Man found dead in Clearlake apartment fire unidentified

A man who perished in a Clearlake apartment fire early Friday has yet to be identified.

“We believe we know who it is,” said Sheriff’s Lt. Steve Brooks, but it may require DNA testing to confirm the identification.

The man was found dead inside one of eight apartments in a small complex on Country Club Drive, said Lake County Fire Protection District Chief Willie Sapeta. The fire, reported at about 5:50 a.m., was confined to the apartment where the victim was found, he said.

But the fire also caused structural and electrical damage to the complex, forcing 15 other occupants of the complex to find shelter elsewhere, Sapeta said. The Red Cross and the property owner were assisting the residents, he said.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, Sapeta said.