CHULA VISTA, Calif. -- One dog is dead after a home in Chula Vista erupted in flames early Wednesday morning, displacing five people and forcing evacuations from nearby homes.
The blaze was reported in the 900 block of Myra Avenue at 3:42 a.m. Chula Vista Fire Department crews responded to find flames shooting more than 30 feet into the air. The fire started in the garage and then spread to about half the home, fire officials said.
Five people, including two children, who were inside at the time were able to get out safely thanks to quick-thinking neighbors who saw the flames and ran into the home.
"I let my dog to go to the bathroom this morning, and I saw an orange glow on the wall inside the kitchen,” one man said. “And opened the door and there was fire coming out my neighbor's roof. And I screamed at the top of my lungs ‘fire.’ And then went over there and pushed their door open, the door wasn't closed all the way... And all the neighbors were coming out and they finally came out of the house."
Firefighters attempted to rescue two dogs who were inside. One survived, but the other was pronounced dead.
Firefighters had the fire contained by 4:30 a.m., but were still monitoring it for hot spots.
Witnesses told 10News they heard popping sounds coming from the garage during the blaze.
Firefighters were told there were guns and ammunition inside the home, which made situation more dangerous if one of those caught fire. Other nearby homes were temporarily evacuated, but their residents were allowed back inside.
A 1968 Pontiac Firebird parked in the garage that the owner of the home had purchased as a retirement project was destroyed.
The cause and extent of the damage is under investigation.
Family just got first look in daylight of the destruction left by garage fire. 5 people were inside, all safe. 1 dog died in fire pic.twitter.com/W46iIi4keJ
— Jared Aarons (@10NewsAarons) October 26, 2016
