By Denise Rockenstein — Staff reporter
CLEARLAKE — Residents of a home that caught fire Sunday evening in Clearlake are attributing their safety and the saving of their home to the quick actions of their neighbors and the efforts of Lake County Fire Protection District personnel.
It appears the fire ignited when a battery inside a solar-powered fairy figurine that was on the front porch of the residence exploded.
“The fire is still under investigation, but it appears it started in a solar-powered, plastic figurine,” LCFPD Chief Willie Sapeta said. “We are contacting the manufacturer to see if there have been any other similar incidents.”
Resident Lori Kent, 53, said she purchased the solar-powered figurine at a local store. She said the figurine, about 18 inches tall, was placed next to the front door of the home. It appears the battery inside the figurine exploded igniting the area around the front door. The fire continued into the ceiling and resulting in damage to the front living room of the home as well as the kitchen.
Kent said she and her husband Michael Kent, 54, their daughter and her two children were in the back portion of the home watching television when they heard “horrific” banging on their garage door. “We all jumped up and saw the front door was just in flames,” she said. “If it wasn”t for our neighbor, Tammy, across the street and another lady down the street, we may not have known about the fire in time to get out.”
Kent commended several of her other neighbors as well saying many came with hoses and buckets to help put out the fire. “We have the best neighbors on the planet,” she said.
Kent also commended fire personnel. She said that fire personnel began removing furniture from the home, moved a fish tank to a safe place and more. “We saw one fire truck and the next thing you know, there were firemen everywhere,” she said. “They went above and beyond what they should have done. They even rescued our puppy.”
The American Red Cross provided timely assistance that Kent commended as well. “The Red Cross came out right away. They gave us food vouchers and three nights in a hotel because we can”t live in our house now,” she said. “The Red Cross ladies are just remarkable.”
LCFPD was dispatched to the fire, which was located on the 15900 block of 22nd Avenue, at 9:19 p.m. with the first unit arriving on scene at 9:25 p.m. The last unit cleared the scene at 12:54 a.m. Tuesday. Response included the fire chief, a battalion chief, an engine and two medical units.
