LAKEPORT — A grass fire with the potential to have been much bigger was quickly contained Monday on the Hopland Grade.
The fire originated by the roadside off Highway 175 about two miles from its intersection with Highway 29, and spread up a steep hillside. The fire, which was contained around noon, was located on a steep hillside – a condition that often encourages fires to spread more rapidly.
The fire closed down the roadway for approximately one hour. The origin of the fire is unknown and still under investigation, but CHP Lt. Dane Hayward, who was at the foot of the mountain to head off traffic, said it was likely the flick of a cigarette out a car window that sparked the flames. Approximately four acres were burned, but it could have been a much worse scenario if it had not been reported as promptly as it had been, according to Hayward, who pointed out the fire that wreaked havoc in Lake Tahoe could easily happen in Lake County.
“Luckily, today there is no wind to propel the fire,” said Hayward, squinting from the sun to look at the plumes of smoke. A dozen nearby residents stood outside their homes to watch the progress of the fire crews, and echoed Hayward in relief that the breeze was less than two miles per hour.
Putting out fires costs thousands of dollars per hour and entails backbreaking work for crews. Firefighters from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Lakeport Fire Department, and Kelseyville Fire Department toted 60-pound fire hoses up the hillside to combat the Hopland fire. Two CDF fire planes circled above, dropping fire retardant, and a helicopter took several trips to a nearby vineyard pond, scooping up a couple hundred gallons of water each time to unload on the flames.
Fire crews worked to dig out a fire break, which are required to be one and a half times the height of the charred grass, so that a “slop-over”- when burning or smoldering grass flops over – could not spread the fire farther. Additionally, crews worked to finish a “mop-up” of the acreage, clearing away burned brush and snags (trees that are mostly or completely dead and pose fire hazards). “Hand crews from the corrections department and CDF cleared all the flammable brush, essentially creating a roadway all around the fire,” said Lakeport Fire Captain Bob Ray.
The fire is one of several Lake County has experienced during an especially hazardous fire season that has Lake County fire district officials sitting on the edges of their seats this summer. The high temperatures, drought conditions and low humidity create a high risk for fire, according to Ray. Temperatures in Lake County could reach 102 degrees on July 4, according to the National Weather Service. Already in the 90s Monday, the same is predicted for Tuesday and temperatures could be the hottest yet this summer by midweek and Fourth of July festivities.
The local fire protection districts face increased fire risk during this holiday because of the added danger personal fireworks pose during especially dry conditions. Local fire department officials suggest going to a community-sponsored event this summer rather than setting off your own fireworks, which are allowed only within Lakeport city limits within designated areas – fireworks are illegal throughout the rest of the county. According to Ray, most of Lake County is considered urban-wildland interface – where houses or human development come into contact with wildland or grassland, and this designation, according to Ray, means that people should be especially careful. “The potential for fires jumping from house to house greatly increases when there is brush or dry grass surrounding them,” said Ray.
In 2005, state law increased the amount of clearance of brush required around residences from 30 feet to 100 feet. The state fire marshal, Kate Dargan, recommends residents living in urban-wildland areas build away from hillsides, trees, and use materials that resist fire, as well as continuously clear dead leaves from water gutters, and brush from around homes. Local officials remind residents to abide by the burn bans, not to stack firewood next to structures (which is illegal in the summer), and keep a hose nearby when barbequing.
Contact Elizabeth Wilson at ewilson@record-bee.com.
