The cause of a fire at a Gilroy home Wednesday morning is, for
now, undetermined, according to the Gilroy Fire Department.
Today’s breaking news:
Director leaves Gilroy Arts Alliance
Bullet train meeting tonight in Morgan Hill
Dent named principal of Gilroy Prep
Principal retiring from Ascencion Solorsano
The cause of a Wednesday morning fire at a Gilroy home is, for now, undetermined, according to the Gilroy Fire Department.
City and county firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze – contained in the garage of a home in the 7800 block of Westwood Drive – by 11:45 a.m., said GFD Chief Dale Foster.
Firefighters spent the next few hours examining the garage and home in hopes of finding a cause. Fire Capt. Chris Weber, however, said the cause could not be determined, and the case would be turned over to a fire investigator.
The fire most likely started along a wall where a washing machine, dryer, water heater and gas furnace were present, according to the GFD.
No residents or firefighters were injured, Foster said. Fire and police officials on scene urged neighbors to walk away from the home for fears of smoke inhalation.
Firefighters used chainsaws to cut into the garage, creating holes for ventilation and access, Foster said.
Damage to the home was “extensive,” Weber said. He said a ballpark estimate for total damage would be between $50,000 and $100,000.
Emergency officials closed the street at its intersections with Driftwood Terrace during the blaze.
Katrena Hogue, a resident of the house, said she didn’t stop to put on shoes before grabbing her 1-year-old daughter and running out of the house. She said her daughter was not hurt and was taken from the scene by a family member.
Hogue said she didn’t know what caused the fire, but assumed it was electrical. She said it started in the garage.
Foster said it was not clear whether the fire was caused by an electrical issue. A PG&E employee was on scene to make sure the home’s electricity and gas lines were shut off, Foster said.
Neighbor Kelley Blake said she saw thick smoke billowing out of the home.
“It looked pretty bad,” Blake said.
She said the smoke was white at first, then turned black.
“It was just pluming from the top,” she said.
Foster said three Gilroy fire engines conducting training at the Las Animas Fire Station caravaned to the fire when the call came in.
Two engines from the South Santa Clara County Fire Department in Morgan Hill also responded, Foster said.
Check back for updates to this story.
