A house in the Ashton Woods subdivision was destroyed on March 15 by a blaze that started in a backyard fire pit, Eureka Fire Chief Scott Barthelmass said.
Firefighters were called to the 1800 block of Wellington Woods Drive at 11:36 a.m., arriving six minutes later. Barthelmass said firefighters could see fire and smoke coming from the two-story house as they were leaving Station 2.
“The house was fully involved when we arrived, with fire all through the basement, first floor and second floor,” he said. “An adult and two middle-school-aged children were able to escape uninjured. They were alerted by a neighbor who saw the back of their house on fire.”
Another adult living at the home arrived on the scene while crews were fighting the fire, Barthelmass said. The fire originated at the back of the house, in an unattended fire pit.
Barthelmass said the house fire sparked a small brush fire near Main Street. Eureka Fire crews were called to put out the brush fire at 12:03 p.m.
He also said the house east of the one on fire sustained damage to its siding from the fire’s heat.
Barthelmass said strong winds caused the fire to spread rapidly.
“The winds were very high (Sunday), and that unattended fire quickly got into the back of the house and went up into the house,” he said. “There were winds, I believe, gusting up almost 50 miles an hour (Sunday). So that was a particular challenge, as you fight the fire, it was completely fanned by those winds.”
The house is heavily damaged and uninhabitable, Barthelmass said. A fundraiser for the family living in the home raised nearly $26,000 as of 11 a.m. Monday, March 16. To support the fundraiser, visit gofundme.com and search “Support the Gray Family After House Fire.”
Eureka Fire was assisted on the scene by the Pacific, Metro West, High Ridge, Fenton, Valley Park and Boles fire protection districts. The scene was cleared at 3:34 p.m.
Elks Trails Subdivision
Just minutes after putting out the first fire, Eureka Fire responded to a house fire in the Elk Trails subdivision, started by a juvenile playing with matches.
A house at White Doe Court in the Elks Trail subdivision was damaged from a fire on Sunday.
The fire at White Doe Court was reported at 3:33 p.m. with firefighters arriving two minutes later.
Barthelmass said the fire started in the front yard of the one-story house, extending to the front of the house. Neighbors were fighting the fire with garden hoses and fire extinguishers when crews arrived on the scene, he said.
A juvenile playing with matches accidentally started the fire, he said.
“We checked the roof and the interior (of the home), and found no further extension of the fire there,” Barthelmass said. “The juvenile’s grandmother and mother were home at the time. The juvenile was checked for smoke inhalation.”
Barthelmass said the juvenile did not require further medical attention.
While the house sustained damage from the fire, Barthelmass said it’s still habitable.
Eureka Fire was assisted by the Pacific, Metro West, High Ridge and Fenton fire protection districts. They cleared the scene at 4:22 p.m.