CLEARLAKE PARK, Calif. – A fire that broke out early Sunday evening in Clearlake Park forced dozens of people from their homes as firefighters continued to work on the incident into the night.
The Lakeshore Fire was first reported shortly after 5 p.m. on Lakeshore Drive just past the gooseneck, according to radio reports.
The fire burned in grass and brush on the area's steep hillsides, coming close to dozens of homes, based on witnesses and reports from the scene.
At around 8:15 p.m., Lake County Fire Chief Willie Sapeta the incident commander, said the fire had burned about 35 to 40 acres, and was between 80 and 90 percent contained. A short time later, Cal Fire said the fire was fully contained.
No structures were lost, Sapeta said, crediting firefighters with an “awesome job” of structure protection.
He said between 20 to 25 homes on San Joaquin Avenue just northwest of the gooseneck were evacuated.
He said there were “hours and hours” of mop up work yet to do, but he estimated that evacuees could be allowed back to their homes as soon as 10 or 11 p.m.
Radio reports indicated that Red Cross was staging resources for evacuees at Highlands Senior Center on Bowers Road in Clearlake, and that Red Cross closed down shortly before 10 p.m.
He said responding agencies included Lake County Fire, Northshore Fire, South Lake County Fire, Kelseyville Fire, Lakeport Fire, Cal Fire and US Forest Service units from the Mendocino National Forest.
Two Cal Fire helicopters and five tankers worked the fire from the air, while Sapeta said there were 20 engines, three water tenders, five crews and several dozen firefighters on scene.
“We'll have resources here all night, Sapeta said.
County Road Superintendent Steve Stangland said county road crews had blocked off Lakeshore Drive at San Joaquin Avenue and Crestview early Sunday evening to keep the roads clear for firefighters.
Shortly before 9 p.m. he Lakeshore Drive had been reopened but San Joaquin Avenue was remaining closed for the time being as firefighters continued their work at the scene.
Radio reports indicated several homes in the fire area were out of power beginning shortly after 8 p.m. Pacific Gas and Electric was on scene to work on the outage.
As for the fire's cause, “I have my investigator on that now,” said Sapeta, noting the area of origin will be under guard throughout the night.
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