LUCERNE, Calif. – A commercial and residential building on Highway 20 in Lucerne sustained several thousand dollars in damage after a wood stove started a fire Friday night.
The fire, reported just before 9 p.m., occurred at 6095 E. Highway 20, next door to the California Water Service water plant.
Several Northshore Fire Protection District engines, an ambulance, two battalion chiefs and a California Highway Patrol officer, who helped monitor traffic around the scene, responded.
Northshore Fire Battalion Chief Steve Hart said the fire was caused by an improperly installed wood stove.
The stove, located on the first floor, was too close to the wall, he said. Combustible materials ignited and the fire traveled up to the second floor attic.
Firefighters opened up the walls to remove charred materials and make sure the fire was out, Hart said.
Battalion Chief Pat Brown brought out a charred piece of wood from inside the wall to show to Hart, noting that it had been burning a long time.
Four firefighters worked on the second story of the building, using a chainsaw to access areas that were burned.
Firefighters were expected to stay on scene until about 10:30 p.m. conducting mop up and overhauling, making sure that there was no chance the fire could reignite, Hart said.
Estimated damage was $10,000 for the structure and $2,000 for the building's contents, which Hart said suffered some smoke damage.
No injuries were reported.
Hart said the winter season brings a lot of problems with wood stoves, especially older installations from the late 1870s and 1980s.
“The codes at that time weren't as good as they are now,” he said.
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