Crews have controlled a one-alarm fire at a home in Richmond Thursday afternoon where two pets were rescued but two others perished, a fire inspector said.
The fire was reported at 12:47 p.m. at a two-story house in the 5200 block of Nevin Avenue, near the El Cerrito border, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District fire inspector George Laing said.
A neighbor saw smoke coming from the back of the house and called the fire department. Nobody was inside at time the fire started.
Firefighters arrived and rescued a dog and a cat, but two other cats died, Laing said. The fire was controlled around 1:30 p.m.
The fire started outside the house, on a back deck near a hot tub, Laing said. T
he cause remains under investigation. Laing said a neighbor reported that utility crews were working near the home and that there was a power surge that may have contributed to the fire.
At least four adults live at the home that burned, and will not be able to return there tonight because of extensive damage, Laing said. Neighboring homes were not affected by the blaze.
