Denise Rockenstein — Staff reporter
MIDDLETOWN — A home and three outbuildings were destroyed by fire Saturday morning in Middletown.
It was 92 degrees with 12 percent humidity at 10 a.m., which were prime conditions for the fire to spread into the wildland area, CAL FIRE Battalion Chief Mike Wink said.
“Local resources were on scene quickly, which was crucial in preventing the fire from spreading to the wildland area,” he said.
Wink attributed the quick actions of a neighbor in saving the resident and his pets from the fire.
“The neighbor saw the smoke and drove down the dirt road on 4-wheeler to see what was going on,” Wink said. “He saw the resident”s car was there and banged on the door. He opened the door to the porch area where there were two pets. He pushed his way through the front door and woke up the resident who was unaware of the fire.”
Wink added, “The resident took his pets and got into his vehicle and evacuated the area, which was the right thing to do.”
Response was requested to the 12400 block of Hilderbrand Road at 9:54 a.m. CAL FIRE, South Lake County Fire Protection District and Calistoga City Fire Department combined to responded with seven engines, three water tenders, two hand crews, a helicopter, an air-attack plane, two air tankers, a support vehicle and a chief officer.
“At 10 a.m. in the morning it was 92 degrees with 12 percent humidity, which were prime conditions for the fire to spread into the wildland area. “Local resources were on scene quickly, which was crucial in preventing the fire from spreading.”
Units remained on scene until 4 p.m. Wink said monitoring continued throughout the evening.
Damage is estimated at $200,000. Cause of the fire remains under investigation.
