LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lake County Fire Protection District is asking for the community’s help in locating thousands of feet of stolen fire hose and other equipment taken from a fire scene.
Chief Willie Sapeta said the equipment was taken from the scene of the Wilkinson fire.
That fire, which occurred on June 21 on Wilkinson Avenue and Dam Road in Clearlake, burned 25 acres and led to evacuations of nearby homes, as Lake County News has reported.
That fire’s cause is believed to have been accidental, the result of refueling a generator, Sapeta said.
Sapeta said fire crews had left the hose in place for several days for the purposes of mop up and patrol.
When they went back to get the hose on Friday, they found that a little over 2,000 feet of hose, plus nozzles and brass fittings, had been stolen, he said.
“This is the first time that we’ve had somebody come in and loot a post fire scene like that. It was pretty sad to see,” Sapeta said.
He estimated that the stolen hose is worth several thousand dollars.
It has no value to anyone but the fire department, Sapeta said.
Sapeta is working on a police report with Clearlake Police Sgt. Ryan Peterson.
If anyone has information on the stolen equipment, Sapeta asks that they call the Lake County Fire Protection District at 707-994-2170.
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