CLEARLAKE, Calif -- An early morning structure fire at a Clearlake Apartment complex resulted in one fatality Sunday.
Lake County Fire Protection Chief Willie Sapeta reported that fire crews were dispatched at approximately 6:30 a.m. to a strucure fire on the 3800 block of Old Highway 53.
Fire crews arrived at 3812 Old Highway 53 to see smoke coming from the building, Sapeta said. Responding to the fire were two engines, the fire chief, a battalion chief and two medics.
Upon entry to the affected apartment fire crews discovered one person who had perished in the fire.
The identity of that individual has not been released pending notification of next of kin. An autopsy will be performed to determine the exact cause of death.
Sapeta said that an investigation is under way to determine the cause of the fire and whether a smoke alarm found in the building were functional at the time of the fire.
In addition to the reported fatality, six families were temporarily displaced by the fire though Sapeta said they would be able to return to their homes after cleanup. No additional injuries were reported.
The fire was knocked down within 15 minutes, according to Sapeta.
Chief Sapeta urges the public to take safety precautions against fire by checking and replacing batteries in smoke alarms, testing them and practicing evacuations.
It's "definitely a sad day in Clearlake," Sapeta said.
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