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LAKEPORT – Fire officials are reporting that the cause of a fire that endangered a Lakeport neighborhood on Saturday was a lawnmower.
As Lake County News previously reported, the blaze broke out near a neighborhood on Alterra Drive and Crystal Lake Way shortly before 3 p.m. Saturday.
About 30 homes are located nearby, and fire personnel advised residents of numerous homes to evacuate their homes as they worked to control it.
The fire was contained later that afternoon, with mop-up operations continuing until late into the evening.
Lakeport Fire Protection District Chief Ken Wells said Monday that the 4.5-acre blaze was traced to an area resident mowing grass.
Wells said because the fire was accidental, charges won't be brought against the person doing the mowing.
Lawn mowing is a serious source of potential fires, said Wells, who urged people to mow early in the morning or late in the evening, when fire danger is much less.
The blaze destroyed one barn, one playhouse, neighborhood fences and numerous junker vehicles, said Wells.
Putting out the fire relied on the efforts of agencies around the lake and beyond, said Wells.
A total of 36 firefighters from Lakeport Fire Protection District; Northshore Fire, including engines from its Upper Lake, Lucerne and Nice fire stations; Kelseyville Fire; the U.S. Forest Service; and Lake County Fire Protection in Clearlake fought the fire, said Wells. Another 30 hand crew members came from Cal Fire.
A total of 10 engines came from all of those agencies, plus a bull dozer and helicopters from Cal Fire and a Forest Service water tender, said Wells. Both Cal Fire and the Lake County Fire Protection District also sent battalion chiefs to assist Wells.
Wells added that there were no injuries, either to residents or firefighters.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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