How to resolve AdBlock issue? CLEARLAKE, Calif. — A residential fire that occurred on 12th Street in Clearlake on Wednesday night killed one person and destroyed a home.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office identified the deceased as Gene Dean Nelson, 52, of Clearlake. The cause of death is pending autopsy.
This is the first fire-related death reported in Lake County in 2025, according to spokesperson Lauren Berlinn of the sheriff’s office.
In 2024, there were two such deaths, Berlinn said.
At 9:59 p.m. on Wednesday, the first fire units were dispatched upon emergency call. They arrived at 10:05 p.m. and found a “fully involved structure fire,” according to a Facebook post of the Lake County Fire Protection District, or LCFPD.
The first crews “saw the building was almost entirely consumed by flames,” LCFPD Fire Marshal Autumn Lancaster told Lake County News. “It was what we'd call ‘fully involved’ — that fire’s on each side of the building.”
The LCFPD reported that it responded to the fire with a type 1 engine, two medic units out of Station 70, along with a tactical water tender out of Station 65 in Lower Lake.
Cal Fire, Northshore Fire Protection District and South Lake County Fire Protection District responded with additional resources upon mutual aid requests.
In total, seven engines, one water tender and two medic units, were on the scene. So were LCFPD Fire Chief Willie Sapeta, Battalion Chief Marc Hill and a Cal Fire chief, according to Lancaster.
The fire was fully contained at 11:16 p.m., the district said.
During the course of the incident, a second structure was reported to have become involved in the fire. But Lancaster confirmed that the fire burned “only the one structure on the property. It did not extend to neighboring structures.”
Lancaster said she did not yet have information on possible vehicle or smoke damage to nearby properties.
“Mop-up was complete. Crews got off the fire around 2 a.m. this morning and got some rehab,’” Lancaster said on Thursday in a call, explaining that the firefighters had to refill equipment and get some sleep, “because they still have to run 911 calls for the rest of their shift.”
LCFPD confirmed the fatality Thursday morning and said the deceased’s family had been notified.
The fire is currently under active investigation by LCFPD and Clearlake Police Department.
Clearlake Police Chief Timothy Hobbs explained that LCFPD will determine the cause of the fire and where it started, while police will investigate if a crime such as arson occurred.
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