LAKE COUNTY — Two fires in the Clearlake and Clearlake Oaks area this weekend got fire season off to a blazing start, with local responders hot on its trail.
Memorial Day was apparently a busy fire day, with two blazes reported in the latter part of the day.
The first ignited in heavy timber and brush at about 3:45 p.m. on Sulfur Bank Road at 16th Avenue near Borax Lake in Clearlake. Captain Dave Deakins of the Lake County Fire Protection District, Station 70, said high winds of approximately 10 miles per hour contributed to the fire”s spread.
One and a half acres burned before the fire was contained about 20 minutes later, said Deakins. He said the cause is under investigation and called it “suspicious in nature.”
Cal Fire is investigating another wildland fire that occurred late Monday night above the Plaza area in Clearlake Oaks. Lucerne Fire, Clearlake Oaks Fire and Cal Fire responded to the scene; according to Clearlake Oaks Fire personnel, no structure damage or injuries were reported.
Deakins noted that fire season technically starts May 1, the date the countywide burn ban goes into effect, prohibiting open burning of brush or vegetation. It continues until Air Quality Control discontinues it, usually in November when the area has seen about two inches of rainfall, he said.
“With the vegetation so dry from no rain, the grass is burning now as it would in August,” said Deakins of the dry weather of late.
He went on to recommend keeping barbecue flames away from any structure, and carrying a fire extinguisher on camping trips. For those living in brushy or grassy areas, he said a 30 to 50-foot clearance should be maintained around a house. Deakins advised keeping weeds and grass cut down, shrubs cut back and trees trimmed so that their branches do not touch the ground within a clearance area.
Firewood should be kept 10 to 15 feet away from a house, he said, noting that the setback gives fire responders a good defense against a fire should it ignite.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com.
