LUCERNE >> Foothill Drive had a quiet and lonely, early afternoon the day after a vegetation fire damaged three homes and caused residents of the area to evacuate. The initial threat of the fire spreading and its small in size, but severe aftermath had neighbors worried after experiencing the 1996 Fork Fire that burned for 11 days.
After receiving the call at 5:33 p.m., the Northshore Fire Protection District arrived at the scene with help from Cal Fire and all fire districts around the county to bring down the fire. Evacuations were ordered immediately for the north side of Foothill Drive, Sunset Terrace, and Robinson Road. PG&E personnel were also at the scene to advise when power would return to neighboring homes.
Law enforcement and incoming units faced road challenges when trying to reach the scene as they reached cut offs on Foothill Drive due to a landslide. Many were rerouted. According to Jay Beristianos, Fire Chief at Northshore Fire Protection District, the fire grew to be 4.25 acres, spreading uphill by the time forward progress ended at around 7 p.m.
He said the cause of the fire was due to a barbecue from the first home that was destroyed. As a result, two homes were completely burned to the ground, and one structure was severely affected.
Next, door-neighbor Toni Hubbard said she was affected by the Fork Fire and was “shaking with fear” after seeing how three homes next to hers were burning quickly. “I heard something crackling and all I saw was this big puff of smoke coming out. It happened so fast. And look there’s the blanket still where one of the victims was wrapped up in.” A blanket was still at the scene Friday afternoon which was said to have been used to escape the flames by one of the residents of the house that was severely damaged.
Local Ray Willard said as he pointed to dry grass that stretched along Foothill Drive on Friday afternoon, “I don’t like to see this here. It’s the state’s responsibility to work on this (dry grass) to help prevent the spread of fires.”
Fire personnel worked to clean up the area all throughout the night and Friday. “We want to be at the scene in case winds pick up,” Beristianos said. “It was a mess Thursday, but we had a very good response from every district in the county and Cal Fire.”
