CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Authorities are investigating an early Friday morning structure fire in Clearlake that resulted in one fatality.

The fire began in a travel trailer or small motor home at Art's Trailer Park on Tuli Lane, according to Lake County Fire Protection District Chief Willie Sapeta.

Sapeta said the fire was first dispatched at 4:55 a.m. Friday, with fire units getting to the scene within minutes.

At about 5 a.m., before firefighters arrived, there was a report of a large explosion, Sapeta said.

“The explosion was heard all the way in Lower Lake,” where Battalion Chief Charlie Diener reported hearing it, Sapeta said.

Lake County News received reports of the explosion, and Sapeta said there was a deluge of 911 calls as a result of it.

He said Lake County Fire and Cal Fire responded to the incident with a total of three engines, two medic units, a water tender and three chief officers.

The fire spread from the first trailer to a large debris pile nearby, and also destroyed a second structure, an adjacent trailer, Sapeta said.

It took firefighters about 20 minutes to contain the fire, with several hours of overhaul needed, Sapeta said.

On Friday morning, fire and Clearlake Police investigators were still at the scene, working to process it. Sapeta expected several more hours would be needed to complete the scene processing as part of determining the cause.

Sapeta said the fatality was in the first trailer where the fire started.

An individual from the second trailer was transported to the hospital for an unassociated medical emergency, he said.

Sapeta said the Red Cross was requested to help the second resident whose home was lost, and the organization was set to meet that individual at the hospital to arrange for temporary housing.
 
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