Fire shot through the roof on the north end of the building near the kitchen and living room area, according to Fire Chief Tony Goller.
"We sent crews into the south side of the building to see if anybody was in the house," he said. A secondary search was conducted after crews got the fire knocked down to confirm no one was in the structure.
Because of the excessive temperatures Tuesday's weather brought, 20 firefighters responded to the scene and served in rotating shifts to battle the blaze, Goller said. That meant sending two 75-foot quints, two engines and two medics to the scene.
The fire department used more than 100,000 gallons of water to extinguish the blaze and prevent it from flaring up again, he said.
No injuries were reported. Fire crews searched for people inside but no one was home, Goller said. They rescued a small, black dog in the lower level of the basement.
"We were able to open a garage door and get the dog out," he said. "A neighbor took the dog."'
The house was considered a total loss, with damage estimated at $130,000, Goller said. The fire, which "could have started in the kitchen area," remains under investigation, he said.
John Browne, who rents the three-bedroom home, said he received a call from police just before returning to the scene around 10 a.m. He said he was "speechless, in shock and awe, just dumbfounded" and that there were no signs of any problems when he left the home.
Browne, who lived there less than a year with a dog, said no other people were in the home.
He said he plans to stay with family or friends.
Staff Writer Lot Tan contributed to this story.
About the Author