CAL FIRE Determines Weed-Whipping as the Cause of the Adams Fire – Wheatland Man Arrested

Press release from the CAL FIRE Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit:

CAL FIRE Law Enforcement arrested an adult male from Wheatland in connection to the cause of the 16-acre Adams Fire Wednesday afternoon off of Main Street in Lower Lake.

The subject was arrested and released with a notice to appear in court on three misdemeanor charges for violations of Health and Safety Code § 13001 as well as California Public Resource Codes § 4431 and § 4435.

The cause of the Adams Fire was determined to be the result of weed-eating in dry grass.

Given the combination of extreme heat, elevated fire conditions, and an abundant, cured grass and shrub crop across most of California, CAL FIRE will be instituting maximum enforcement on human-caused wildfires.

Lawn mowers, weed-eaters, chainsaws, grinders, welders, tractors and trimmers can all spark a wildland fire. Defensible space work is critical to help create a perimeter around your home to protect it from a wildfire, but only when done under the right weather conditions. CAL FIRE officials urge the public to avoid any activities that might ignite a wildfire.

The Adams Fire started at 3:09 p.m. on July 3 near the 16200 block of Main Street in Lower Lake. It quickly spread in the 100-plus degree conditions in grass-oak woodland and multiple structures were threatened. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office issued evacuation orders for Zone LOW-E169 south of Main Street and evacuation warnings for nearby zones LOW-E170 and LOW-E176. All evacuation orders and warnings have since been lifted.

Thanks to an aggressive initial attack and air and ground resources, crews quickly contained the fire. The fire is now 90 percent contained and all roadways have reopened.

No residential structures were damaged or destroyed in the fire.

The CAL FIRE Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit, Lake County Fire Protection District and Lake County Sheriff’s Office were in Unified Command of the Adams Fire.

To learn more about preparing for the threat of wildfire, visit ReadyForWildfire.org.