News & Columns > News Team > Fire Destroys Two Homes (Update 3)

Fire Destroys Two Homes (Update 3)

Vegetation Also Burns

By News Team
Friday, October 3, 2008

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Update 3 - Friday 3:54 a.m.

Arrowhead Villas, CA - Two homes were destroyed during a fire that also ignited several trees surrounding the unoccupied or evacuated homes.

Neighbors tried to put out the fire with garden hoses before firefighters arrived on scene of the fire that started at 7:41 p.m.

A structure fire completely destroyed at least one home and heavily damaged another in Skyforest Thursday evening and spread to nearby trees. (Photo by Michael P. Neufeld.)

Update 9:59 p.m.

Arrowhead Villas, CA — Fire crews are in the mop up stages of a fire in the 700-block of Holmes Court. Two homes were damaged by the fast spreading flames. One home was completely destroyed, while a second sustained less damage. There were no injuries and both homes were unoccupied or evacuated at the time of the fire, according to Forest Service Spokesperson John Miller. Crews from San Bernardino County Fire are continuing an interior search of the damaged home to check for extension on the fire and to fight against additional damage. The US Forest Service and CalFire jointly oversaw command from nearby Larchmont Lane.

The structure fire in Skyforest that destroyed two homes spread to nearby vegetation. Neighbors took garden hoses to knock down flames until fire units could arrive. (Photo by Michael P. Neufeld.)

Initially, neighbors used garden hoses to try and stop the spread of the flames while they were waiting for the first fire engines to arrive. According to neighbors, at least one fire crew is expected to remain on scene overnight, to protect the neighborhood from any potential reignitions.

Reports of the size of the vegetation fire have been downgraded to about 1/4 to 1/2 acre. Although, according to Miller, estimating fire sizes at night is difficult. Homes on Oakmont Lane were evacuated during the fire.

8:59 p.m.

Arrowhead Villas, CA — A vegetation fire near the 700 block of Holmes Court in Skyforest has burned two homes and consumed about two acres. One home was reported to be fully destroyed and the second was partially burned, according to the CHP. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time, but there were reports of multiple power lines down in the area.

There have been no reports of injuries. However, firefighters are currently doing an interior search of one of the homes to ensure that the residents made it out safely. Fire crews from Crest Forest Fire District, the US Forest Service, and San Bernardino County are on scene performing structure protection and extinguishing hot spots in the brush. Crews from Southern California Edison and the Gas Company are on scene securing the utilities.

The fire was first reported at 7:41 p.m.

8:31 p.m.

Skyforest, CA — The forward rate of the vegetation fire has been stopped according to scanner reports. It has burned approximately 2 acres.

One structure has burned and a second home is now involved.

Original story 7:55 p.m.

Skyforest, CA — A vegetation fire has been report on Holmes Court in Skyforest.

Scanner reports a fully involved structure fire. The fire has spread to the vegetation. Power lines are down.

Evacuations are in progress on Oakmont.

Reports are that one structure has burned down and a second structure is now burning.

(Photo by VickiW.)

Details to follow.