A fire apparently ignited accidentally by a burning stove damaged part of a two-story home Monday in Santa Cruz County just north of Twin Lakes State Beach, the Central Fire Protection District reported.
Firefighters were dispatched at about 4 p.m. Monday on reports of a structure fire in the 700 block of Crystal Lane in the Twin Lakes area, Central Fire Protection District spokesman Mike DeMars said.
Fire crews on the scene reported smoke coming from the first floor of a home, DeMars said.
Firefighters contained the blaze in 20 minutes and ventilated the first floor to remove smoke and toxic emissions, according to DeMars.
A resident of the home told firefighters he used the first floor for storage, had rearranged some items there that day and later saw smoke billowing there.
As he tried to put the fire out with a garden hose, a neighbor called 911 after seeing the smoke, DeMars said.
Two people and two dogs living on the second floor got out of the house.
One resident was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation by emergency responders but declined to be transported to a hospital. The first floor was rendered uninhabitable due to fire, smoke, heat and water damage but the second floor was not damaged, fire officials said.
Based on a preliminary investigation, the district determined the fire was set accidentally after combustible materials were placed too close to a stove and one of the stove's burners appeared to have been turned on inadvertently, according to DeMars.
--Bay City News
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