LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lake County Fire Protection District responded to two structure fires on Sunday, one of which is under investigation due to it resulting in a fatality.
Clearlake Police Chief Andrew White said the fatal fire occurred at Leisure Time Mobile Home Park.
He said it looked like a kitchen fire that got out of control.
A 72-year-old man died in the fire, White said.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said Monday that next of kin had not yet been identified, so the man’s name could not be released.
Lake County Fire Chief Willie Sapeta said the Leisure Time fire was dispatched at 10:14 a.m. Sunday in a fifth wheel trailer that was being used as a residence.
“We were on scene fairly quick,” he said.
During the fire’s dispatch, Sapeta said a possible entrapment was reported.
Firefighters arrived on scene and quickly knocked down the fire before finding the victim who had died inside, Sapeta said.
Sapeta said the fire was contained to the RV where it started.
He said the investigation is pending and not expected to be completed until later this week.
On Sunday evening, a fire was reported at a residence in the 3200 block of Old Highway 53 in Clearlake, Sapeta said.
He said the home’s residents had left hot ashes from the barbecue on the porch.
The fire did a fair amount of damage to the porch, and Sapeta said firefighters had to pull down half the ceiling to get to the rafters, where the fire had been burning for awhile.
Overall, Sapeta called it a “pretty amazing save,” with the structure not destroyed.
While earlier in the day there had been some tragedy, firefighters got a big win not just in saving the home in the second incident but helping to protect both the human inhabitants and their pets.
The home’s residents included two beautiful Rottweilers who Sapeta said were probably the friendliest dogs he’s met, and one of those dogs’ three puppies.
“All the puppies were saved with no resuscitation needed,” said Sapeta, noting the healthy Rottweiler-pit bull mix pups look like they’re going to grow up big — they already have paws the size of cupcakes.
Up until this weekend, the district hadn’t seen much fire action recently, Sapeta said. “It’s been quiet for us for almost three weeks.”
On Monday the district also responded as mutual aid to Clearlake Oaks for an RV fire that extended into a structure on Beryl Way, Sapeta said.
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Firefighters respond to two Sunday structure fires in Clearlake; one fire results in fatality
- Elizabeth Larson
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