LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A Saturday afternoon structure fire destroyed one home and damaged another in Clearlake.
The fire in the 16200 block of 32nd Avenue near Wilkinson Avenue was first reported at about 4:45 p.m. Saturday.
The first units on the scene found a fully involved single-wide mobile home with other structures threatened. Shortly afterward, two vehicles were reported to be on fire, according to radio traffic.
Minutes later, firefighters at the scene reported that a nearby home also was catching fire.
Lake County Fire Chief Willie Sapeta told Lake County News that the fire initially was in the single-wide mobile home, which had a small shed next to it and was within about 15 feet of a stick-built home.
He said the fire passed from the trailer to the shed, and then to the other home.
Sapeta said firefighters’ ability to respond was hampered by downed power lines on 32nd Avenue and about 1,000 rounds of ammunition going off in the mobile home and the adjacent shed.
Shortly after 5 p.m., Sapeta reported over the radio that they had shaky containment on the fire, but resources would remain on scene for several more hours as they worked to completely put out the fire and conducted overhaul.
In addition to Lake County Fire, Northshore Fire and South Lake Fire sent resources, with Kelseyville Fire called but later canceled, Sapeta said.
He said four engines, three water tenders, a rescue unit, two medic units and a company officer were part of the response.
During the incident, a fire hydrant’s valve failed and shut down the water, so firefighters lost all water supply, which Sapeta said caused him to have to call for two more water tenders.
He said he sent firefighters to other hydrants to check the water system due to concerns that a water main had broken, but the issue was only with the one hydrant nearest the scene.
Sapeta said the trailer was a complete loss, with about 40 percent of the stick-built structure damaged. Three cars also were burned, as were tires and debris.
He said a father and daughter who lived in the trailer were not home when the fire occurred. They were concerned their black lab had died in the fire, but later the dog walked up, unharmed, Sapeta said.
A woman who lived in the house next door and who is related to the trailer’s residents was able to get out of the home safely with her dogs, Sapeta said.
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Fire burns Clearlake homes and vehicles Saturday afternoon
- Elizabeth Larson
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