CLEARLAKE — A fire that broke out Tuesday night along 14th Street near Borax Lake in the Clearlake Park area was put out by firefighters with the assistance of neighbors.
The fire ignited at 7:36 p.m., burning about three-quarters of an acre in an area of dry vegetation to the east of 14th Street and in a wooded area to the west of 14th Street, according to Lake County Fire Protection District (LCFPD) Chief Willie Sapeta.
Units from LCFPD, CAL FIRE, South Lake County Fire Protection District and Northshore Fire Protection District responded to the scene. Clearlake Police also responded. The fire was contained in about 30 minutes.
Neighbor Richard Cole said he and his wife saw the flames and decided to check it out.
Cole, a 16-year veteran firefighter in the U.S. Navy, said he grabbed some shovels and headed out.
He said he saw three small fires “about the size of a chair” initially. Two of them were put out by Cole and eight members of his family.
Clearlake Mayor Joey Luiz said he lives in the area.
“I could see the flames from my house,” he said. “It was too close for comfort.”
Luiz described the scene as “chaotic,” with many people helping to suppress the fire.
“I saw people running up the street with (garden) hoses,” he said. “They worked hard to keep the fire away from homes on 13th Street.”
He said neighbors fought the flames until the firefighters arrived.
“Their heroic and quick action probably saved at least one house,” Luiz said.
Sapeta said illegal fireworks may have caused the blaze, with eyewitnesses reporting suspicious activity in the area prior to the fire. The incident is under investigation.
