10-Year Valley Fire Anniversary Commemoration, COBBler Festival Highlights, Community Wildfire Protection
- Shasta McBride
- Aug 14
- 2 min read
A Full Decade Later... |
As we approach the 10th anniversary of the Valley Fire, planning has been full steam on events to commemorate the milestone. We are honored to be co-hosting the inaugural events on the anniversary day, September 12, at Mandala Springs Wellness Retreat Center and later in the day at the Lions Club Little Red Schoolhouse. We'll also be participating in solidarity with Middletown on September 13 to remember how far we've come and honor our shared resilience. |
Valley Fire 10th Anniversary Commemoration
The Ceremony begins promptly at 1:24 p.m. with the sounding of emergency tone alerts calling everyone to attention and silence
Co-hosted or co-sponsored by:
Seigler Springs Community Redevelopment Association (SSCRA), Jessica Pyska, District 5 Supervisor Lake County, Cobb Area Council, County of Lake Office of Emergency Services, Cobb Mountain Lions Club, Mandala Springs Wellness Center
Purpose of the gathering: To commemorate the 2015 Valley Fire and its lasting impact by,
· Honoring the community’s solidarity and long-term recovery efforts.
· Recognizing the monumental legislative and cultural changes that followed, including new state fire standards and the revitalization of Indigenous practices.
· Dedicating a memorial plaque to honor the lives lost in the fire.
Special Guests:
In attendance will be designated representatives from the offices of Congressman Mike Thompson, State Senator Mike McGuire, and State Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry. The event will also honor first responders, community representatives, and nongovernmental organizations for their contributions to Lake County's disaster response and economic recovery.
Refreshments provided by:
Mandala Springs Wellness Retreat Center
For more information, contact Magdalena Valderrama, magdalenavh@sscra.org
This anniversary is also deeply personal for us, as September marks ten years since our nonprofit, the Seigler Springs Community Redevelopment Association, was formed. In the chaotic days following the fire, while still grappling with our own losses and seeking aid, we saw our neighbors struggling with the very same challenges. Our organization was forged in that moment—created by survivors, for survivors, to ensure our community had the power to guide its own path forward.
On a much sweeter note...
We're still buzzing from the fantastic turnout at the recent Blackberry Cobbler Festival! It was a joy to see so many friends and families enjoying delicious cobbler and browsing local crafts. From solemn remembrance and proactive rebuilding to joyful celebration, it's this incredible community spirit that truly defines Cobb.
Community Wildfire Protection
SSCRA has received a grant from the US Forest Service to create an official Cobb Mountain Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP), a community-centered document that will qualify detailed wildfire mitigation projects in the Cobb area for significant Federal funding assistance. Working closely with members of the Cobb Area Council Forest Stewardship Committee and additional local volunteers, SSCRA will facilitate maximum community involvement in creating the CWPP over the next two years.
Actively collaborating with the community will entail a deep dive to include all the factors related to wildfire safety in the Cobb Area, including long-term care for our beloved local forests, building a local business sector to do the needed work, taking a hard look at invasive species, addressing climate change, and obtaining available tools and resources to protect our community in the time ahead, when wildfire is predicted to only increase in our region. Read more