Windy conditions caused a wildfire in Siskiyou County to grow into a monster overnight, burning an estimated 18,000 acres in less than a day. (UPDATE: The Forest Service now estimates the fire is closer to 40,000 acres.)

The McKinney Fire is centered about 12 miles northwest of Yreka in the Klamath National Forest and has already burned numerous homes while forcing several communities to evacuate.

Earlier today, Forest Service officials said the blaze had “grown significantly and was active all night … A very dynamic day is expected with predicted weather expected to be problematic.”

Caltrans notes that Highway 96 is currently closed from the SR-263 junction to Scott River Road with no estimated time of reopening, as shown on the map below. 

More startling imagery related to the McKinney Fire below:

Remarkable satellite imagery this AM in NorCal/OR. #McKinneyFire exploded last night, generating massive pyrocumulonimbus cloud ~50,000 ft tall (!!). You can see smoke at two different heights: most in troposphere, but some (possibly) injected into stratosphere (!). #CAwx #CAfire pic.twitter.com/Ri7IKcsnk8

— Daniel Swain (@Weather_West) July 30, 2022

Heat map shared by the Orleans Volunteer Fire Department

Smoke timelapse courtesy PG&E

Images of potential playground themes from the survey

If you’ve been to the playground at Arcata’s Redwood Park recently, you’ve probably noticed that it’s not quite as nice as it once was. There is no longer a slide, some of structures are old and it just lacks the magic that one would expect in a playground surrounded by majestic redwoods. 

The City of Arcata is planning to change that with the Redwood Park Playground Improvement Project, a part of the city’s Redwood Park Master Plan to improve and redesign several components of the park. The City has now secured funding to reconstruct the playground and wants to hear from the community!

Click the link below to take a short survey and let the City know which playground theme you prefer (castle adventures? ships? alternative transportation?) and what equipment you would like to see at the park. 

More from the City of Arcata:

The City of Arcata is preparing to implement the Redwood Park Improvement Project in summer 2023. To assist with that, the City is seeking community input to refine the playground theme and equipment elements planned for the park.
Community members are encouraged to take a few minutes to complete an online survey at: https://tinyurl.com/RedwoodParkSurvey.

Several years ago the City initiated a Redwood Park Master Plan process with involvement from community members and families. Conceptual improvement designs were completed in 2020, and the City has since secured construction funding from multiple sources.

Redwood Park is the City of Arcata’s premier community park in the redwood forest, providing active and passive recreation opportunities for people of all ages. The Redwood Park Improvement Project seeks to renovate park facilities to ensure families can continue to make memories in this unique forested park setting. Renovations are planned to include replacement of playground equipment, accessible parking and trail improvements, a bicycle pump track, basketball court resurfacing, outdoor amphitheater relocation and conservation of redwoods in the playground area.

Some potential playground themes are castle adventures, redwood ecology, nature, playable art, ships, and fitness.

Community members who prefer to complete a paper survey can pick one up at the Environmental Services counter anytime Monday – Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. For more information contact the Environmental Services Department by email at eservices@cityofarcata.org or call (707) 822-8184.

From skunks to songbirds, the Humboldt Wildlife Care Center is here is help the wildlife of the region. Gang Green sits down with Monte Merrick, director of the Humboldt Wildlife Care Center, to talk about the center’s work, what to do if you see an injured animal and the center’s upcoming big move.

To learn more about volunteer opportunities or to help with moving costs, visit the Humboldt Wildlife Care Center’s website.

“The EcoNews Report,” July 30, 2022.

Press release from the California Highway Patrol:

On Wednesday, July 27, 2022, at approximately 1920 hours, Party #1 was driving Vehicle #1 (Aprili) west on SR-299 west of Campbell Ridge Road in the unincorporated area of Salyer located in Trinity County. Party #1 was approaching a right roadway curve. For undetermined reasons at this time, Party #1 was unable to safely negotiate the right roadway curve. Party #1 continued in a direct course of travel and crossed over the painted solid double yellow lines.

Party #2 (Unknown) was driving Vehicle #2 (Unknown) east on SR-299 west of Party #1’s location. Party #1 allowed Vehicle #1 to travel into the eastbound opposing traffic lane directly into Vehicle #2’s path of travel. As a result, Vehicle #1 crashed into Vehicle #2. This crash caused Party #1 to be fully ejected from Vehicle #1. Party #1 impacted the roadway surface and Vehicle #1 overturned eventually coming to rest within the westbound traffic lane facing in a northeasterly direction. Party #2 fled from the scene driving Vehicle #2. Party #1 sustained major injuries from the crash. Party #1 was transported to Mercy Medical Center for further medical treatment.

If you witnessed this crash or have any information that may lead to identifying the vehicle and party that fled the scene, please contact Officer Wingler at (530) 623-3832

A giant Chinese rocket body is expected to fall out of the sky and strike Earth sometime Saturday which has led to something of an international “When and Where?” guessing game the past couple days. What a time to be alive.

Well, good news: The Humboldt County Office of Emergency Services shared the latest space junk landing site prediction map — which you can view here — and Humboldt is safely outside the splash zone. 

Enjoy your Saturday.

Robert Arthur Judd
January 7, 1934 – April 14, 2022

Robert Judd was born in Niagara Falls, N.Y. on January 7, 1934, to Arthur and Peggy Judd. He grew up with his cousins Sheila and Robert Smith who were as close as brother and sister. After high school he enlisted into the Army and served in Germany for four years and was briefly stationed in Korea. After serving his country he returned to New York and attend the Trott Carpentry School to obtain his carpentry license. In 1959 he met and married the love of his life Ellen Elizabeth Judd. They had three beautiful daughters Debra, Lauri and Sheila all born in Niagara Falls NY. In the early ‘60s Robert moved his family to San Jose to follow the construction work on the west coast. Robert and Ellen bought a house in San Jose Ca. where they raised their family.

In 1981 Robert and Ellen decided to travel to Northern California to look for property. They found a 40-acre parcel in Bridgeville. Robert then started building their home on their property. Robert — also known as Bob or Mr. Judd — was very social. He enjoyed spending his time with his friends at the Bridgeville Café (when in existence) and later you could find him sitting out in front of the Swains Flat Outpost having coffee with friends. Bob and Ellen’s favorite memories were holding parties and social events on their property for friends and family. There were always good laughs and memories made at each gathering. Eventually Bob and Ellen moved into the Swains Flat area so that they could take care of his mother. In November of 2014 they sadly lost their house due to a fire and moved into Fortuna.

Anyone who knew Bob knew that he valued his family and his relationships with his friends. Bob and Ellen had a love like no other. They were married for 62 amazing years. On their 50th wedding anniversary they renewed their vows in their little white church. After his love of his life passed, you could hear him at night telling her goodnight and how much he loved and missed her. Bob was a networker. If someone was in need of something, he would be on a mission to find it for them. He held nothing back and gave you the facts. He was a hardworking and dedicated man who loved fiercely. Bob had a wonderful sense of humor. He sometimes had his own vocabulary that would make you laugh until you cried. Bob was one of a kind. He is missed dearly by friends and family.

Bob Judd was preceded by his beautiful wife Ellen Judd, mother and father Peggy and Arthur Judd, sister Dale and brother-in-law Bob Roach, aunt Jenny and uncle Bob Smith, Cousin Robert Smith, son in law Kevin Wildman, close family friend whom was thought of as family Michael McKean, and son in law Randy Church.

Bob was survived by his daughters Debra Bennett, Lauri and Cruz Gomez and Sheila Rennie Judd. Grandchildren Diana Bennett and great-granddaughters JoJo Church Kasey Hackett, Brent Bennett and Laura Svoboda and great-grandchildren Aidan and Nathan Bennett, Shaun Wildman and Danielle Johnson and great-granddaughter Daisy Wildman, Jessica and Jafid Moran and great-grandson Connor Roberts, Daniel Gomez, Nicolas and Sarah Rennie and great-granddaughter Madelyn Rennie, and Cousin Sheila Hienz.

The family would like to send out a special thank you to Carrie Grant, Danielle Johnson and Hospice for the great love and care that they gave him. Due to Covid, we will be holding a family celebration of life for Robert and Ellen Judd, Mike McKean, Kevin Wildman, and Jack Svoboda. It will be held on September 10 from to 7 p.m. at the Van Duzen River Grange in Carlotta. It will be a potluck event. Coffee, soda, and water provided. Alcohol free event.

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The obituary above was submitted by Robert Judd’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.

Raymond Earl Dice
August 23, 1940-July 24, 2022

Raymond passed away early Sunday morning, July 24, 2022 at home, one month shy of his 82 birthday. He was born at Kaiser Hospital in Oakland, California the eldest son of Eloise and Walter Dice.

He spent his youth in Oakland and San Leandro where he met his best and lifelong friend Dennis Mele. Joining the Army upon graduation he served in Korea and Arizona as a MP. After the Army, he joined the California Highway Patrol, a job he loved. He was forced to give it up when he suffered a heart attack in 1969. He moved to Humboldt County in 1972 to attend HSU after which he devoted the remainder of his career to helping differently abled adults at Redwoods United and HCAR. He retired in 2002 and spent the rest of his time here enjoying his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Raymond is survived by his wife Jane and their blended family of Linnea Hunsucker, Andrea Parsons, and Brian Bowman. Between them they shared 10 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his brothers Carl and Michael and several nieces and nephews. He was the heart of our family, and we miss him.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Eloise, father, Walter and brother, Stanley. At Raymond’s request there be no service. Family will gather later to celebrate his life. We ask you to put on a Hawaiian shirt, get a cup of coffee, and watch an episode of Star Trek TNG in his honor.

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The obituary above was submitted by Raymond Dice’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.