Gilroy
– A family of three has been living in a hotel since a two-alarm
fire destroyed the second floor of their south Gilroy home Saturday
afternoon.
Gilroy – A family of three has been living in a hotel since a two-alarm fire destroyed the second floor of their south Gilroy home Saturday afternoon.
The Gilroy Fire Department ruled the blaze “accidental,” with human error the cause, but officials would not elaborate.
Bob and LuAnne Bayley, along with their son, watched with their Poppyfield Court neighbors as Gilroy, Santa Clara County and California Department of Forestry crews doused the flames that apparently started in, and were mostly contained to, the boy’s upstairs front bedroom.
The first of three GFD engines arrived at the six-year-old home minutes after a neighbor reported the fire at 3:41pm, and along with three from Morgan Hill and one CDF engine had it under control in 45 minutes, said Division Chief Ed Bozzo.
Friends and neighbors gathered in the street near the home, west of Thomas Road, and comforted the family until firefighters cleared the scene about 9pm.
“My whole upper floor has to be gutted,” LuAnne Bayley said Monday afternoon, shaking her head. The petite woman stood on her front porch with a friend while her husband met with an insurance agent inside the house.
She said Saturday afternoon was “terrible,” and she does not yet know the extent of the damage or how long it will take to repair, pending a roof inspection.
Neighbors helped remove some valuables from the home.
