On Thursday, October 19th, 2023, at approximately 12 PM a wildland fire was reported around Lakeport Blvd and State Highway 29 in the City of Lakeport.
The Lakeport Fire Protection District, Kelseyville Fire District and Northshore Fire District all sent resources and quickly contained the fire which was approximately one quarter acre. The fire burned in an area of wildland between the Lake County Chamber of Commerce and the Lake County Department of Agriculture facility.
Multiple law enforcement units from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and the Lakeport Police Department also responded to the fire.
Multiple witnesses who were in the area at the time of the fire starting saw an individual walking away from the area of the fire and then saw the individual attempting to strike another fire in grassland on the northeast side of the Chamber of Commerce Facility.
Law enforcement personnel detained the individual and investigated which produced evidence showing the individual set the fire.
The individual was identified as Cameron Bates, 43, of Clearlake, CA. Bates has multiple prior arrests and was released from the Lake County Correctional Facility earlier this morning. Bates was arrested for arson of wildland, possession of controlled substances, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of stolen property.
This investigation remains ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact the Lakeport Police Department at 707-263-5491 or [email protected]
Brad Rasmussen
Chief of Police
