UPDATED: Faulty Computer Wire Possible Cause For North Highlands House Fire
NORTH HIGHLANDS (CBS13) - It was a very close call for a North Highlands family whose mobile home went up in flames overnight.
Neighbors say a faulty computer wire could be the cause of a fire that destroyed the family's home.
The house fire broke out on Antelope Road near Watt Avenue in the early hours of Friday morning.
Neighbors were startled out of their beds and houses around 2 a.m. after hearing windows popping, cracking sounds and loud screams.
"The young boy was in the house on a laptop, saw some sparks and saw the living room and kitchen on fire, and started getting his family out," said community manager Janice Arnold.
The two adults and three kids inside are all safe. Four of their five dogs also made it out alive.
Two chihuahua mixes were found right away, suffering from burns. They are now recovering with a neighbor.
Hours later, a third dog was found hiding in a shed behind the charred house. He was too scared to come out. A fourth dog was found wandering the property just before noon, but the fifth dog's body was found lying by the front door.
"There is smoke in the air, a bunch of smoke," said neighbor Ashley Duback. "Honestly, I didn't think nobody made it out."
The tin roof is now resting on the floor while the walls were reduced to ash, leaving only the metal framing exposed. The home's contents are unrecognizable.
The heat from the flames was so intense the awnings and porches of neighboring homes melted, but fire crews were able to contain the bulk of the fire to just the one home.
The house has been deemed a total loss. Investigators will be out Friday to determine exactly what caused the fire. However, crews are saying it does not appear to be suspicious.
The family is now staying with relatives.
Neighbors tell CBS13 they don't believe the family has fire insurance.
