Northshore firefighters have busy weekend

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NORTHSHORE – Fires along the Northshore kept firefighters busy over the weekend.


Jim Robbins, chief of Northshore Fire Protection District, reported Monday that his district responded to three fires on Saturday.


The first, according to witnesses, took place at about 4 p.m. Robbins said it was located outside of Glenhaven in the direction of Clearlake Oaks.


The cause? “A young man playing with a magnifying glass, trying to cook some bugs,” said Robbins.


Northshore Fire sent three fire engines, and Cal Fire assisted in fighting the acre-and-a-half-sized blaze.


Robbins said Cal Fire's juvenile fire setter program is going to talk to the youngster about being careful and not starting more fires.


Firefighters had barely gotten their units back in from the Glenhaven fire when they had to leave once again to fight a fire that had broken out along Highway 20.


The fire, located two miles east of Highway 53 past Old Long Valley Road, came across the scanner at 6:17 p.m. Saturday. Robbins reported the blaze was located in heavy timber, and estimated it burned between six and eight acres.


Northshore Fire sent five units and Lake County Fire Protection District sent two units, Robbins said. Cal Fire added an air attack, two air tankers, two hand crews and five engines, according to Cal Fire's incident command center.


That fire was contained by 7:02 p.m. Saturday, but Robbins said he thought Cal Fire still had some firefighters on the scene Monday for mop up. Cal Fire said that fire's cause is still under investigation.


At about 9 p.m. Saturday, Northshore Fire responded with three units to a small fire off Carson behind the Aurora RV Park and Marina in Nice. The fire was quickly contained but Robbins didn't have a final report on the cause.


With it already shaping up to be a busy fire season, Robbins and his staff are in the midst of their weed abatement program. He said they're consolidating the property owner databases from the several departments that have since combined under the Northshore district. They recently sent out about 900 letters asking property owners to keep weeds and grass cut short.


Weeds and grass cut now aren't likely to come back very much during the rest of the summer due to dry conditions, Robbins advised.


For those who don't comply, the district will have the lots mowed and then send out a bill, he said. If the property owners don't pay, a lien may be attached to their property.


Robbins said he was grateful to those property owners who make sure their lots aren't fire hazards. “We really don't want to be in the weed abatement business,” he said.


The Northshore Fire Protection District's main office can be reached at 274-3100.


E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..


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