COARSEGOLD — The occupants of a home off Cavin Lane escaped the dense smoke of a house fire Sunday afternoon, but lost at least three of their beloved cats.
Firefighters were called out to reports of a structure fire just before 3 p.m. The first responder to arrive at the scene reported heavy smoke pouring from all sides of the 2-story home, estimated at about 3,000 sq. ft.
The homeowner said he thought the fire started after the air conditioning unit was turned on. Soon thereafter, he said, smoke began pouring out of the vents and the smoke alarms went off. The couple barely had time to race out the door, as their cats scattered.
The fire started in the lower level of the structure, and spread through the vents into the living area above, where firefighters stopped the spread.
A neighbor, who walked to her house to bring back chairs and cat carriers, said the couple had just returned from a trip, and hadn’t even had time to unpack when the fire broke out.
Madera County Fire Engines 8, 17 and 310 responded, along with Water Tenders 8 and 16. Among the first at scene were Cal Fire engines that had arrived as part of a strike team just last night, from Riverside and San Bernardino. Those engines were stationed at Raymond, Coarsegold, Bass Lake and Ahwahnee, and three responded to the Cavin Lane incident.
The fire was contained by 3:21 p.m., due in large part to the additional resources available, said Cal Fire Battalion Chief Chris Christopherson.
“Because of the engines that came in last night, we had enough personnel at scene to make a good initial attack, and were able to contain and control the fire without major extension into the rest of the residence or the surrounding wildlands.”
There was light smoke damage throughout the rest of the house, and at least three of the family’s cats perished, likely due to smoke inhalation. A firefighter brought one of the very stressed cats out of the house and delivered it into the arms of the grateful homeowner.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
