CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Despite challenging wind conditions and dry vegetation, firefighters were able to contain a small fast-moving wildland fire in Clearlake on Thursday afternoon.

The fire was reported at approximately 1:23 p.m. in the 15900 block of Dam Road.

Initial radio reports indicated that Lake County Central Dispatch received multiple calls reporting flames and black smoke.

The first fire units to arrive reported a moderate to rapid rate of spread on the fire, and Lake County Fire Protection District Chief Willie Sapeta asked for a full wildland dispatch from Cal Fire, according to the first incident reports.

The radio reports stated that the forward rate of progress was stopped by 1:48 p.m., 25 minutes after the incident was first dispatched.

Altogether, the fire burned an acre and a half, Sapeta later told Lake County News.

He said wind gusts of up to 15 miles per hour had impacted the firefighting effort, and had caused spotting in the very dry vegetation.

However, he said they were able to get an engine at every corner of the fire’s footprint, and firefighters quickly put down hose line around it.

Total resources on scene, between Lake County Fire and Cal Fire, included five engines, a water tender, a helicopter and two medical units, as well as Sapeta and a Cal Fire battalion chief.

The fire’s area of origin was south of the McDonald’s restaurant, and between McDonald’s and the former Ray’s Food Place building, Sapeta said.

Homeless individuals have been known to camp in the area, but there were no homeless people in an around that location at the time, according to Sapeta.

He said the fire’s cause is under investigation.

Sapeta said firefighters had collected witness statements while on scene during the incident, and on Thursday evening the scene was still being processed by investigators.

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.