CLEARLAKE — A Clearlake home was destroyed by a fire Christmas night.
The residents were not at home; however two dogs and two cats died in the fire.
Donations for fire victims Coy Klicka, Renee Skundberg and her father Michael Skundberg are being collected at Mendo Mill, in Clearlake, where Klicka is employed.
Klicka said he and the other residents of the home were away when the fire occurred. “We went to Woodland to visit family for Christmas,” he said. “We came home the day after Christmas and everything was burned down.”
Response by Lake County Fire Protection District (LCFPD) was requested at 8:58 p.m. with the first unit arriving on scene at 9:03 p.m. Battalion Chief Willie Sapeta said that upon arrival, firefighters could see flames coming from the residence, which was located on the 14700 block of El Camino Real.
“It was a pretty quick knockdown through the front door and then we had to chase the fire through the attic,” Sapeta said. “We had knock down right about 20 minutes.” Sapeta said the fire was considered controlled at 9:29 p.m. and mop-up operations continued for about and hour and a half.
Sapeta said that two dogs and a cat died in the blaze; Klicka said he later found another dead feline in the burned home. However, one cat was able to escape the fire when a firefighter broke the window the cat was trying to get out of during the fire.
“That”s the thing that is most devastating, the loss of our pets. Everything else can be replaced,” Klicka said. “(Michael Skundberg) was really happy to find the one surviving cat because it is all he has left to connect him with Renee”s mom, who passed away four years ago.”
Units responding to the fire included an engine, a water tender, two medical units and battalion chief. Cause of the fire remains under the investigation of the LCFPD.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call directly at 994-6444, ext. 14.
