CLEARLAKE OAKS – A woman and her dog escaped a Friday night fire that destroyed their home in the Keys area.

Northshore Fire Battalion Chief Ken Petz said the fire destroyed the Everglade Boulevard home of Evelyn Stone.

The modular, one of the older homes in the neighborhood, was reported on fire at about 7 p.m., said Northshore Fire Battalion Chief Pat Brown.

Brown, who was the first fire official on scene, said he arrived in just under six minutes, shortly followed by a total of four engines from Northshore Fire's Clearlake Oaks and Lucerne stations, along with mutual aid from Lake County Fire Protection District.

Twelve firefighters responded to fight the blaze, which was located at the back of the house, said Brown.

But firefighters struggled to make entry into the house, because Stone had an organ and a bookcase up against the front door.

Once inside, “It was hard for us to save anything,” said Brown, with firefighters at one point trying to get items out by going through walls.

The older modular had paneling inside rather than sheetrock, which caused it to burn more quickly, said Brown.

Petz said the fire appeared to have started in the bathroom. “It was a total loss,” he said.

Brown estimated the total damage at about $300,000.

Stone, who has suffered from health problems due to cancer, lost almost everything, except her yellow Lab, said Brown.

The dog got out fine, said Brown, adding that the whole neighborhood had been worried about him and his owner.

Petz said the fire district called the Red Cross and they're helping Stone with temporary housing, food and clothing, and trying to help her set up some kind of refinancing on her property.

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