CLEARLAKE, Calif. – An early morning house fire on Friday displaced a Clearlake family and did significant damage to the structure.
The home, located at the corner of Cypress and Crawford, was reported to be on fire between 1:30 a.m. and 2 a.m. Friday, according to Lake County Fire Protection District Battalion Chief George Murch.
Murch said the older two-story, wood frame home was 30 to 40 percent involved when firefighters arrived.
Seven people were living in the home, including five adults, a 17-year-old male and a 2-year-old. Everyone but the teen was home at the time the fire was reported, Murch said.
He said the family's 21-year-old daughter suffered smoke inhalation while trying to rescue their pets, and the mother had first- and second-degree burns on her hands from trying to get out of the house. The only two ways out, he added, were through the fire area.
“They just barely got out,” Murch said.
All of the home's occupants got out except for one of the family's dogs, according to Murch.
Murch said three Lake County Fire engines and a water tender responded, along with one engine from Northshore Fire.
He said it took firefighters about 30 minutes to knock the fire down. While the home wasn't destroyed, he said it was badly damaged by the fire, particularly the back of the structure. Smoke damage was throughout.
Firefighters also had trouble isolating the home's electrical source, Murch said. About 30 minutes into the incident Pacific Gas & Electric was able to locate a panel and shut the power off.
The fire displaced the residence's family, Murch said. “They're getting some assistance from Red Cross.”
He said an investigator is expected to be on the scene on Friday. So far, they believe the cause was accidental, with the fire originating in a bedroom.
Murch estimated total damages to be as high as $40,000.
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