On August 26th at approximately 4:39 AM, firefighters were dispatched to a reported small vegetation fire on Finhaut Drive in Crestline. However, within moments, the incident escalated to a structure fire as reports emerged of a large three-story home fully engulfed in flames. Upon arrival, firefighters found the house completely involved, with multiple live power lines down and the fire spreading into the vegetation across the street.
The situation was further complicated by the discovery that the home was a known hoarder residence, and it was initially unclear if the occupants were inside. Firefighters battled the blaze for about 45 minutes before the top floor collapsed onto the bottom floor. Fortunately, all firefighters were unharmed.
Adding to the difficulty, the main gas meter and gas line exploded during the firefight, forcing firefighters to endure a prolonged struggle until the gas could be shut off. The fire was finally knocked down around 5:54 AM.
The residents were eventually contacted and confirmed that they were not at home at the time of the fire. No injuries were reported, but firefighters now face a lengthy mop-up process. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and no further details are available at this time.