A house fire in Oceanside left one resident injured and 13 displaced Saturday afternoon, authorities said.
Passersby saw smoke billowing from the home on Thunder Drive near John Landes Skatepark and reported the fire just after noon. The blaze spread from the exterior to the attic and a bedroom, Oceanside fire Capt. Mike Campbell said.
Some firefighters doused the fire from outside while others searched the house and worked from inside. Firefighters found that the residents had safely evacuated, Campbell said.
Firefighters used chainsaws to cut a large hole in the roof, allowing gases to escape. The tactic helped extinguish the fire, Campbell said.
One resident was treated at the scene for “smoke exposure,” Campbell said. The Red Cross was called to assist the displaced residents.
The cause of the fire was under investigation.
The fire department applauded the passersby for promptly reporting the fire. Campbell said that act “underscores the critical role that community awareness and prompt reporting play in emergency response, significantly contributing to the saving of lives and the preservation of property.”
