Sheriff, CHP and CAL FIRE report May activity and July 3 public-safety preparations to Colfax council

Representatives from the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, the California Highway Patrol and CAL FIRE presented monthly activity reports to the Colfax City Council on Wednesday and outlined preparations for the July 3rd celebrations.

Sergeant Toby Williams of the Placer County Sheriff’s Office reported that in May deputies responded to 184 incidents, took 28 reports and made 19 arrests, up slightly from 18 arrests in April. He said officers conducted 35 traffic stops in May (up from 18 the previous month) and handled 16 transient-related calls; he and other officials said outreach and offers of resources or arrest were used as appropriate and that several individuals who had camped along railroad tracks were relocated.

Officer Lyman, a public information officer with Gold Run CHP, gave traffic and enforcement numbers for May: 901 citations issued, 320 warnings, 346 motorist services, 22 arrests (13 for DUI), and 28 traffic collisions — 20 property-damage-only and eight injury collisions. Lyman said the CHP has been using a nontraditional enforcement vehicle recently and that it produced a notable number of citations while encouraging drivers to pay more attention.

Clint Seabert, battalion chief with CAL FIRE assigned to the Colfax/Alta area, reported 94 calls for the month of May, including seven vegetation fires, three residential structure fires and three commercial fires along the freeway. He said burning is currently allowed with a valid permit on permissible burn days; the LE-5 and LE-7 program will continue to allow some residential burning with site inspections once formal fire season is declared. CAL FIRE staff said they are increasing staffing and engine coverage for July 3, will run defensible-space inspections and will have two engines and additional resources staged for the event.

Councilmembers and members of the public asked about unlicensed dirt-bike activity in town, motor-vehicle enforcement, and a persistent hotel property that some residents described as a fire hazard. Sheriff’s Office and CHP representatives said officers will increase targeted patrols in problem areas and that enforcement is balanced with safety concerns when children operate off-highway motorcycles. CAL FIRE described ongoing fuel reduction projects in the North Fork area and a process for site inspection and abatement notices.

Officials emphasized coordination among agencies for the July 3 event, and all three agencies said they expect to expand staffing compared with the previous year to cover crowds and traffic during the evening’s fireworks display.