CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – A man who had spent much of his life trying to protect people from fires lost his life when his own home burned early Sunday morning.

Firefighters were dispatched to the deadly blaze off of Old Long Valley Road shortly before 6:30 a.m. Sunday, according to Northshore Fire Battalion Chief Pat Brown.

Local officials did not release the name of the victim on Monday, but Brown said the man was a retired Cal Fire dozer operator and a lifelong Lake County resident.

Brown said the single family dwelling was fully involved by the time Northshore Fire personnel arrived on the scene.

He said the burning home caused some nearby oak trees to catch on fire, but firefighters were able to quickly contain the fire before it got into the wildland.

The couple had escaped but the husband returned to try to find his dog, and perished in the fire, Brown said.

Northshore Fire sent two battalion chiefs, two engines and a water tender out of the Clearlake Oaks station, with one engine and a medic unit out of the Lucerne Station, Brown said. Lake County Fire responded with a water tender under automatic aid, and Cal Fire sent two engines and two battalion chiefs.

Brown said the fire, which started inside the home, has been ruled accidental.

Investigators from both Northshore Fire and Cal Fire are documenting the blaze, he said.

When the man's body was removed from the home, Brown said firefighters draped his body in the American flag.

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