Two people, including a firefighter, were injured while
containing the flames at a burning two-story home and rescuing a
dog in east Morgan Hill Thursday morning.
Two people, including a firefighter, were injured while containing the flames at a burning two-story home and rescuing a dog in east Morgan Hill Thursday morning.
The Santa Clara County Fire Department was dispatched to the blaze on the 2400 block of Pinto Court about 5:24 a.m., according to Battalion Chief Richard Salazar. The fire set off two alarms and burned for nearly an hour.
One firefighter suffered second degree burns to his neck while fighting the fire. He was treated at a local clinic and released Thursday afternoon.
Although initial reports suggested several people were trapped inside, only one female resident occupied the home when it burned.
A neighbor who lived across the street told firefighters that he used a ladder to help the 51-year-old woman escape from the home’s second story balcony while it was burning, Salazar said. The woman was outside when firefighters arrived. She told them that someone else was inside, and firefighters entered the burning building but did not find anymore occupants.
The woman was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation, but she declined further treatment, Salazar said.
Also before firefighters arrived, another neighbor was bitten by a dog that he rescued from the roof of the home. The man received minor facial injuries from the dog bite, and was treated at the scene, Salazar said.
The dog was safely rescued from the fire.
The fire caused “major damage” to the residence, Salazar said. An estimated $200,000 worth of damage was done to the home.
Firefighters contacted the American Red Cross to help the woman find new living arrangements and replace prescription medications that were destroyed by the flames.
Salazar said the cause of the fire is under investigation. He does not suspect foul play.
A neighbor of the burning home was alerted to the fire when he heard screaming from across the street where he lived, Salazar added.
