Saturday, 09 November 2024

Clearlake wildland fire burns several acres; cause ruled suspicious

Image
Holly Borgen sent this photograph of the fire shot from the Grimesey Ranch near Wilkenson.





CLEARLAKE – Firefighters remained on the scene of a small wildland fire in Clearlake throughout Monday night and were expected to be on scene Tuesday to continue mopping up.


The fire, dispatched at around 6:30 p.m., was located in brush with grassy oak woodland on two flanks and a moderate rate of spread, according to reports from the scene. Initially there were concerns that the fire had the potential to double in size.


Lake County Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Willie Sapeta said the fire's final size ranged between four and seven acres.


Full containment was reached around 8 p.m., about an hour and a half after the fire was dispatched, he said.


“We haven't totally walked the fire but there's line all around it,” he said in an interview around 9:30 p.m.


Sapeta said Lake County Fire and Cal Fire had joint command of the fire, which initially had been dispatched as being located at 12th Avenue and Boyles.


When they arrived at the scene firefighters discovered it was on Wilkinson Avenue, where incident command eventually was located, he said.


No structures were lost, Sapeta said.


He credited Cal Fire aircraft with being “phenomenal” in their response.


“We had two tankers here within minutes,” he said.


Sapeta said there were 12 to 13 engines, four aircraft, two helicopters and five crews between his district and Cal Fire.


He said Cal Fire is handling the investigation, noting the fire is “suspicious in nature.”


“We're going to be here all night,” Sapeta said, explaining that firefighters also would be on scene Tuesday to continue mopping up the area, which was marked by heavy brush and chemise.


E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf .

 

 

 

Image
Clearlake, Calif., resident Remy McCosker photographed a Cal Fire air tanker dropping retardant on a fire off of Wilkinson Avenue on Monday, August 2, 2010. McCosker said the fire was located about a quarter mile from her home.
 

 

 

 

Image
A Cal Fire air tanker dropping retardant, captured by Holly Borgen.
 

 

 

 

Image
The fire burned several acres and put up a large smoke column. Photo by Tera DeVroede.
 

Upcoming Calendar

11Nov
11.11.2024
Veterans Day
11Nov
11.11.2024 8:00 am - 11:00 am
Veterans Day pancake breakfast
14Nov
11.14.2024 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Probation housing meeting
16Nov
11.16.2024 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Farmers' Market at the Mercantile
16Nov
11.16.2024 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Moose Lodge fundraiser Thanksgiving dinner
23Nov
11.23.2024 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Farmers' Market at the Mercantile
28Nov
11.28.2024
Thanksgiving Day
29Nov
30Nov
11.30.2024 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Farmers' Market at the Mercantile
7Dec
12.07.2024 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Farmers' Market at the Mercantile

Mini Calendar

loader

LCNews

Award winning journalism on the shores of Clear Lake. 

 

Newsletter

Enter your email here to make sure you get the daily headlines.

You'll receive one daily headline email and breaking news alerts.
No spam.