OCEANSIDE (CNS) - An investigation was underway Monday into what sparked a stubborn attic fire that caused $150,000 in damage at a two-story house in Oceanside and killed a family pet.
The fire at 1749 Avenida Sevilla erupted about noon Sunday, according to the Oceanside Fire Department.
Firefighters fought the blaze from inside the house for about a half-hour until doing so became too dangerous and crews were ordered to tackle the blaze from the exterior, Oceanside fire Battalion Chief Terry Collis said.
"The firefight was hampered by a heavy fire load of personal belongings stored in the attic," Collis said in a statement.
About 2 p.m., after an effort by some three dozen firefighters, the fire was declared under control.
Collis said so many firefighters were assigned to the incident because crews had to be rotated frequently due to high temperatures.
No one was home when the fire erupted but several pets were rescued. Collis said firefighters rescued a dog, a bird and three turtles but later found a dog deceased inside the home.
Damage was estimated at $150,000, he said.
This is an updated story, read original below.
OCEANSIDE (CNS) - A fire broke out in a Oceanside home Sunday and remained under investigation, a fire official said.
The fire was reported just after noon at a single-family house at 1749 Avenida Sevilla, a North County dispatcher said.
No injuries were reported and an estimate of damage was unavailable.
The cause of the fire remained under investigation, but arson investigators were not called in, the dispatcher said.
