CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Lake County Fire Protection’s chief gave a report on Wednesday morning regarding a late Tuesday night fire that destroyed three homes.

Chief Willie Sapeta said firefighters came from all of the agencies around Lake County to assist with battling the blaze, which burned three homes located off of the 14400 block of Lakeshore Drive next to the lake.

He said firefighters were dispatched at 10:53 p.m. Tuesday, with the first unit on scene at 11 p.m.

A total of six engines, one water tender, a rescue unit, a ladder truck, seven overhead command positions, and 30 to 35 firefighters responded to the fire, Sapeta said.

Sapeta said the winds coming off the lake were clocked at 35 miles per hour, and contributed to the spread of the fire from one building to another.

The winds sent flames 30 to 40 feet into the air, Sapeta said.

Also making it dangerous and challenging for firefighters was a propane tank’s relief valve that went off, along with a downed power line on the side of one of the residences, Sapeta said.

The homes were located behind a business that sits on Lakeshore. “It never reached the commercial structure,” Sapeta said.

The fire was contained at 1:15 a.m., Sapeta said. Mop up went on until early Wednesday morning, with his firefighters returning to quarters at about 3:45 a.m.

Three people were displaced from their homes due to the fire, he said. No injuries occurred.

Sapeta said the cause remains under investigation, with one of his staff working with the Clearlake Police Department to reach a conclusion.

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