2-Alarm Fire Causes $100,000 in Damages

Firefighters battling a two-alarm fire in an unusual Japanese pagoda-style home in Atherton this afternoon were forced to lay out more than 600 feet of hose just to reach the fire, according to fire officials.

The fire at 96 Isabella Ave. appears to have started in the attic over one wing of the 11,000 square foot two-story home, according to Chief Harold Schapelhouman.

While the house's residents were not home, a worker in the house heard an alarm and contacted the fire department shortly after 1 p.m.

Firefighters arriving on the scene found a long driveway and entryway that placed the fire a long way from water, according to Schapelhouman. They had to lay out 650 feet of hose just to reach the fire, which was burning in the roof over an entertainment room.

A second alarm was called, but firefighters were able to control the fire within 20 minutes. The timely call reporting the fire, which came two minutes before the alarm company contacted the fire department, saved valuable minutes, Schapelhouman said.

"We're very fortunate," he said. "With this type of home you can have rapid spread of the fire because of the wood shingle roof and the ornamental wood features for the Japanese style."

Structural damage is estimated at around $100,000. There were no injuries reported.

A fire engine is expected to remain on the scene overnight to monitor the structure, Schapelhouman said.

The home at 96 Isabella Ave. last sold in 2007 for $14 million, according to Zillow.com.

--Bay City News

For more about local Transportation, Small Business, Politics and Schools in Menlo Park and Atherton, follow us on Twitter and like our Facebook page.