Fire at central Modesto home displaces six

A two-alarm fire at a central Modesto home displaced three adults and three children on Monday.

Modesto Fire Department personnel were called to the home in the 1600 block of Idylwood Court at about 6 p.m

High winds fueled the flames, causing it to spread quickly into the home and promoting a second alarm so additional resources would respond to the scene, said Modesto Fire Department Operations Chief Alan Ernst.

Two fire engines and a grass engine were battling a vegetation fire on Zeff Road in south Modesto when the fire started on Idylwood.

Ernst said a training officer arrived before the engines and found heavy smoke pouring out of the garage of the home. (Click here to see video)

“The wind took hold of the fire before we could get resources on scene and the fire spread very rapidly on the shake roof,” he said.

A cat died in the fire but the family’s three dogs were safe. One of the residents was given oxygen at the scene for minor smoke inhalation but declined to be taken to the hospital.

Firefighters were on scene for several hours for what Ernst described as a “very labor intensive environment.” They pulled out boxes, bags and other items stacked nearly to the ceiling of the garage in some areas, often finding flames hidden beneath.

Fire damaged much of the home and there was smoke damage throughout for an estimated cost of $250,000.

An investigator was on scene Monday night trying to determine the cause and origin of the fire.

The American Red Cross was called to provide assistance to the family: Irva Binda, her adult granddaughters Lacy Binda and Destany Binda, and three great-grandchildren ages 4 months to 7 years.

A gofundme account has been set up: www.gofundme.com/uxmdjh9.

This story was originally published May 18, 2015 at 7:35 PM with the headline "Fire at central Modesto home displaces six."