Monday, 09 December 2024

Mower ignites Wednesday fire near Lakeport

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A Cal Fire hand crew works Scotts Creek, felling badly burned trees at a fire on Hill Road in Lakeport, Calif., on Wednesday, October 20, 2010. Photo by Gary McAuley.
 

 

 

 


LAKEPORT, Calif. – A mower is believed to have caused a fire near Lakeport Wednesday afternoon.


The fire occurred at 3385 Hill Road, and was reported at about 1:50 p.m., according to Lakeport Fire Protection District Chief Ken Wells.


He said the fire started because of a mower that was towed behind a quadrunner. Wells said firefighters weren't yet sure if the mower hit a rock or if the quadrunner's hot exhaust ignited dry grass.


The fire ignited a small meadow, and then the blaze jumped Scotts Creek and got into some heavy brush and old down trees, according to Wells.


“It made it difficult to get to both sides, obviously,” Wells said.


Two Cal Fire hand crews were called in to help go after the fire in the brush while a Cal Fire helicopter also dropped water on the blaze, Wells said. The fire was fanned on by 7 mile per hour winds, with Wells also recording 32-percent humidity.

 

 

 

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Capt. Rick Bergem of Lakeport Fire Protection District extinguishes a tree with foam, as water alone is not effective. Photo by Gary McAuley.

 

 


A structure also was in danger at one point, with the fire burning up to it, but Wells said firefighters were able to stop the blaze before it burned the building.


He said a total of three to four acres burned.


Altogether, Wells said more than 40 firefighters were on scene, along with two engines and a water tender from Lakeport, and an engine each from Northshore Fire, Kelseyville Fire and Cal Fire.


Firefighters were being released from the scene after 8 p.m., according to radio reports.


There was a small fire north of that site on Hill Road on Tuesday night, Wells said.


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 .


 

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A Cal Fire hand crew works Scotts Creek, felling badly burned trees at a fire on Hill Road in Lakeport, Calif., on Wednesday, October 20, 2010. Photo by Gary McAuley.
 

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