CLEARLAKE ? Amid temperatures above 110 degrees, fire suppression teams worked quickly to contain a vegetation fire on Dam Road Monday afternoon just before 3 p.m. Suppression tactics included aerial as well as a ground attack.
The blaze was limited to approximately one-quarter acre and no structures were damaged in the incident. According to Lake County Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Willie Sapeta, the fire ignited when a transformer blew, which resulted in downed lines between Konocti Avenue and Lake Street.
“We got real lucky because we had the same scenario about six or seven years ago and it went all the way into the avenues,” Sapeta said, adding that right winds could have easily escalated the situation.
Dam Road was impassable to all traffic for about 30 minutes. Emergency vehicles blocked the entire roadway as firefighters rushed to contain the fire and a PG&E crewman worked to remove the downed power line.
Area residents took precaution during the incident watering down their yards as a helicopter dropped buckets of water from overhead. “I was in my house and I heard the transformer blow,” Dam Road resident Amy Cloud said as she sprayed down her yard. “It exploded and I came out and I was so surprised to see the flames going.”
LCFPD responded with two engines, a water tender and a medic unit. CalFire assisted with five engines, two dozers (which were not used in the incident), two hand crews, helicopter and two aerial tankers.
According to Sapeta, cause of the blown transformer is unknown and PG&E is conducting an investigation. Power was expected to be disrupted until approximately 7 or 8 p.m. The incident was cleared just before 5 p.m. with the last suppression unit reported back in quarters at 4:53 p.m.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
