LAKEPORT– Erin Bishop was watching a movie with her husband Jim and her daughter Katrina Hamilton, 12, at 4:40 p.m. when the walnut orchard next their home at 1370 Big Valley Road caught fire.
According to Lakeport Fire Captain Rick Bergem, “a powerline started arcing in the wind.” Just more than an acre burned.
“In five minutes the fire went from one side of the yard to the other, I grabbed my two birds and my two dogs and ran out of the house,” Erin Bishop said.
Lakeport Fire Department, Kelseyville Fire Department and California Department of Forestry (CDF) responded in force, with multiple engines and water-tenders, extinguishing the blaze in approximately 10 minutes. “The response time was awesome and amazing,” Erin Bishop said, “no sooner had I hung-up the phone with 9-1-1, than the engines were screaming up the street.”
There were no structures damaged as a result of the blaze, though Jim Bishop suffered minor injuries to his feet as he ran out of his home in an attempt to extinguish the fire prior to the emergency crews” arrival.
Power was out to surrounding homes while P G &E repaired the lines and cut tree branches back.
“We are so grateful to the fire crews, the neighbors, the strangers passing by and friends who all came out to help,” Erin Bishop said, it”s great to know that so many people care.”
Mandy Feder can be reached at mfeder@record-bee.com.
