FIRE DESTROYS ‘MAD CAD’ ARTIST’S WORKSHOP

MENDOCINO » The Mendocino home and workshop of nationallyrecognized artist, Larry Fuentes, burned to the ground July 3 — just one day before he would have traditionally driven his “Mad Cad” Cadillac down Main Street in the annual Fourth of July parade.

Mendocino Fire Department responded to the report of a van on fire shortly after 6 p.m. on July 3, and arrived at Fuente’s ComptcheUkiah Road residence to find a fully-involved structural fire, which included Fuente’s creative workshop of more than 50 years.

One victim was rescued from the vehicle fire that the burn is suspected to have started in. He was treated on-site for serious injuries and was taken via air ambulance to UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento for specialized care, where he is expected to make a recovery.

Much of Fuente’s five decades of creative work and materials were lost in the fire. The Chicagoborn artist moved to Mendocino in the late 1960s, after attending the Kansas City Art Institute.

Fuente was unharmed in the fire, and the burn victim that was pulled from the vehicle fire

MENDOCINO FIRE DEPARTMENT — CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS The Mendocino home and workshop of nationally-recognized artist, Larry Fuentes, burned to the ground July 3.

A firefighter watches as the home of Larry Fuentes, burns to the ground on July 3.