Homeowner injured in Modesto 3-alarm blaze

A homeowner suffered minor burns as he escaped a three-alarm blaze early Sunday at his house in central Modesto.

The homeowner, who was the only person home when the fire started, was treated by medics at the scene but declined to be taken by ambulance to a local hospital, said Modesto Fire Battalion Chief Hugo Patino.

Firefighters responded about 4:20 a.m. to the burning house in the 100 block of Magnolia Avenue, a few blocks east of Graceada Park. Patino said heavy flames were burning the two-story bungalow when firefighters arrived.

A third-alarm was requested, so more firefighters could be called to tackle the blaze. It took 31 firefighters, eight fire engines and a fire truck to put out the fire. Patino said there were a lot of empty spaces in the roof area that made it difficult to stomp out the blaze.

Investigators had not determined the cause or the origin of the fire, which created an estimated $150,000 in damage to the home’s structure and its contents.

Red Cross officials were at the scene to assist the injured homeowner in finding a place to stay, since the fire will displace him until his house can be repaired. There were no other injuries reported.

This story was originally published March 27, 2016 at 12:39 PM with the headline "Homeowner injured in Modesto 3-alarm blaze."