LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Two fires that took place overnight destroyed structures in Clearlake and Lakeport.
The first fire, reported just before 10:45 p.m. Friday on Alvita Avenue in Clearlake, burned an apartment, according to Lake County Fire Protection Chief Willie Sapeta.
Radio reports indicated that firefighters arrived to find the structure partially involved. They managed to contain the fire to the apartment.
Due to smoke and fire damage, Sapeta said the apartment was a complete loss.
Sapeta said the fire displaced a woman and a teenager, who were getting housing assistance from the Red Cross.
The fire's cause remains under investigation, Sapeta said.
Then, at around 1:40 a.m. Saturday, a structure fire was reported at 4850 Lakeshore Blvd. in Lakeport.
Firefighters found one small structure fully involved and others threatened when they arrived, and what appeared to be downed power lines, according to radio reports.
Lakeport Fire Chief Doug Hutchison said it turned out that the downed lines were for phone not power service.
Hutchison said a small lawn shed and some other backyard items burned in the fire, with some scorching to a few nearby cottages.
“We got it stopped before it got into anything,” Hutchison said.
In addition to Lakeport, Kelseyville Fire and Northshore Fire sent units to assist with the incident, Hutchison said.
Mop up continued for several hours – Hutchison himself didn't clear the scene until just after 4:30 a.m. – as there had been a wood pile in the shed and firefighters needed to make sure everything was extinguished, he said.
Hutchison said the fire's cause is under investigation.
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