ORINDA This morning at 0234 hours, the Moraga-Orinda Fire District responded to a two-alarm residential structure fire at 100 Block of Camino Don Miguel Road in Orinda.
The residents were awakened from their sleep when a smoke detector activated in the house. When they investigated, they found smoke in the house and indications there may be a fire in the attic. They called 911 to report the fire and quickly evacuated.
Firefighters arrived at the scene and found a fire in the attic of the 1930's vintage home. Battalion Chief Stephen Healy stated, "The fire was difficult to extinguish because of the compartmentalized attic space, and the lathe and plaster interior construction." Thirty-eight firefighters were dispatched to the scene and the fire was under control at 0400 hours.
There were no injuries and the loss is estimated at $300,000 for the structure and $100,000 for contents.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
This fire is another great example of the value of having working smoke detectors in your home. The early warning provided by the detectors allowed the residents to safely evacuate and reduced the losses to their residence.
