Crime & Safety
Wall Heater Blamed For Santa Cruz Co. House Fire
Heat and smoke damage throughout the house displaced three people, fire officials said.
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CA — A house fire that broke out in unincorporated Santa Cruz County and displaced three people Thursday morning was caused by a wall heater inside the home, the Central Fire Protection District reported. Firefighters responded to 5669 Soquel Drive at about 9:40 a.m. to reports of a fire and found smoke and flames coming from one side of a duplex.
The fire was knocked down with no spread to other structures, and contained in about 20 minutes to a living room area. A couch, table, coat rack and stack of magazines near the wall heater had ignited after the heater had been left on at a high temperature, investigators found.
Heat and smoke damage throughout the house displaced three people, and fire officials said the home is now uninhabitable.
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The California Highway Patrol closed down Soquel Drive at Monterey Avenue for about 40 minutes while the investigation was completed.
By Bay City News