Soquel Fire Displaces 6: Home Is "Uninhabitable"

SOQUEL - A fire that started in a bedroom displaced six people from their home in Soquel last week, Central Fire Protection District officials said Monday.

Crews had responded to a report of a structure fire in the 1400 block of Fairview Drive at about 5:20 p.m. Thursday, fire district spokesman Mike DeMars said.

They arrived to find the fire at a home engulfed in flames and worked to stop the blaze from spreading to nearby trees on a hillside behind the residence, DeMars said.

A "distraught" neighbor slowed down firefighting efforts when she moved her car away from emergency vehicles and struck a coupling as crews were connecting a hose to a water hydrant, DeMars said.

Firefighters were able to set up a water supply through their two tenders carrying about 3,000 gallons each, according to DeMars.

The blaze was contained to the street-level floor of the home about 30 minutes later and was under control an hour after the first reported call, DeMars said.

The damaged floor sustained fire, heat and smoke damage. The fire didn't extend to the lower level and garage and no injuries were reported.

Investigators determined the home was uninhabitable and six residents were displaced, he said.

The fire started in one of the bedrooms, but the cause remains under investigation, DeMars said.

Personnel from the Aptos/La Selva Fire Protection District also responded to the blaze, he said.

-By Bay City News Service, image via ShutterStock