- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
Firefighters control downtown fires in Clearlake
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Firefighters on Friday afternoon were able to contain two small fires that threatened businesses along Lakeshore Drive and homes in nearby neighborhoods in Clearlake.
The fires were reported to have started shortly before 12:45 p.m. Friday in the 15200 block of Lakeshore Drive behind Big O Tires.
Initially reported as 100 feet by 150 feet in the brush, shortly after 1 p.m. the cumulative fire size had grown to between three and five acres, according to reports from the scene.
The Clearlake Police Department quickly called for mandatory evacuations of Yarrington Court, Mason Street, Konocti Avenue and Konocti View, which are located behind Lakeshore Drive.
Lake County Fire Chief Willie Sapeta said the evacuations were in effect for about an hour and a half due to the fire threat.
Fire units from Lake County Fire, Kelseyville Fire and Cal Fire responded, along with Clearlake Police and Lake County Sheriff’s deputies, according to reports from the scene.
Altogether, Sapeta said the firefighting response included six engines, a water tender, two medic units, two Konocti Conservation Camp crews and two chief officers, along with the law enforcement agencies.
Winds were hitting the fire, raising concerns that the fire would move toward nearby businesses, including Big O Tires, Moran’s Pharmacy and the Best Western El Grande Inn, which line nearby Lakeshore Drive.
Sapeta said the wind was a big contributing factor to the incident.
From her vantage point, Denise Loustalot, who along with husband Pete owns Big O Tires, said the situation looked serious.
“It’s big. It’s really big,” she said of the fire as it was burning on the hill behind her business at around 1 p.m.
Loustalot said the fire had started at the top of a hill next to her business, and that there was a lot of ammunition going off.
She said the fire engulfed the hillside on one side of her business before jumping the two tire buildings in the back of the property.
Loustalot said her husband was hosing things down to keep the fire from spreading to their buildings and equipment.
Just before 1:15 p.m., Clearlake Police reported a flare up had occurred behind firefighters in the area of Yarrington Court, but fire command said they were aware of it.
Shortly after 1:15 p.m., incident command reported they had made good progress, had stopped forward progress on one of the fires and was working on the second. At that point, they reported there was no need for air attack from Cal Fire.
The total fire size was reported at three acres, according to incident command.
Firefighters continued their work as law enforcement implemented traffic control at Lakeshore Drive and Old Highway 53, according to radio reports.
Just before 2 p.m., incident command reported that forward progress on both fires had been stopped and no further evacuations were needed. However, anyone evacuated at that point was expected to be unable to return home for about an hour.
At 2:45 p.m., the Clearlake Police Department said all evacuations had been lifted, but the agency urged people to use caution on Lakeshore between Highway 53 and Old Highway 53 due to fire personnel still working in the area.
Sapeta said shortly before 3 p.m. that there had been no homes lost and no injuries.
He said there were a few hours of overhaul set to take place, and investigators still had to work on the fire’s cause and origin.
Sapeta pointed out that it’s May and even though there is some green grass, Friday’s fast-moving fire should be a warning to people about fire danger.
“Fire season is here,” he said.
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