SAN DIEGO — A three-alarm fire burned overnight for more than two hours and caused extensive damage to an Encinitas home, authorities said Monday.
The non-injury blaze was reported shortly before 10:50 p.m. Sunday at a beachfront home in the 1400 block of Neptune Avenue, according to the Encinitas Fire Department.
Flames were initially reported on the roof, but the fire eventually spread to the rest of the structure, Encinitas Fire Chief Robert Ford said.
Firefighters from the Carlsbad, Solana Beach and Rancho Santa Fe fire departments also responded to help douse the flames.
Crews declared a knockdown by 1:20 a.m., but the blaze caused significant damage to the single-story home, Ford said. Due to the large amount of water needed to extinguish the fire, a 40- by 60-foot-long bluff collapsed.
A woman who lives in the home was able to escape unharmed, but her dog went missing.
Neighbor Brad Hanson recorded some of the flames on his cell phone.
"The engines stopped right in front of my house and I said, 'there's something wrong," said Hanson.
The multi-level house was deemed a total loss. A house next door was also damaged.
Several neighbors said the fire was not a surprise to them as the elderly owner is known to burn trash inside the home instead of taking it to the curb, according to those that live nearby.
A geotechnical team has been on site to evaluate the scene and assess the structure and related properties, according to officials.
According to a geotechnical expert with the city of Encinitas, "part of the erosion involved fissures created by water runoff on an already saturate bluff."
Officials said further assessment would continue once the bluff dries out. Property owners impacted by the erosion were advised to seek geotechnical consultation for their properties.
Residents and visitors are advised to stay a safe distance from the bluff and warning signs have been posted in the area.
Officials said additional updates would be posted to the city's website and social media pages.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.