Mount Helix Family of Five Displaced After House Fire

San Miguel Fire District made the following announcement on Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013:

CAL FIRE / San Miguel Fire District firefighters responded to a single family, single story structure fire located in the 4500 block of Calavo Drive on Mt. Helix. The fire was reported at about 12:55 PM, and was considered knocked down 25 minutes later.

According to family members, no one was home when the fire got underway. Two residents said they had returned home, opened the front door to find the house filling with smoke.

One of the residents ran to the back bedroom and pulled one of two family dogs to safety. The other dog was carried from the back yard.

Thick smoke was pouring from the house when the first of about 18 firefighters arrived on scene. Flames took a strong hold in the attic. Heartland Fire also assisted in keeping the damage to the north side of the home.

As standard policy in a structure fire such as this, the district called in the Sheriff’s Department to conduct the investigation, which is currently underway.

An early damage estimate is set at $100,000. No injuries were reported, and no other structures were damaged. In total five adults and two dogs have been displaced.

The San Diego Chapter of the American Red Cross was called to assist the family.