A family of four was struck with devastation Saturday night when their home was completely destroyed by fire. Bernadette Cabral-Lockwood and her children were enjoying the annual fireworks display in Clearlake when the fire that consumed their home and all their belongings ignited.
Lake County Fire Protection District was dispatched to the fire”s location on Dam Road shortly before 10 p.m. According to the report issued by the department, the single family, doublewide mobile home was approximately 70-percent involved when personnel arrived on scene.
Calfire rendered mutual aid and PG&E assisted in disconnecting utilities serving the home. No injuries were reported as a result of the fire. Two cats escaped unharmed as well.
Cabral-Lockwood is a single mother of three children. She said that she and her daughters, Cecily Anaraki, 17, and Rachael Cabral, 8, left the house around 8 p.m. to go watch the fireworks in Clearlake. To her recollection, nothing was left on in the house and she stated she is unsure what may have started the fire.
“I don”t know if we were saved or whether we could have saved the house if we had been there,” Cabral-Lockwood said. “I”ll never forget the glow. There aren”t any lights out there and all you could see coming down the road was this orange glow. I”m just thankful that it didn”t spread to any of the neighbors” houses.”
Cabral-Lockwood and her family were having a wonderful day until she was informed of the fire. Her daughter Cecily was in the Lion”s Club”s annual Redbud Parade earlier that day as she had been crowned a Redbud Parade princess. “She lost her dress, her tiara, her plaque, everything,” Cabral-Lockwood said.
Kevin Ness, of Kevin Ness Jewelers contacted the newsroom on Monday afternoon and offered to replace the young lady”s parade plaque.
Cecily was among the top four percent of her graduating class this spring at Lower Lake High School. Graduating with a grade point average of 4.2, she was accepted to a four-year college and looks forward to attending UC Irvine this fall. All of the mementos she had collected during her senior year were destroyed in the fire including her diploma, which was one of two, stamped with a golden seal this year.
“We called the high school and they are going to get me another diploma and a new yearbook,” Cecily said, adding though, that all of her awards are lost forever.
Cabral-Lockwood, who is a former employee of Lake County Publishing, said she”s still in shock over the incident. “I put so much time and love into that house. I”m still wanting to wake up, but I”m starting to snap out of it,” she said on Monday.
Cabral-Lockwood said she”s fortunate to have good friends to help her and her family through this ordeal. She and her daughters have been taken in by a close, dear friend. “If it weren”t for Janine (Fore?) I don”t know where we”d be or where we”d go,” Cabral-Lockwood said thankfully, adding gratitude for Nancy Langdon as well, who she said had brought her and her girls all the “necessities” the morning following the fire.
Fore? has taken it upon herself to seek donations for her friend. Contributions can be made at Lakeshore Inn where Fore? tends bar. Fore? reported that fellow bartender, Bobbiey Baustista, of B&B Cocktail Lounge, has contributed all that was in her “booby fund” to the family and that B&B management has agreed to accept donations from the public as well.
Monday afternoon Fore? was on her way to establish an account at Bank of West on behalf of the family. For more information about donating to the family, contact Fore? at 350-3033. Donations may be sent directly, by US Mail, to PO Box 1868, Clearlake, CA 94522; or by UPS/FedEx to 13194 Lakeshore Drive, Clearlake, CA 95422.
Cabral-Lockwood is a woman”s size 9; Cecily is a junior”s size 3 to 5; and Rachael is a children”s size 10 to 12. Cabral-Lockwood”s son, Jarret Anaraki, 15, just missed all the excitement as he left for visit with his father the day before the fire.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com.
Don”t forget to write!
The Clear Lake Observer*American welcomes letters responding to articles and opinions that have appeared in this newspaper, as well as on topics of general interest. Letters can be sent to letters@clearlakeobserver.com or mailed to PO Box 6200, Clearlake, CA 95422. Please include complete name, address and telephone number. Anonymous submissions will be discarded.
