CLEARLAKE — Lake County Fire Protection District was sent to do a dirty deed Saturday. Units were dispatched in the late afternoon for a fire at the Eastlake Landfill that sent heavy black smoke billowing into the sky.
Response was requested around 4:54 p.m. for a possible tractor fire on the 16000 block of Davis Avenue. While en route, Battalion Chief Willie Sapeta reported noticing the plumes of dark smoke and requested full CalFire wildland dispatch. However, response was later reduced to two CalFire engines and a water tender.
Upon arrival, Battalion Chief Sapeta reportedly observed a series of large salvage covers approximately 100 feet by 250 feet that were covering a large pile of trash involved in fire.
Prior to the arrival of facility representatives, fire personnel began advancing and picking up the forward progression of the fire as well as cooling the areas involved. When landfill personnel arrived, firefighters were able to utilize facility water tenders and earth-moving equipment to assist in the suppression effort.
According to the report prepared by Sapeta, facility representatives advised that the trash build up was approximately 10 to 15 feet deep. Fire personnel utilized foam and water to extinguish the fire. Firefighters also used earthmovers to stir up the buried materials.
Firefighters cleared the scene at approximately 7:20 p.m. Landfill personnel continued to soak and cover the debris pile throughout the evening. There was no report of the fire reigniting.
Cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com.
