Neighbors living on Ashley Road in Ramona watched anxiously as the single-story home went up in flames.
"Something was exploding in the garage. I don't know if it was paint or what but we got the kids out of here pretty fast," witness, Stacy McComack said.
The homeowner recently died and friends were cleaning out the property to prepare it for new tenants when something went wrong.
"The lady that's here came banging on the door - she was in a panic - said the house was on fire - call 911," Rolland Stanley said.
Stanley lives directly next door.
"It's been dry, particularly dry up here. We didn't get any of the rain San Diego got two weeks ago, not one drop," he said.
Fire crews arrived within 10 minutes and were on it right away before backup was called in to assist.
"Because of the fire activity, we were getting spot fires so additional resources were ordered...picking up those fires around the dwelling itself," Capt. Bortisser said.
Fortunately, crews were able to contain the fire given the dangerous conditions.
"The weather conditions we're having this weekend are very serious. The fuels are dry. Drought isn't helping us out at all," Capt. Bortisser said.
In fact, the entire county is under a heat advisory through Sunday night. Because of that, extra resources, including a tanker and water tenders have been brought in.
A reminder fire season in San Diego never ends.
"October historically is our most devastating and damaging for wildfires and wildfire fatalities," Capt. Kendal Bortisser said.
The fire's cause is still under investigation.
https://twitter.com/ShannonCBS8/status/518483386508140544
Ramona house fire under investigation
A single-family home in Ramona caught fire Saturday.
RAMONA (CBS 8) - A single-family home in Ramona caught fire Saturday.
The fire was at
and was reported at about 10:30 a.m., Cal Fire Capt. Kendal Bortisser said.