Slow Burning Fire Does $325K Damage

  A fire that burned undetected for hours in Santa Cruz Friday
afternoon before firefighters were alerted caused approximately $325,000 in
damage, officials said.
       Three fire departments -- from Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley and the
county's Central Fire Protection District -- responded at 1:19 p.m. to the
home at 404 W. Cliff Drive, where the first responders found a large
two-and-a-half-story home with "a moderate amount" of smoke emanating from
its attic.
       The home's windows and doors were extremely hot to the touch,
according to the Santa Cruz Fire Department.
       A ladder truck crew assigned to the roof cut a hole to ventilate
the hot gases and enable firefighters to enter the smoke-filled structure.
       Navigating the home, firefighters determined the body of the fire
burning in a closet below stairs leading to the second story.
       Because the fire was taxing the resources of the firefighters on
site, two additional engine companies -- for a total of six -- were called in
from the University of California, Santa Cruz and from the fire protection
district, according to Santa Cruz fire.
       Even though the main fire was controlled, flames spread under the
house and extensive work was needed to open the floor from the home's
interior, fire officials said.
       No injuries were reported, and the occupants were not home.
       The structure sustained extensive heat and smoke damage
throughout, causing an estimated $175,000 in structural damage and an
additional $150,000 in damage to its contents.
       The 23 firefighters, who remained on the scene for four hours to
salvage the contents and monitor hot spots and hidden fires, were able to
protect about $750,000 worth of structure and property.
       An investigation revealed that the fire was accidental and
electrical in nature.
      --Bay City News--