The fire, now labeled the Goodenough Incident, was the fiercest thing of its kind I’ve witnessed in Fillmore during the past 25 years. Driven by near hurricane force wind at times, it jumped from a mobile home on the west side of Goodenough Road to 100-foot high palm trees and avocado orchards across the road in a matter of seconds.

The wind was from the north, unusual in itself, then whipped around the point, heading southeast above Foothill Road.

It would have been much worse had the wind not calmed down considerably at nightfall. No doubt many residents were praying-up a storm of their own. No structures in the city were destroyed or damaged. One tragedy occurred during the first stage of the fire; the beautifully situated Wokal home atop the hill in the 1200 block of Goodenough Road was nearly destroyed. Valliant efforts by Ventura County firefighters were able to save part of the home and assist in the removal of some personal property.

I recall several other ferocious, and far larger, wildfires in years past. The difference here is that we were immediately in the midst of it all. Flaming palm fronds and other debris from palm trees were carried hundreds of yards in the firestorm, and quickly started dozens of new fires downwind. Flames raced through thick layers of dry avocado leaves allowed to accumulate by farmers growing their crops organically. That carpet of leaves exploded in flame and raced through the groves as though they were sprayed with gasoline.

The fire consumed approximately 147 acres of trees and brush.

As usual, the residents of Fillmore cooperated in assisting firefighters and threatened homeowners. I will try to publish a fairly complete list of those who assisted in this effort in next week’s Gazette. In the meantime many thanks are due for all the quick assistance provided from many different fire departments from at least three counties, our council members, and several department heads at city hall. Special thanks to our Sheriff’s department, Search and Rescue, Citizens Patrol and many others.

Thanks to all who helped us dodge the bullet, once again. Also look for more spectacular photos from Bob Crum, online and in the Gazette.

Coverage from area television station:

The Midyear Budget Review and a Ten Year General Fund Analysis were presented at Tuesday's Fillmore City Council Meeting despite the fact that most sitting at the dais had had very little sleep the night before due to the Goodenough Fire that threatened the town.

A Financial Analyst, Frank Catania, was hired late January and presented the Council a Ten Year General Fund Analysis on where the City has been and where it may be headed, depending on different factors. Acting Finance Director Glenda D. Jay also presented a Midyear Budget Review which also was heavily dependent on varying factors.

The varying factors both Catania and Jay spoke of are the $2.9 million overpayment by the Board of Equalization (BOE) in FY 2008-09 and the 2003 Tax Sharing Agreements that have been in negotiations with BOE for the past three years. The overpayment was an error on the part of the BOE. The Tax Sharing Agreement concerned businesses that had an office located in Fillmore where their sales tax was credited, but the actual warehouses from where their products were shipped were located in various other cities. Those cities sued Fillmore stating the sales tax revenue should be credited to them. According to Catania this disagreement has resulted in millions of dollars being withheld by the BOE, adding that at the end of last year "...the BOE has withheld in excess of $25.6 million of local sales tax revenue due to the City....normally the City would retain $2.9 million of these withheld funds." Adding to this is the fact that the BOE is requiring Fillmore to pay back the overpayment by withholding its percentage of Sales Tax due the City. The FY 2011-12 Financial Statements show a $1.0 million unpaid balance owed to the BOE from the overpayment, along with an estimated $1.3 million future liability resulting from the sales tax sharing agreements; but that number could change when negotiations are finalized. Councilman Douglas Tucker asked how much money the BOE has held back in the last five years but was told by the City Attorney Tiffany Israel that that could only be discussed in closed session. Tucker then remarked that there was some confusion over the amount and said the previous City Attorney Ted Schneider disagreed with those numbers and he would like both Schneider and Israel to get together on the numbers to "know we're all on the same page" adding that having some historical knowledge might be helpful. There was then some discussion on how the BOE does not give out much information on such items basically leaving Fillmore to accept what amounts the BOE send them.

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The fire has consumed 170 acres and is now 80% contained.

The wind has dropped to nearly zero in Fillmore.

Approximately 85 units and nearly 300 firefighters continue to fight the fire, putting out hot spots with hand crews and helicopter.

1 house was burned but officials have not identified the property owner. The home is not the William Morris property that some earlier reports had indicated.

More updates, photos and video coming soon.

The hills just east of where the fire started.
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One of dozens of trees damaged by the high winds.
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68 Units currently responding to a fire that was reported approximately 4:45 p.m. in the 1400 block of Goodenough Road in north Fillmore.

The fire was sparked by a downed power line.

High winds caused trees to fall and fire to spread.

1 home on Goodenough road has burned along with the roof of a mobile home, one vehicle and several outbuildings.

An estimated 200 people in dozens of homes are under mandatory evacuation orders

A shelter has been setup at the Veterans Memorial Building at 511 Second Street in Fillmore. Donations of blankets, food and water may be dropped off at the Memorial Building for any victims and firefighters.

Additional photos, video, and information coming soon.

City of Fillmore

On Tuesday, March 26, 2013 Bill Herrera conducted a Goal Setting Workshop with the Fillmore City Council. The objective of the workshop was setting the City’s priorities with regards to its common goals, both immediate and long standing.

The meeting started at 3:30 p.m. and ended at 6:15pm with less than half of the priorities covered, so a second workshop will be scheduled in the future. The priorities covered so far were broken down into categories: Governmental, Economic, Public Safety and Community Wellness, Public Works, and Infrastructure.

Beginning with Government, the Council prioritized their goals starting with resolving the sales tax issue with the Board of Equalization. The next goal is Council unification, and third is hiring a City Manager. Final goal of Government is to hire a Finance Director.

Ideas also discussed relating to Government were; record retention and staff identifying what records they have, wanting staff reports to be efficient and concise, an open and transparent government, having the Council meet twice a year with joint commissioners, filling vacant staff positions, education of staff on housing element, code of ethics/conduct, landscaping and lighting, Vision 2020, and code enforcement.

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Fillmore Chamber of Commerce would like to congratulate Joseph Palacio for receiving Firefighter of the Year for 2012. Thank you for all you do for our community.

It is with great pleasure that I introduce Joseph Palacio as Fillmore’s 2012 Firefighter of the Year. Joseph Palacio was born in 1983 and has been a resident of the City of Fillmore his entire life. Joe’s, parents are Joe & Olivia Palacio and has a younger sister Jolene.

He recently moved to Castaic with his fiancée Vanessa and her son Richie. He attended Fillmore High school and graduated in 2002. During his senior year in high school, his Mother Olivia Palacio worked in the career center, signed him up for a ride along with Ventura County Fire Department station 27 which was his first exposure to the fire service. After the ride along, Joe became a cadet for County Fire station 27 where he learned a lot about the fire service and found his calling for public service. After high school he worked for a type two hand crew for the Las Padre National forest service’s out of Ojai where he learn the skill’s of wildland firefighting. After his first season of wild land firefighting he enrolled in fire tech classes at Oxnard College in 2003. Around that same time Joe became a ride along with the Fillmore fire department. He also worked as a supervisor for a fire prevention crew. Through the Fillmore Fire Department, he had the opportunity to enroll in the Oxnard college fire academy. After the academy, he was hired with the Fillmore Fire Department. Early on he had a passion for training, fighting fire and more importantly helping others. He traveled up and down the State of California to seek training from other agencies and brought back great new concepts and training back to our department. He also attended the Rio Hondo Truck academy and participated in a Truck academy hosted by Oxnard Fire Department. He is currently employed by AMR Ambulance and has been working as an EMT for two Ambulance Company’s for the past 8 years. During his time with Fillmore Fire Department, Joe has promoted up the ranks from firefighter to Engineer and now Captain. He currently is in charge of Engineer’s training where he is very dedicated. Captain Palacio is very dedicated to training not just to be the best firefighter he can be, but to be the safest firefighter he can be, not just for himself but the crews that he work with and the people he serves. In closing, Joe writes, I want to thank everyone in my family, and future family for being behind me and supporting me in this greatest career on earth, The Fire service. I thank God every day for the privilege to help others.

Fillmore Chamber of Commerce would like to congratulate Rotary Club of Fillmore for receiving Nonprofit of the Year for 2012. Thank you for all you do for our community.

Rotary Club of Fillmore founded in May 1924
Rotary Club of Fillmore Sun Risers founded in March 1985
Clubs merged January 2013

Combined All-Time Giving to The Rotary Foundation = $152,928.00

Current total active members = 22

Rotary International is the world's first service club organization, with more than 1.2 million members in 33,000 clubs worldwide. Rotary club members are volunteers who work locally, regionally, and internationally to combat hunger, improve health and sanitation, provide education and job training, promote peace, and eradicate polio under the motto Service Above Self.

Santa Paula Police Department

On 04-01-2013 Officers from the Santa Paula Police Departments Patrol division attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle which was occupied by a known wanted felon Richard Arellano, who was considered armed and dangerous. As Officers attempted to stop the vehicle in the area of Olive and Santa Paula Streets, the vehicle evaded Officers causing a brief Police pursuit. In the 200 blk of N. 5th Street, the vehicle stopped in the middle of the roadway and at which time, Arellano fled from the right front passengers seat on foot. Officer Potter gave chase after Arellano. During the chase, Officer Potter witnessed Arellano discard a loaded firearm into the backyard of 230 N. 5th Street. Arellano was subsequently apprehended.
Richard Arellano is currently on CDC State Parole and is a documented gang member in the City of Santa Paula.

Wanted subject considered armed and dangerous
Report number: SG1300603
Location: 200 Blk of N. 5th Street
Date & Time: 04-01-2013/1340 hours
Unit Responsible:
Suspect(s): Richard Arellano 21
Victim(s): ?????
Press Release prepared by: Detective Allen Macias
Date and Time release prepared: 04-02-2013/1453
Follow-up contact/investigator: Detective Allen Macias-525-4474X146
Approved By:

Fillmore Chamber of Commerce would like to congratulate Deputy Russell Grant for receiving Officer of the year for 2012. We appreciate all you do for our community.

Deputy Russell Grant is a native Californian, born in Canoga Park, California. He is married to his wife Lynda for 18 years this October and they live in the city of Simi Valley and have 4 children: John 12, Alyssa 16, Justin 24 and Christy 29. Lynda Grant has been a Registered Nurse for 20 years and is currently employed by the Simi Valley Hospital Aspen Surgery Center.

Russ was selected for this award by his peers and supervisors from the Santa Clara Valley Substation. Russ is a 13 year veteran and has worked a variety of assignments with the Sheriff’s Office:
Dep. Grant graduated from the Ventura County Criminal Justice Training Center in July 2000 (Class 2000-1).

Dep. Grant’s first assignment, as is the case with our deputy sheriffs was in our Detention Services Division. He worked as a security deputy at the Todd Road Jail in the unincorporated area of Santa Paula. Shortly after he successfully completed jail training, Dep. Grant transferred to our Court Services Bureau in Ventura and worked there from September 2001 - August 2002. He then transferred back to the Pre-Trial Detention Facility where he was selected to work the Classification / Risk Assessment assignment. This position is for those deputies that have shown the skill and desire to learn more about gang culture, narcotics trafficking, and maintaining the integrity of intelligence information. He worked in this assignment until he was transferred to patrol in 2009.

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