Weekly Recap: Solano offers help after wildfire, coronavirus
Solano County residents and businesses can qualify for financial and other assistance to help with the effects of the LNU Lightning Complex wildfire and the novel coronavirus pandemic.
(Photo: Solano County correctional officers and other jail staff assist an elderly resident with clearing wildfire debris from a property in rural Winters. Photo courtesy Solano County Sheriff's Department)
This year has thrown no shortage of challenges at residents and businesses in Solano County — from the novel coronavirus pandemic forcing businesses to close and residents to shelter at home, to the LNU Lightning Complex wildfire destroying more than 300 homes in rural portions of the county and blanketing the region with heavy smoke for weeks.
Numerous agencies, organizations and private companies are stepping up to the plate to offer their support to those who are suffering from the effects of the coronavirus and wildfire:
The Solano County Local Assistance Center is an online resource that is continuously updated with information on post-wildfire assistance. The online resource connects residents who need financial, food, medical and other forms of assistance. For more information, visit SolanoCountyRecovers.org.
The Travis Credit Union Foundation has started accepting applications for those in Solano County who were impacted by the LNU Lightning Complex wildfire. The foundation is reaching out to those whose homes were destroyed or heavily damaged by the wildfire and is open to residents of Napa and Yolo counties as well. For more information, contact Dimpel Sandhu at dsandhu@tcufund.org. Applications will be processed between the beginning of October and the end of December. To make a tax-deductible donation towards this effort, click or tap here.
The Workforce Development Board of Solano County and the Northern California, Solano chapter of the Small Business Development Center have partnered together on a new initiative called the Rebuild Solano’s Small Business Grant Program. The program taps into $2 million in federal assistance for businesses affected by COVID-19. The deadline to apply is September 30. Click or tap here to apply.
Quick Hits
Residents spotted a young mountain lion in Fairfield on Saturday. The mountain lion was reported around 7 p.m. in a housing development near Oliver Road and Woodcreek Drive. It left the area by the time officers arrived, but not before at least one resident was able to capture cellphone video that showed the mounatin lion lounging in her backyard garden.
A couple narrowly escaped death on Friday while walking on railroad tracks in Suisun City. The incident happened around 6 a.m. when the couple, who were not identified, were walking on the tracks around Railroad Ave. and Sunset Ave. One man escaped the path of an oncoming train while the other man was struck. The second man received immediate medical treatment and was expected to survive his injuries, emergency officials said.
A welfare call at Vacaville’s RancHotel resulted in an arrest on Friday. A woman called Vacaville Police around 8:30 p.m. to report a domestic disturbance between her friend and one other person. When officers arrived, they arrested Michael G. Humphrey, 56, on three felony counts, including assault with a firearm and false imprisonment. Humphrey remains in custody at the Solano County jail.
Two inmates died at the California State Prison Solano in less than 24 hours, prompting an investigation by state officials into one of the two deaths. The first death was reported around 3:45 a.m. on Saturday, and the second reported later that day around 7:45 p.m. The cause of the first death remains unknown and is being investigated by CDCR and the state’s Office of Inspector General. The second death was the result of head trauma, according to an emergency official.
Two rural fire districts have taken a substantial step toward consolidating their operations with the closure of a new deal that allows the Vacaville Fire Protection District to assume operational control over the Cordelia Fire Protection District, according to a report in the Daily Republic. The move is still subject to sign-offs from legal counsel and approval by each district’s board.
A charity BBQ dinner that was expected to raise money for wildfire relief efforts was canceled last week due to COVID-19 concerns. Hosted by Solano Brewing, the dinner and associated concert were to raise money for the the Vacaville City Firefighters Charity Fund, which is working to provide assistance to those affected by last month’s wildfire. The charity fund is still raising money for those efforts.
Alert Solano
The Solano County Sheriff’s Department is requesting members of the community sign up for Alert Solano, a free service that offers real-time public safety alerts, including evacuation notices, severe weather, road closures/openings and other critical information. These alerts are delivered by phone call, text messages and/or email messages based on your preference. (Sign up here)
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