Kelseyville grass fire burns 62 acres

Fire crews in Lake County had a 62-acre grass fire largely contained Wednesday while CHP officers investigated the crash that caused the blaze.

Dubbed the Bottle fire, it burned in Kelseyville near Highways 29 and 175, south of Bottle Rock Road.

Cal Fire officials early Wednesday estimated the fire 75 percent contained.

It started about 4:30 p.m. when a 17-year-old Kelseyville driver headed south on Highway 29 at 55 mph didn’t realize traffic in front of him had slowed, according to the CHP. Wyatt Gaskell braked and swerved to avoid a crash, colliding with northbound driver Susan Suenram, 62, of Kelseyville.

Gaskell’s 1985 Toyota flipped at least twice landing in a field, touching off the fire, the CHP said. The teen suffered minor injuries and was taken to Sutter-Lakeside Hospital in Lakeport. Suenram and passenger Robert Suenram, 64, of Kelseyville, who were in a 2005 Ford F-250 pickup, were checked for injuries at the scene and cleared.

Officials closed routes near the fire to traffic. About 110 people were assigned to the fire from several Lake County fire agencies.

One firefighter was injured but details weren’t released by Cal Fire.

You can reach Staff Writer Randi Rossmann at 707-521-5412 or randi.rossmann@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter@rossmannreport.