A large column of smoke spotted in Vallejo called for a massive response from fire officials Saturday afternoon on the 200 block of Cassidy Street.
The fire originated in the backyard of a single-family home, Capt. Kevin Brown of Vallejo Fire Department told NBC Bay Area.
Brown said the five-alarm fire has been knocked down as of 1:40 p.m. but crews were expected to be on scene for two more hours. The home was completely destroyed, Brown said.
"I just realized it’s time to go," said Vallejo resident Leona Bruner. "We had to get in the car and grab all the neighbors kids and kind of just get out of the driveway."
Four neighboring homes were affected but with minimal damage, according to Brown, and a two-story apartment complex nearby had to be evacuated.
There were no reports of injuries but at least one pet was killed and another may still be missing.
