C ALI FORN IA’S OLDE ST NE W SPAPER
– E S T. 18 51
– Midweek Edition – VOLUME 173 • ISSUE 71 | $1.00
mtdemocrat.com
WEDNESDAY, JULY 10, 2024
Pay Fire burns away 77 acres in Placerville Odin Rasco Senior staff writer
Mountain Democrat photo by Odin Rasco
Firefighters hose down hot spots. They stopped flames just behind a home on Duden Drive in Placerville Saturday afternoon.
Investigation notes Loewen conflict, lack of cooperation
Some Placerville residents found themselves quickly packing and evacuating from their homes as a wildfire near Lions Park and the Placerville Airport began to spread, ultimately engulfing 77 acres in flame. The Pay Fire was first reported at around 2 p.m. Saturday, July 6. Multiple homes and other structures were threatened, prompting an immediate response from firefighting agencies across the county. The
sky above the fire Saturday afternoon was abuzz with activity as helicopters hauled buckets of water, air tankers made strafing runs as they dropped pink fire retardant and other planes carved around a growing plume of smoke to maintain a bird’s-eye view of the situation. The fire initially worked its way uphill at a moderate rate. The spread was stopped in the backyards of some homes along Duden Drive mere feet from buildings, where crews fought back the blaze and cut perimeter lines and laid hoses.
Though forward progress was stopped at 77 acres in the first day, firefighters continue efforts to contain the blaze; as of press time, Cal Fire is reporting the fire is 65% contained. As the fire spread, evacuation warnings were upgraded to orders, with hastily-packed cars driving away from the area within an hour of the fire first being spotted. Displaced residents were sheltered at Union Mine High School until final evacuation orders were downgraded Monday ■ See PAY FIRE, page A8
Bursting in air
Noel Stack Editor
PLACE ADDRESS LABEL HERE
The long awaited independent investigation into former El Dorado Hills Community Services District general manager Kevin Loewen confirms a clear conflict of interest. Released last week, the confidential investigation report completed by staff with law firm Van Dermyden Makus notes, “Loewen’s agreement with DTA created a situation where his personal, financial interests could conflict with the district’s interests.” The report’s author also accuses Loewen of withholding information and misleading investigators. The report’s findings include: • During the same time Loewen was acting as the district’s general manager, from 2016 to Dec. 13, 2023, he engaged
KEVIN LOEWEN in outside business activity by working for DTA as a part-time business development consultant/senior manager. • EDHCSD board members did not have sufficient information to meaningfully consent to Loewen’s work for DTA. Instead, the evidence demonstrates that since at least January 2022 through July 2023, Loewen deliberately withheld material information from the board that would have been relevant to their consideration in consenting to his outside consulting work for DTA. • One of Loewen’s business decisions for the district was improperly influenced by Loewen’s conflict of interest. • Loewen conducted outside business activity for DTA during the district’s ordinary business hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. • Loewen violated the district’s Conflict of Interest Policy (Policy 3010) and the ■ See LOEWEN, page A8
Photo by Shelly Thorene
Mountain Democrat photo by Eric Jaramishian
El Dorado County celebrated Independence Day in style last week, Above left, Valeria Rodriguez, 9, right, and her niece, Evelyn Sanchez, 7, left, both of Diamond Spring view fireworks from their vantage point on the bridge on Town Center Boulevard during the Fireworks & Freedom celebration. Fireworks also exploded from the pond behind them and up near the theater, making a spectacular showing for the crowd on July 3. Above right, fireworks light up the night sky above the El Dorado County Fairgrounds during the 4th of July Family Blast.
Mountain Democrat photo by Eric Jaramishian
Sacramento based country cover band Locked-N-Loaded, above, cranks out country and classic rock songs prior to the start of the Placerville fireworks show. At right, Reagan Rothwell, 6, of Placerville, right photo, is all smiles surrounded by bubbles from a bubble machine while 14-month-old Ainsley Smith and mom Jenni of Shingle Springs, right, leave the bubbles to check out another venue at the Kids Zone in Town Center.
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