SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — A Spring Valley homeowner spotted smoke up in the sky while he was out golfing Thursday evening, no idea the smoke was coming from a fire at his house.
"He joked with his friends that his house was on fire, and it turned out to come to fruition," said San Miguel Fire-Rescue Battalion Chief Roddey Blunt.
The fire broke out around 6:30 p.m. near Date St. and La Mesa Avenue on Dictionary Hill in Spring Valley.
The smoke billowed up into the air. Flames poured out the windows of the two-story home.
Battalion Chief Blunt said the fire spread fast.
"Obviously up on a hillside, it's a very challenging fire. All the windows were blown out on the house, the back of the house faces west so the predominant wind coming in there, it pushed fire throughout the house," he said.
The homeowner's three dogs and two cats were inside the house and haven't yet been located.
Crews spent all night at the house and were still there Friday afternoon.
Battalion Chief Blunt said the house is a total loss. He estimates damages are about $2 million.
The San Diego County Sheriff's Bomb and Arson Squad is investigating. So far, a cause has not been determined.