Murrieta Fire Sends Residents Fleeing In Early Morning Hours

MURRIETA, CA — Fire ripped through part of a Murrieta home early Saturday, displacing four people who lived there. The blaze was reported just after 4 a.m. in the 26000 block of Leafwood Drive, near Hancock Avenue.

Reports from the scene indicated the fire at the two-story house started in the garage, which was packed full of belongings. Crews cut through the garage door to access the fire and fight the flames.

Within about 20 minutes, 17 firefighters were able to knock down the fire and contain the major damage to the garage.

Still, the damage left the home uninhabitable. The American Red Cross was called to the scene.

Nicole Kuster tells Patch her mother, uncle and grandparents lived at the home; all were only able to escape with the pajamas on their backs and cannot get into the house to collect anything right now. What's more, nearly all of her mother's and uncles belongings were inside the garage and were completely destroyed.

She asked that if anyone has clothes they are willing to donate, to email her at Patches1365@gmail.com. (In particular, they are looking for women sizes 16/ 18 for pants and XL tops, along with size 11 shoes. As for men's, they need large and extra large tops, pants sizes 32 and 36 and shoes sized 12 and 13.)

Two cats were also seen being pulled from the home by firefighters and were turned over to the residents.

No injuries were reported.