Early Morning Fire Destroys East Santa Cruz Home

Santa Cruz firefighters doused a two-story house fire at 106 Poplar Ave. just after midnight Friday before it spread to neighboring homes.

Crews fought the blaze for three hours after being called at 12:07 a.m.and it was still smoldering Friday morning.

Two residents got out after hearing noise from the fire. Fire crews were challenged by not being able to get inside the second-floor garage apartment because the roof was collapsing and the flames inside were too hot.

Santa Cruz Fire Battalion Chief Rob Young estimated that the blaze caused $500,000 of damage and the firefighters prevented another $150,000 of further damage.