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Janet Lynn Barber, 45, was the victim of the fatal fire in her mobile home at Lakeside Resort in Clearlake, according to Capt. James Bauman of the Lake County Sheriff's Office, which conducted coroner duties on the case.
Clearlake Police Chief Allan McClain said police officers and Lake County Fire Protection District firefighters were dispatched to the fire just after 3 a.m. Wednesday.
Barber's home was located in space No. 14 at Lakeside Resort, located at 5775 Old Highway 53, he said.
McClain said by the time firefighters and police units arrived, the mobile home was fully engulfed.
Lake County Fire Battalion Chief Willie Sapeta said firefighters along with four engines, a rescue unit, two medic units and two battalion fought the blaze, which was contained at 3:40 a.m. The firefighters didn't return to quarters until 9:40 a.m.
It was after the fire was out that the fatality was confirmed, Sapeta said.
McClain said the Lake County Fire Arson team responded to investigate the fire, which was determined to be accidental in nature, possibly from Barber smoking in bed.
He said the fire was enhanced by Barber's oxygen machine, which was located near her bed.
A witness told investigators that Barber was attempting to put the fire out herself and was not able to get out of the residence, according to McClain.
Barber's death comes just days after another home fire claimed an elderly Clearlake Oaks man's life.
Early Sunday morning, 83-year-old Eugene Throop died in a fire at his home on Old Long Valley Road, as Lake County News has reported.
Throop, a retired Cal Fire dozer operator, and his wife had initially escaped but he is reported to have gone back to look for his dog, according to officials.
In addition to those tragedies, fire calls have been on the rise. Sapeta said firefighters have been inundated with calls in recent weeks, taking as many as 45 calls in a recent two-day period.
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