Attic Fire Damages Haight Avenue Home Sunday Evening

An electrical fire sent a ceiling fan crashing to the floor and caused $50,000 damage to a home in the 400 block of Haight Avenue Sunday evening, according to the Alameda Fire Department.

It was the second structural fire of the day in Alameda. Earlier on Dec. 29, firefighters extinguished a small blaze in an abandoned apartment building at Alameda Point, fire officials said in a press release.

No firefighters or civilians were injured in either fire.

In the Haight Avenue incident, the AFD received a report at 6:10 p.m. that a ceiling fan had fallen to the floor, followed by burning embers, the press release said.

Crews used a thermal imaging camera to locate a fire in the attic of the home, officials said.

Firefighters then simultaneously ventilated the roof and removed the ceiling to reach burning timbers and insulation, they said.

The fire was confined to a second-floor living room and the roof of the home, the AFD said. Damage was estimated at $50,000 to the building and $5,000 to its contents.

The fire was electrical in nature, and power could not be restored because of damage to the wiring, fire officials said. That caused the tenant to be displaced, they said.

Eighteen firefighters responded to the blaze. Alameda Municipal Power employees also responded.

Earlier Sunday, the AFD received a report of smoke coming from a building in the 100 block of West Stardust Place at Alameda Point at 8:39 a.m. 

Crews found and quickly extinguished a small fire on the second floor of the two-story, abandoned apartment building, the press release said. Damage was limited to the floor of a single second-story room, it said.

The building was searched, but no occupants were found, fire officials said.

A total of 18 firefighters responded. 

'Like' Alameda Patch on Facebook / Follow us on Twitter @AlamedaPatch / Share your thoughts in the comments section below