FIREFIGHTERS EXTINGUISH STRUCTURE FIRE

Structure Fire in Valley Center, Ca Saturday, January 26, 2008 Reported at 0712 hours this morning Occupied Single Family Dwelling MVU # 00861 This morning at 0712, a 911 emergency call was received reporting a residential Structure Fire in the area of Rancho Valencia Road in Valley Center. A full first alarm structure assignment was dispatched by CALFIRE to the reported location. Responding fire equipment reported smoke showing while in route. First on scene Firefighters reported flames and smoke coming from an attached garage of a single family home in the 29000 block of Rancho Valencia Road. Firefighters conducted a primary search of the home to insure all the occupants had escaped the fire. The fire in the garage included all the contents and a passenger vehicle. One firefighter suffered burns to the face and taken to UCSD Medical Center fore treatment and was released. There were no civilian injuries. Fire Units from Valley Center, Rincon, Pala and Palomar Mountain were on scene extinguishing the fire. The initial garage fire was extinguished within 30 minutes but the fire had extended up the inside of walls and into the open attic area causing additional overall and salvage efforts by firefighters for more than 3 hours. Investigation found that the fire was discovered by the homeowners who were home and awake. The cause of the fire continues to under investigation but the origin of the fire was in the area of an electrical power cord in the garage and is considered accidental in nature. Damage was estimated at $250,000 in structural damage with another $100,000 in contents damage. The damage included the family car that was in the garage at the time of the fire. The Dwelling was posted as unsafe for occupancy due to structural damage and the occupants have been relocated. Firefighter cut ventilation hole in the roof to allow Hot gasses and smoke to escape during this fire. Fire crews get a break and hydration after the fire is brought Under control. This passenger car was destroyed in the fire. George E. Lucia Sr. Fire Marshal VCFPD cell 24/7 @ 760.644.9933 glucia@vcfpd.org