OAKHURST – A home on Road 620 was badly damaged this evening when a fire, not at all related to the Junction Fire, broke out in the living room.
A full wildland and structure dispatch was called up when reports came in about 7 p.m. of smoke at a residence just off Highway 41.
According to the caretaker who lives in a converted garage behind the main house, the people next door saw the smoke and called 911. They then called the owners of the house, who reportedly live in Coarsegold, and the owners called the caretaker.
Engines from the Oakhurst area were called up, along with resources working on the Junction Fire.
Road 620 was temporarily closed down at Highway 41 to allow clear access for fire equipment headed up the narrow road.
The majority of the damage was to the living room and two bedrooms on one side of the house. Firefighters had to break windows to get water to the flames, and remove the ceiling in at least one of the bedrooms to clear fire from the attic.
Cal Fire Engines 4255, 4261, 4262, 4271, 4282, 4285, 4291, 4294 and 4454, along with Madera County Engine 18 and Water Tender 14, all responded. Firefighters were able to contain the blaze inside the house, preventing it from spreading to the surrounding vegetation and neighboring homes.
Additional resources including a helicopter and dozers were dispatched, but were called off as firefighters on scene got it under control.
The caretaker said the renters in the home were in the process of moving out when the fire started. The home suffered major smoke, heat and water damage.
The cause of the fire is not known, and remains under investigation.
