THE NAME OF A MAN WHO ASSISTED FIRE OFFICIALS, BUZZ MEWBORN, HAS BEEN CORRECTED.
UPPER LAKE, Calif. – A Thursday afternoon fire near Upper Lake that destroyed two homes – along with outbuildings and vehicles – is being attributed to a lamp in one of the residences.
The fire burned homes at 9160 and 9180 Bridge Arbor North off of Highway 20, according to Northshore Fire Battalion Chief Steve Hart, who was the incident commander.
“We've got approximately eight people displaced,” he said Thursday afternoon after the fire was contained and fire crews were mopping up the scene.
Also destroyed were two outbuildings and two vehicles, Hart said, estimating total damages at about $300,000.
Hart said investigators have traced the cause of the fire to a lamp in the family room at 9160 Bridge Arbor North, which – like the other home destroyed – was a singlewide mobile home with added on living and family rooms.
There were no injuries, with the residents of both homes successfully evacuated, Hart said.
He said California Highway Patrol Officer Greg Buchholz and a group of people on scene rescued a 42-year-old woman who is bedridden from the home at 9180 Bridge Arbor North.
Albertine Vandine, 92, who lived at 9160 Bridge Arbor North, first reported the fire, with the call coming in shortly before 2 p.m. Hart said Vandine was evacuated from her home by her 70-year-old son.
Radio traffic indicated that the home at 9180 Bridge Arbor North was fully engulfed in flame when firefighters arrived on scene minutes later.
The fire went into nearby vegetation, endangering several nearby structures, according to reports from the scene.
Hart said the fire ended up jumping Middle Creek and burning about a half-acre there. Altogether he estimated the fire on both sides of the creek burned as much as an acre and a half of vegetation.
Firefighters had several challenges, including numerous downed power lines, exploding oxygen tanks, several propane tanks around the homes, and ammunition and gunpowder in one of the residences, Hart said.
“With the power lines down and the explosions, it was hard getting into it,” Hart said.
The Lake County Public Works Roads Division reported that it closed Bridge Arbor North for several hours to allow firefighters to work the scene. Hart said the division also sent a backhoe to assist firefighters.
He said it took firefighters about an hour to contain the fire, but extensive mop up was expected to continue until about 6 p.m.
Mop up included the use of between 25,000 and 30,000 gallons of water from the Upper Lake County Water District, according to radio traffic.
Hart gave special recognition to two local men – John Noble and Buzz Mewborn – who volunteered their own water tenders to assist in fighting the fire.
Their assistance on the blaze helped firefighters a great deal, Hart said.
Multiple resources from several agencies responded to the Bridge Arbor North incident, Hart said.
Northshore Fire sent a total of six engines, a water tender and three chief officers; Cal Fire sent two engines and Battalion Chief Linda Green; Lakeport Fire sent a water tender; US Forest Service sent an engine; Lake County Public Works Roads Division sent a backhoe; CHP was on scene to assist with traffic control; and Pacific Gas & Electric responded to deal with the downed power lines, Hart reported.
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