’s not government funded housing at all, makes perfect sense. Probably cheaper to just all pay their rent, and get them door dash. But hey, think of all the legit correctional jobs, we can all pay for those, too.
I 100% hear what u are saying, my true solution to this problem I am probably not even allowed to say on here so that is the next best thing.
Where? Are you going to build jails to hose them all? What are the charges to hold them on? Other than just complaining, do you have any ideas to help the situation?
Just leave them alone Ella
Fuck it!
Why stop with the homeless?
Yup, agree. Build internment camps. No drugs. No booze. Put them to work cleaning up roads and picking up trash.
Ummm… my experience with some of the homeless population (including in my own family) is that for a significant portion, they choose to live homeless. They don’t want to spend money on rent; if they did, then they couldn’t afford their drugs or alcohol. Landlords require that the property be kept clean, and that interferes with hoarding. The state already allows ADUs (additional dwelling units) to be constructed, I have one myself, but I would never rent to a person with a history of homelessness unless their experience was of short duration due to job or habitat loss from disaster. Those who become homeless under those circumstances rarely stay houseless for long… they take advantage of whatever resources they can to recover. Those with addiction issues are generally unable to. Those who manage recovery from addiction will choose to seek assistance for housing and are able to maintain a sober lifestyle as a result.
My opinion of the notion of providing homes to everyone regardless of circumstances varies. On one hand, I know that reducing the stressors of homelessness aids in the development of mental stability, but on the other, I’m tired of allowing such people to further abuse “the system.” Other services should be included, such as mental health and drug treatment programs, along with job training, with mandatory participation. Financial aid should have an end date, except for the people with diagnosed disabilities beyond addiction. Addiction can be successfully addressed, physical and mental disabilities such as schizophrenia are more complex. Throwing people into shelter without attention to the issues that made them homeless in the first place is a waste of time and money, IMO, and as a taxpayer, I wish for once the funds required to house people was used efficiently. Until that happens, we’ll always have homeless living on the margins.
Bingo
I’m glad to see you agree with Cranky Old Lady. I was starting to get worried about you! Your frustration and anger are understood. But your strategy sounded…extreme and probably not efficient. Jails are expensive. Giving them everything they want is counterproductive. I know a bunch of homeless and most of them have mental illnesses not of their own choosing. Some were terribly abused as children. Now some are on drugs to ease that pain. But still are decent people- with issues of frustration and some occasional anger. I would love to see us parse out the redeemable from the serial arsonists and apply help where we can. It will take lots of funding- rehab, housing, a job that gives their life some structure and pride and self-worth, mental counseling. Lots of funding but not as much as “throwing them all in jail” and not as soul-killing for us all as some other brutal eradication. Well-placed and targeted compassion. Not an overall gooey misplaced compassion which is what we have been “balancing” with deplorable living conditions when we kick them to the curb
Could the solution emerge from open community discussion just like this? Thorough consideration from input over time from many minds reflecting circumstances and experiences seems invaluable to distill an effective solution down to the smallest detail. How can we-the-people do that and make it policy?
Building a home up to code has become very expensive; there are way too many requirements and hurdles, no wonder we have a housing shortage. Many homeless are decent people that can’t find a rental and heaven forbid someone converts their garage or storage into living quarters or sleep in a travel trailer.
To Ed Denson,
Please tell us; Do you know of any actual, current, hands-on efforts toward altering the building codes so that tiny houses can happen?
People would love to help, but do not know where to start. Please give us a hint?
Post a link if you know about some way to get involved?
Thanks.
Absolutely Ed. We have a larger population and need more housing. Less restrictions to building. I have many neighbors who are drug addicts. They are housed and most of them mind their manners. If they were not housed they’d be a high maintenance ugly mess that would take up even more resources.
I was looking at raw land to build on in 2 counties. The cost was prohibitive and there were no guarantees that I’d be able to build at all if I bought the land. I’m sure I’m not the only one. I know several people who can not build secondary units because of the prohibitive costs, up-rated taxes and the red tape- even if second units are “encouraged”, even if they are built for family members, they are beyond most people’s budgets.
Developers can not afford the red tape.
By prohibiting new housing *in effect* we encourage “illegal” dwellings that are so substandard it’s not funny. Some people let roofs rot. They could afford the shingles and other materials but can not afford the permitting or the time and stress to address red tape. Humboldt county in particular is good at jerking people around and extracting fees.
Blue Star gas co.? That could have been an even bigger disaster.
Bro is vp of blue star. Fire On other side of fwy local execs enroute, cal fire staging equipment in yard as we speak. Bro says they are on the ball and not threatened at this time. Wi d blowing from west away from tanks
Thank you.
Could this be the same POS who started the fires on the north bluffs near Dean Creek earlier this summer?
and the ones near Dean Creek at 101 and the one below Garberville couple days after that?
I hope everyone keeps their eyes and ears open. This is attempted murder.
How May fires do we have to have near blue star and renner this is crazy , the most dangerous spot to have a fire….this is the third in last few years…thank goodness for incredible fire departments but this is way to close And way too dangerous for all fighting fires …..
We filled up gas at Renner sometime between 8-8:30 last nite.
I was getting faint whiffs of smoke while pumping, like kindling burning from a warming fire nearby. Could have easily been smoke from the air it was so faint. Wondering if we were smelling the start of a warming fire that got out of hand.
Kym, didn’t I read earlier that the CHP had detained a person of interest on 101? Was my tired mind playing tricks on me or did you remove that?
Apparently a man has been arrested — his runaway campfire started the conflagration. A neighbor told me; the information may be on the Garberville FB page.
It wasn’t here then but it is now. https://kymkemp.com/2021/09/14/man-arrested-and-one-structure-damaged-after-garberville-fire/
Thank you!
It was on KMUD where I read that.
Yes, Lauren did a great job of getting the story.
firefighters kicking arse! TY!