SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Juan Alanis (R-Modesto) released the following statement in response to the deadly fire at the Lazy Wheels Mobile Home Park in Ceres.
“I share the city of Ceres’ concerns regarding this entire tragedy,” said Alanis. “(Thursday), I sent a letter to the Director of the Department of Housing and Community Development requesting a meeting to discuss the concerns raised by local officials. Specifically, I want to hear from the Department why, according to media reports and local decision makers, no homes were red-tagged, and what the Department plans to do to address the unsafe conditions at this mobile home park before further harm occurs. The status quo is clearly unacceptable, and the Department needs to be open, honest and transparent about this situation.”
The fire at the Lazy Wheels Mobile Home Park occurred Monday at 11:38 p.m. in the substandard park north of Whitmore Avenue and adjacent to the freeway.
When Modesto Fire Department personnel responded to the blaze, they found a shed, car, and trash on fire behind a mobile home. They began dousing the flames and quickly prevented the fire spreading to the adjacent mobile home. While overhauling the debris, firefighters located a body in the shed. According to Ceres police, the body has not been identified.
Alvarado-Gil reintroduces bill
State Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil (R-Jackson) announced this week that her Wildfire Smoke and Health Outcomes Data Act (SB 223) unanimously passed out of the Senate Health Committee. SB 223 would establish a statewide database to track the health impacts of wildfire smoke.
The bill is a reintroduction of Alvarado-Gil’s SB 945 from last year, which was killed last year.
"Reintroducing SB 223 is my commitment to making sure we as legislators have the data we need to address the health impacts of wildfire smoke, and strengthen our approach to wildfire policy," Alvarado-Gil said. “Addressing this issue is long overdue. Wildfires are a fact of life for all Californians, but the recent Southern California fires made it abundantly clear that we need to understand how wildfire smoke affects our health. We need accurate data to protect our firefighters, agricultural workers, ranchers, and rural communities. This bill is a critical step toward making informed decisions around forest management and public health.”
The California Council of Science and Technology reported that California policymakers currently lack the data needed to determine whether investments in forest health and wildfire risk reduction are improving health outcomes for communities affected by smoke.
Protest rally planned in Modesto
The “Hands Off” community rally — protesting the policies of President Donald Trump and his key advisor, Elon Musk — will be held this morning at 10 a.m. in Modesto.
Participants will gather at Five Points (Needham Street and McHenry Avenue) for a “honk and wave” demonstration, which will be followed by a march to 10th Street Plaza (10th and L streets) where a lineup of speakers will address the gathering. Attendees are encouraged to bring posters and banners, though posters will be available for those who need them.
The event is organized by Indivisible Stanislaus and part of a nationwide movement.
