Night Fire Destroys Garage, Damages Teacher's Home, Family Escapes in East Redlands

A fire broke out in a garage and damaged a teacher's home Tuesday night in east Redlands, where the family with children and dogs escaped uninjured but two cats were unaccounted for, city and fire officials said.

The fire was reported just after 10 p.m. Aug. 6 in the 800 block of Merced Street, according to Redlands spokesman Carl Baker.

A resident went into the garage, found heavy smoke, and alerted her husband and children, who all escaped along with the family's two dogs, Baker said. Two cats were missing.

"A total of five engines, a medic squad, a truck company, two chief officers and a Fire Department chaplain - 21 personnel - responded to the blaze along with police and Citizen Volunteer Patrol who assisted with traffic control," Baker said. "At one point the flames were visible from Mentone."

It took 30 minutes for firefighters to declare knockdown on the blaze, which destroyed the garage, two vehicles, teaching and school supplies, and camping stoves that exploded and were found several houses away from the fire, Baker said.

One resident, the school teacher, had stored the teaching and school supplies in the garage in preparation for the first day of school next week, Baker said. 

"Flames reached the attic and caused some smoke damage inside the home as well as damage caused to the ceiling in order for firefighters to reach the burning attic," Baker said. "Total damage was estimated at $100,000 to the property and $80,000 to the contents of the garage."

Firefighters said a self-closing secure door between the garage and the house likely prevented the spread of the fire into the living quarters, Baker said.

The cause was believed to be an electrical malfunction, Baker said. An investigation was continuing.