MIDDLETOWN — Cal Fire crews were still out mopping up Monday afternoon after a weekend fire raged through about 100 acres of grass, brush and trees in Middletown.
Cal Fire and several south county fire agencies responded in force to the wildland blaze between 3:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. that reportedly threatened several homes in the wide open spaces surrounding Spruce Grove Road at approximately Noble Ranch Road.
Spruce Grove Road was closed for until approximately 6 p.m. while responders worked against erratic winds that carried the fire across the road in places, according to Battalion Chief Charlie Diener of the Lake County Fire Protection District.
Diener said the fire is believed to have started when something plastic, such as a tarp or perhaps a weather balloon touched overhead power lines, causing them to arc and ignite the item and surrounding brush. The cause is still under investigation.
No homes or other structures burned and no people or animals were injured, although some were concerned about horses and other livestock, said Cal Fire Captain Bob Barron.
Dr. Mark Freeman, who has a medical practice in Clearlake, said his family had just returned from a shopping trip literally minutes before the fire ignited. He rushed home from work when a co-worker told him of the report on the radio.
“We had put all the pictures in the van and got ready to evacuate,” said Freeman.
About 20 acres of Freeman”s land burned, destroying pasture for his two horses and some items stored behind his barn. “It burned right up to the barn,” he said.
“I really appreciate the prompt and efficient response from all different fire agencies,” said Freeman.
Cal Fire responded from its Middletown location with 10 engines, five hand crews, four air tankers, three dozers and two helicopters, which Barron explained was more than the usual wildland dispatch. Units also responded from the Cal Fire and volunteer-staffed South Lake County Fire Protection District”s stations 63 and 60, noted Barron.
Diener said the Lake County Fire Protection District”s Lower Lake and Clearlake stations sent 16 personnel and five pieces of equipment, and noted that Lakeport sent a water tender and that Kelseyville and Clearlake Oaks each sent an engine.
County fire equipment and personnel, except for one Lake County Fire Protection District water tender that stayed on until around 1 a.m. the following morning, were released around 8 p.m., said Diener; Cal Fire rotated crews through all night and into Monday.
Barron said Cal Fire crews came off of the fire at 3 p.m. Monday, and that a fire truck will go out to check the area Tuesday and Wednesday for any additional burning.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com.
