The remains of the Arcata Jan. 2 fire. By Garth Epling-Card.
It’s official: the state of California says Arcata is in trouble.
All right, that’s an incredibly literal interpretation of a proclamation of a state of emergency signed by governor Gavin Newsom on Friday, but no less true nonetheless. The Jan. 2 fire that torched half a city block some three months back qualifies the city to a nod that there are, indeed, “conditions of extreme peril” that are beyond the qualifications of the local authorities to fix.
The 2.5 million gallons of water firefighters dumped on the blaze almost certainly carried innumerable pollutants and environmental hazards from the scorched buildings into creeks, waterways, and Humboldt Bay. Neither the city nor the county has the staff or the ability to monitor and clean up all the affected areas. The state’s declaration opens up emergency funding that will help defray the costs and expedite the environmental harms.
Arcata and the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office signed their own state of emergency proclamations within a few days of the fire.
Recovering from the fire has proved to be difficult and complex. The three different owners of the destroyed parcels all had to carry out their own insurance investigations, as did the Arcata Fire District, and the owners will have to secure a smattering of permits before any cleanup can begin. Any state funds the city or Humboldt County gets probably won’t go towards removing the debris; that’s the property owners’ expense.
Arcata City Manager Merritt Perry told the Outpost today that city and county staff needed to research how to navigate the process of obtaining the funds. They’ll likely have to tally up all of their firefighting and environmental expenditures, as well as make a thorough assessment of all the damage the fire wrought. Beyond that, he’s unsure.
A new charge has been levied against a woman accused of murdering a 2-year-old foster child in 2021.
Ashley Pearce-Pifferini was charged with felony child abuse by the Humboldt County District Attorney’s office last Tuesday, and pleaded not guilty today.
During the investigation into Phoenix Jayden Asti’s death, police testified they found Pearce-Pifferini texted an image of the boy with bruising on the side of his face to her partner on Oct. 24, 2021.
When examining the image in court, a child abuse expert testified the markings were consistent with bruising from an open hand slap.
According to police testifying on digital forensics, she texted her partner she couldn’t figure out what he would have done to cause the injuries.
The new charge alleges the woman willfully caused unjustifiable physical pain and mental suffering to Asti on Oct. 24, 2021, according to an updated complaint.
Previously, Pearce-Pifferini was held to answer to charges of murder and assault on a child causing death. Experts testified during a preliminary hearing the severity of injuries Asti died from could not have been caused by incidents she said caused his head trauma — including banging his own head on a crib because he was mad, or a possible short fall in the bathtub.
Earlier this month, prosecutors argued that medical evidence, including details from Asti’s autopsy, showed substantial internal head injuries with multiple impact sites. Prosecutors alleged Pearce-Pifferini repeatedly slammed the boy, causing the blunt impact head trauma that ultimately killed him.
She pleaded not guilty to the charges. Her attorney noted wrongful convictions are common in these types of cases, and pointed to issues in relying on medical records to explain the boy’s death. He also noted efforts the woman, who has a long history of fostering and no criminal record, took to get medical care for the boy after he was injured on two occasions.
Both sides are expected to bring experts to testify during the trial. The next hearing was set for June 12.
A judge previously found there was enough evidence to go to trial, while noting there was room for more information. He pointed to expert testimony agreeing there could be another explanation for his death, when asked to weigh in on hypotheticals during cross examination.
Asti, a two year old foster child, was described during court proceedings as being “very active and full of life” by District Attorney’s Office Investigator Ryan Hill, who was assigned the case in 2021 and interviewed social workers who knew the boy.
Asti had been in the care of Pearce-Pifferini and her partner from July 2021 until his death that November.
Pearce-Pifferini remains out of custody on a $1 million bail.
Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:
On April 20, 2026, at approximately 8:10 a.m., the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office POP team with the assistance of the Humboldt County Drug Task Force served a search warrant in the 400 block of Blue Lake Boulevard, in Blue Lake.
The search warrant was served on John Edward Hames and his residence after an investigation was initiated after reports were received that Hames was dealing drugs from the residence. During the service of the warrant, deputies located approximately 60 grams of Fentanyl. Hames was arrested without incident and transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility where he was booked on the following charges:
HS 11351 Possess/purchase for sale narcotic/controlled substance
HS 11366 Keep place to sell narcotics/controlled substances
This investigation is a part of the Sheriff’s Office’s ongoing proactive efforts to combat illegal narcotics activity and enhance public safety throughout Humboldt County. If you are selling dangerous drugs in our community, you will be identified and arrested.
Anyone with information related to illegal drug activity is encouraged to contact the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Humboldt County Drug Task Force at (707) 267-9976.
At-risk missing person, 80-year-old Bert Snyder, has been safely located in Eureka. The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office extends its sincere gratitude to the public for keeping an eye out and assisting in the effort to find him.
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Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:
The
Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s
assistance in locating a missing at-risk person, Bert Snyder, 80, of
Hoopa, CA. Bert is considered at risk due to dementia and Alzheimer’s
disease.
Bert
was reported missing by his wife on April 20, 2026, at approximately
7:51 a.m. He is believed to have left their residence sometime
between 10:00 p.m. on April 19 and 7:51 a.m. on April 20.
Bert
is believed to be driving a red 2015 Buick Encore (California license
plate #8SWA394). He was possibly seen this morning traveling from
Hoopa toward Willow Creek.
Physical
Description:
White
male adult (WMA), 80 years old
Gray
hair and full beard
Blue
eyes
Height:
6 feet 3 inches
Weight:
approximately 225 pounds
A
Silver Alert has been issued by the California Highway Patrol.
Anyone
with information regarding Bert Snyder’s possible whereabouts is
urged to contact the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707)
445-7251.
To
receive updates from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office,
subscribe to alerts at: humboldtsheriff.org/
Press release from the University Police Department:
On Sunday, April 19, at approximately 4:22 p.m., officers from the University Police Department (UPD) at Cal Poly Humboldt responded to a report of a possible dispute involving a man and a Cal Poly Humboldt student who were associated with a dark colored Mercedes on St. Louis Road in Arcata.
Upon arrival, officers contacted both parties and initiated an investigation. It was determined that the individuals, who did not know each other before the incident, had met earlier that day at a local business. While en route to the victim’s residence hall, the suspect abruptly turned the vehicle around and began driving at a high rate of speed. Fearing for their safety, the victim attempted to exit the moving vehicle. The suspect grabbed the back of the victim’s shirt and ordered the victim back into the car. After a brief struggle, the victim managed to escape by falling out of the moving vehicle and then fled on foot.
The suspect pursued the victim on foot until officers arrived and intervened.
The suspect, 53-year-old Michael Nilsson of Arcata, was arrested at the scene and transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility, where he was booked on charges of Attempted Kidnapping (PC 664/207), False Imprisonment (PC 236), and Disorderly Conduct (PC 647(f)). His bail has been set at $75,000.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact UPD at (707) 826-5555.
Eureka native, business leader, and community advocate, Audra Sisson has officially announced her candidacy for City Council in Ward 1, bringing over two decades of experience in business operations, infrastructure systems, and community engagement to the race.
A proud native of Eureka, California, Audra Sisson was raised exploring the Eel River, Mad River, and Van Duzen River, where she grew up and developed a strong connection with the community and the natural environment and the values of resilience, independence, and hard work.
Audra comes from a deeply rooted Humboldt County family. Her mother is from North County (McKinleyville) and her father is from South County (Fortuna and Carlotta), reflecting a multigenerational connection across the region. Her parents have been married for 57 years, and family values of service, respect, and community care were central to her upbringing. Her father managed a local flooring department for over 35 years, building long-standing relationships throughout the community and instilling a strong understanding of small business, trust, and local responsibility.
Sisson.
As a young mother, she left Humboldt County to create a greater opportunity for her daughter, relocating to San Diego, California. There, she worked multiple jobs while raising her child and earned her degree in Business Management and Finance from San Diego State University.
Over the past 20 years, Audra built a career in technology, sales, operations, and business leadership. She helped small, mid-sized, and enterprise companies grow, improve efficiency, and scale operations across industries including transportation, logistics, software systems, security infrastructure, and water treatment. Her work included collaboration with organizations such as the California Trucking Association (CTA), the Department of Transportation (DOT), Water Quality Association (WQA), and the American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE), with a focus on safety, compliance, and operational performance across multiple sectors of the national infrastructure and industrial economy.
Beyond her professional career, Audra is deeply committed to service and community impact. She has supported youth mentorship programs, community cleanups, and fundraising efforts through organizations such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation. She has also participated in international efforts to help fund and build elementary schools in rural villages in Laos, creating safer and more stable learning environments for children in underserved communities.
Audra is also a mental health advocate focused on expanding access to care, strengthening connections between local service providers, and supporting individuals and families navigating trauma, addiction, and mental health challenges. She believes communities are strongest when support systems are connected, accessible, and easy to navigate.
She is passionate about strengthening small businesses, supporting working families, investing in youth mentorship, and rebuilding community connections across cultural and neighborhood lines in Eureka.
After years building her career across California, Audra returned home to Eureka to care for her mother and reconnect with the community and landscape that shaped her upbringing.
Audra is running for City Council to bring practical, community-centered leadership to Ward 1. She is focused on strengthening access to mental health resources, supporting local businesses, and improving how residents connect with the services and support systems they rely on every day. Her approach is grounded in listening to the community and building on what is already working.
In her spare time, Audra enjoys dancing, writing, attending cultural events, spending time with family, hiking, and is currently working towards becoming a certified yoga instructor.
“This campaign is about listening first, building trust, and making sure the people of Ward 1 feel seen, supported, and represented.” - Audra
Audra’s vision is simple:
A stronger, more connected Eureka where every person feels seen, supported, and able to thrive.
Tagline: Rooted in Community. Focused on You.
Kickoff Event: TBD
For more information or to get involved, please contact: Audra Sisson 619-609-6100.
Learn which wire to snip before the whole thing goes kaboom! Photo by ranjeet via Pexels.
Press release from the Humboldt Builders Exchange:
Humboldt
Builders Exchange is calling on Humboldt County high school
seniors planning careers in the construction industry to apply now
for scholarship opportunities, with a deadline of May
1.
The
scholarships are designed to support local students pursuing
education and training in construction-related fields. Whether a
student plans to attend College of the Redwoods for an
electrician certificate, enroll in a plumbing, HVAC, roofing or
welding program, study project management or attend a four-year
university for an engineering degree, applicants are encouraged to
apply.
“These
scholarships are meant to invest in the next generation of builders,
leaders, and skilled tradespeople right here in Humboldt County,”
said Jada Brotman, Executive Director of the Humboldt Builders
Exchange. “We want to help young people build strong careers while
strengthening our local workforce.”
Fields
considered under the construction trades umbrella include:
Electrical
Plumbing
HVAC
Roofing
Concrete
and cement work
Construction
management
Engineering
Carpentry
Heavy
equipment operation
Welding
Other
construction-related careers
Preference
may be given to applicants who intend to remain in Humboldt County
and contribute to the local community and workforce after completing
their education or training.
Students,
parents, counselors, and educators are encouraged to act quickly, as
the May
1 deadline is approaching fast.
For
questions or to request an application, contact:
Jada
Brotman Executive
Director, Humboldt Builders Exchange 707-617-3382 info@humbx.com
