CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A weedeater was the cause of a Tuesday afternoon that burned two residences and threatened several more at a Clearlake trailer park.
The fire was first dispatched just minutes after 1 p.m., with authorities receiving multiple reports from witnesses who saw black smoke that initially was believed in the area of Austin Park, but later discovered to be at Arts Trailer Park on Tuli Lane, according to Lake County Fire Battalion Chief Charlie Diener.
Radio reports indicated that when firefighters arrived on the scene within minutes, they found structures already on fire – with more threatened – and burning vegetation. Witnesses also reported that propane tanks were exploding.
Diener said he immediately requested mutual aid engines from Cal Fire, with Northshore Fire also responding.
A total of three Lake County Fire engines and a water tender, along with one Northshore Fire engine from Clearlake Oaks and four Cal Fire engines worked the incident, Diener said.
Air resources – including a helicopter from Cal Fire that initially was requested – were canceled, he said.
Radio reports indicated at one point that firefighters were concerned that the west wind was hitting the fire and causing it to run toward other structures.
Diener credited a Cal Fire engine that already was in Clearlake – and which was able to get on scene rapidly, at about the same time as the Lake County Fire units – with helping knock the blaze down quickly.
“They made a really good stop on the fire,” Diener said.
He added that the fire could easily have hit other structures. “There was a lot of potential up there.”
The fire was contained at approximately 1:35 p.m., according to reports from the scene. Diener said firefighters stayed on scene about two hours for mop up.
The structures that burned included a trailer and a small cabin-type structure, both of which were being lived in, Diener said.
Two residents were displaced by the fire but were able to find places to stay, he said.
A small amount of wildland also burned, Diener said. There were no injuries.
Diener said the rolling-type weedeater believed responsible for starting the fire had an illegal spark arrester and muffler device on it.
Fire officials urge people not to use any kind of weedeater or other vegetation cutting device after 10 a.m. during the summer season because of the potential for fires.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.