A CORRECTION HAS BEEN MADE TO THE VICTIM'S FIRST NAME.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – A late Saturday night house fire outside of Lakeport took the life of an elderly woman, who died as she was attempting to escape her burning home.
The fire was reported at approximately 11:43 p.m. Saturday at 1128 Crystal Lake Way, the home of George “Ed” Neher and his wife, Wilna.
Lakeport Fire Protection District Chief Ken Wells said Wilna Neher's body was found 3 feet from the home's front door at about 1:45 a.m. Sunday, after several hours of trying to locate her in the area surrounding the home.
“It's tough when you know someone is inside,” said Wells.
Wells and his firefighters informed George Neher and family members who had gathered at the scene of the discovery of Wilna Neher's body.
Wells said George Neher – a former Lakeport Fire board member – and his wife had gone to bed for the night when they heard a crackling sound coming from the garage.
When George Neher got up to see what was wrong, he saw the garage filled with smoke. According to Wells, Neher went back to the bedroom to tell his wife to call 911 and get out of the house before he went back to the garage.
But Central Dispatch didn't receive an emergency call from Wilna Neher, instead reporting to Wells that it was George Neher who called in the fire about 20 minutes before midnight.
Witnesses in the area told Lake County News they heard explosions and some even reported seeing fireballs when the fire started.
When the first fire units arrived on scene Wells said they found the garage fully engulfed in flames and the house filled with smoke, with the fire moving rapidly.
Wells said a total of nine units – including engines, utility vehicles and an ambulance – responded. That number included a mutual aid engine from Kelseyville Fire and an engine from Cal Fire.
A total of 18 firefighters – 10 from Lakeport, two from Kelseyville and six from Cal Fire – were part of the effort, Wells said.
The California Highway Patrol sent an officer to help with traffic control, as the roadway was completely blocked by the fire trucks.
A Lake County Sheriff's deputy also was on scene to help secure it because of the fatality.
Wells said Pacific Gas & Electric responded to the scene to secure a power line from a nearby transformer to the house that had dropped during the fire.
The house was a total loss, said Wells.
The source of the fire that destroyed the stick-built home is believed to be the garage. Wells said additional fire investigators have been called to assist Lakeport Fire's two investigators, who he said will remain on scene.
He said the fire's cause isn't expected to be suspicious.
Wells said firefighters were going to remain at the scene probably until around noon on Sunday. Extensive mop up was expected to be necessary, as parts of the roof continued to flare up and smoke even after the rest of the fire was extinguished.
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