NORTH FORK — A family is homeless this morning after a fire swept through their rented house at the end of Church Street in North Fork.
Just before midnight, firefighters were called out to a structure fire reported in the neighborhood across from the North Fork Market.
A sheriff’s deputy was first on scene and ran to the mobile home to check that no one was still in the residence. By then, the home was fully engulfed.
Rancheria’s Cal Fire Engine 4275 responded, along with Madera County Fire Engine 11 and Water Tender 11.
According to the Incident Commander, there were eight people in the home when the fire started, mostly children. One resident reportedly smelled smoke, and got everyone out and over to a neighbor’s home. No injuries were reported.
The man living next door grabbed a hose and started spraying water on a vehicle parked in a carport next to the fence, doing what he could to save it from the flames.
Firefighters were able to keep the fire from spreading to surrounding homes or vegetation.
The home was quickly destroyed and is a total loss. Red Cross has been called out to assist the residents.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
