CLEARLAKE OAKS — A man was killed Sunday in an early morning house fire east of Clearlake Oaks.
The single-family home was fully-involved when the first Northshore Fire Protection District (NFPD) unit arrived on scene, NFPD Battalion Chief Pat Brown, said.
According to Brown the female occupant of the house was able to get outside. However, Brown said, the man returned inside the home to find his dog and did not escape.
Response was dispatched at approximately 6:24 a.m. to the residence, which was located off of Old Long Valley Road east of Clearlake Oaks. Brown said the fire started inside the home and has been ruled accidental. He said that the fire ignited nearby oak trees; however, the secondary fire was quickly contained and firefighters prevented the ignition of a wildland fire.
NFPD responded with two battalion chiefs, two engines, a water tender out of the Clearlake Oaks Station; and an engine and a medic unit out of the Lucerne Station. Lake County Fire Protection District responded with a water tender under automatic aid. CALFIRE responded with two battalion chiefs and two engines.
Brown said the NFPD and CALFIRE are continuing to investigate and document the fire.
Contact South County reporter Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
