HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – An early Thursday morning fire destroyed a Hidden Valley Lake home.
The fire in the 19000 block of Stinson Road was first dispatched shortly after 2:30 a.m., according to radio reports.
Cal Fire Battalion Chief Mark Gradek said the structure involved was a two-story, 3,400-square-foot log home, with heavy timber construction.
Gradek said the man who was in the home at the time the fire broke out was able to safely evacuate and call 911.
By the time firefighters arrived, the fire was on both the first and second stories of the house, with flames coming out a side window, Gradek said.
Gradek said it took “quite a while” to get the fire knocked down, estimating it was 5:30 a.m. before the blaze was controlled.
He said firefighters had issues with water supply during the incident. There were no hydrants in the area, and so water tenders had to haul the water in to fight the fire.
Cal Fire and South Lake County Fire had a total of three engines and two water tenders on scene, with Lake County Fire sending a mutual aid engine, Gradek said.
Gradek said the home was a total loss. “We were able to save some vehicles, but that's about it.”
He said the total fire damage is estimated at $460,000.
The home's resident told firefighters that he thought the fire may have started in his laundry room, Gradek said.
Gradek said the fire's cause remains under investigation.
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