The fire in the 2300 block of Hartley Street, near Clear Lake High School, was first reported at about 1 p.m. Wednesday, according to Lakeport Fire Chief Doug Hutchison.

Hutchison said the fire originally was dispatched as a smoke check near Safeway. Further reports stated that it was a shed on fire, but when firefighters arrived on scene they found the source of the fire actually was a travel trailer.

The property has an old home site where the travel trailer was located, along with a cargo trailer, Hutchison said. What appears to be an old orchard also is on the site, which had been mowed down for pasture.

He said the fire spread from the travel trailer to the cargo trailer and the grass in the nearby pasture, he said.

The fire was on a ridge and backing down a hill, allowing firefighters to pick it up fast, Hutchison said.

The owner of the property was not there at the time, Hutchison said. Three dogs and two horses were there, and all of the animals are OK.

Hutchison said Lakeport Fire responded with two engines and seven personnel; Kelseyville Fire sent an engine, three firefighters and a chief; Northshore Fire provided an engine and two firefighters; and Cal Fire sent an engine and three personnel.

Conditions at the site were very dry, with the heat measured at 91 degrees with 17 percent humidity, Hutchison said.

Outside of the main fire, firefighters found about a dozen small spot fires – some as small as 6 inches – that they were able to swiftly knock out, he said.

Had the grass been tall or had there been more wind, the fire could have taken off, he said. However, there was less fuel for the fire thanks to the owner having recently mowed the grass, so the fire didn’t spread as much as it could have.

The travel trailer was a complete loss, with some damage to the cargo trailer and its contents, Hutchison said. About an eighth of an acre of vegetation burned.

Hutchinson said early Wednesday evening that a Lakeport Fire engine was remaining on scene to monitor the site and to be on hand in case the owner returned, as they had so far not been able to get in contact with her.

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