South Lake County Fire Protection District and Cal Fire responded to a house fire at 15630 Eagle Rock Road in Hidden Valley Lake just after noon on Monday, Nov. 14, according to a Cal Fire report.
When firefighters arrived, they found the house filled with smoke and flames were visible in one wall of the structure. Cal Fire said firefighters were able to quickly knock down the fire and extinguish the flames.
Two dogs and a cat were trapped, unconscious in the home. A nearby Hidden Valley Lake security officer was able to remove one of the dogs while firefighters battled the flames. Cal Fire said firefighters rescued the second dog and a cat.
The cat succumbed to its injuries at the scene of the fire but rescue personnel performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the dogs using special animal oxygen masks carried on their paramedic unit, Cal Fire said.
Firefighters were able to revive both the dogs, which were then transported by Lake County Animal Control to a local veterinarian's office, Cal Fire said.
Despite quick attention by emergency personnel and veterinarian staff, one of the dogs later died from its injuries, officials reported.
The home sustained moderate smoke damage but the structure and its contents were saved by firefighters. Cal Fire said the cause is under investigation; however, investigators are looking at combustible materials placed too close to a free standing propane fueled fireplace as a possible cause.
"We'd like to remind residents that any combustible materials should be placed a minimum distance of at least three feet away from any heat source," said Cal Fire Battalion Chief Scott Upton.
Three South Lake County Fire Protection District/CAL FIRE engines, one paramedic unit, one battalion chief and one volunteer company responded to the fire, Cal Fire reported.
Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews, on Tumblr at www.lakeconews.tumblr.com, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .
