LOWER LAKE ? Quick tactical response by multiple agencies resulted in the containment of a vegetation fire within 25 minutes of dispatch. The fire charred a quarter acre on Spruce Grove Road on the property of Six Sigma Ranch.
Units from Lake County Fire Protection District (LCFPD) and CalFire units out of Southlake Fire Protection District were dispatched at approximately 11:55 a.m. following a report of a vegetation fire with power lines down. At 12:20 p.m. LCFPD Battalion Chief Willie Sapeta reported the fire contained and cancelled further incoming units.
“We determined the cause; power lines snapped together causing multiple breakers to trip from there to south on Spruce Grove Road to Black Bass Pass,” Sapeta said.
High winds were experienced during the suppression operation. “We had probably 25 mph gusts,” Sapeta said. “If they hadn”t been so quick with the helicopter it could have jumped the drainage and access roads and spread to Jerusalem Valley in a heart beat.”
CalFire responded with a helicopter and three engines while LCFPD responded with two engines, a water tender and battalion chief.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
