UPPER LAKE >> Lake County was rocked by a 5.1 earthquake Tuesday night. The jolt came just before 8 p.m., as crews were subduing three wildfires.
The U.S. Geological Survey pinned the epicenter to a spot approximately 10 miles northeast of Upper Lake. It shook side to side and lasted 12 to 14 seconds. The initial quake was followed by a 2.7 temblor 11 minutes later.
A third aftershock was recorded at 8:24 p.m., measuring 3.0.
Social media lit up after the temblor. People poured out of houses and apartment buildings looking for confirmation of the blow they felt.
“It felt like it dipped first and then the shaking came,” Nice resident Stan Everroad posted on Facebook.
According to USGS, people over a four county area potentially felt the ground movement. Confirmation of this came from residents of Ukiah, Cloverdale and other communities.
Closer to home, the experience was vivid.
“I heard a cracking sound by my front door,” Marsha Schefcick of Lakeport posted.
Fortunately, no reports of serious damage had been received by 9 p.m.
Still, the event shook residents already concerned by blazes in Clearlake and Lower Lake. When the temblor hit, residents of some areas were repopulating after evacuation orders related to the fires.
“Fires and earthquake,” noted Christy Middleton. “What a combination.”
