CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Firefighters contained two vegetation fires reported within minutes of each other early Monday afternoon.
The fires, which were separate incidents, occurred behind the Clearlake Post Office and off of Burns Valley Road, and burned a total of two acres, according to Lake County Fire Protection District Chief Willie Sapeta.
The fire behind the post office began as a small debris pile, Sapeta said. The larger fire was in an orchard off of Burns Valley Road.
Cal Fire and Lake County Fire sent resources to the two fires, which were reported initially at around 12:30 p.m., according to radio reports.
Sapeta said there were a total of six engines, a water tender, a medic unit, dozers, a Cal Fire helicopter and two hand crews making up the response.
The fires were contained, and mop up was taking place at about 2:30 p.m., according to Sapeta. Radio traffic indicated at that point that Cal Fire units were being released.
He said stumps in the orchard off of Burns Valley Road were expected to continue to burn and smolder through the night.
Sapeta said both fires are under investigation.
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