Electrical issue cited in Centerville fire

Neighbors spotting smoke was key in preventing more damage when a large outbuilding was reported to be on fire on Centerville on Tuesday night, fire officials said.

East Fork firefighters responded to a report of smoke coming from the structure at around 8 p.m.

“Quick reporting of visible smoke by neighbors nearby made the difference in this fire,” said Battalion Chief Troy Valenzuela.  “Minutes later, this incident could have been much worse.”

No one was inside the building that took crews almost two hours to completely extinguish. No one was injured as a result of the fire.

“On arrival, crews found a large outbuilding on the property with charged smoke coming from the building,” Valenzuela said. “Firefighters were able to force entry through some of the doors in the structure to encounter an active fire with high heat and smoke conditions.  The fire was located and knocked down.”

Valenzuela said the cause of the fire appears to be electrical.

This is the fourth structure fire in less than three weeks involving either an outbuilding or garage, beginning with a workshop on Gordon Avenue that succumbed to fire on March 16.

A March 27 fire in a shed at the top of Stephanie Way was visible from Highway 395.

East Fork firefighters responded to the fire in what was described as a 144-square-foot structure 6:45 p.m. on Lindsay Lane.

Complicated by 20 mph wind gusts, the flames were spreading when deputies arrived on scene.

“East Fork Fire District units used an aggressive attack to suppress the fire which destroyed a shed and some other personal items,” Battalion Chief John Brawley said. “The fire was in an area with no fire hydrants and three volunteer fire stations supported the suppression efforts.”

East Fork Fire District responded with three engines, two ambulances, three water tenders, a squad, training-safety captain, battalion chief, and deputy chief for a total of 21 personnel.

Firefighters reported the loss was stopped by 7:10 p.m. but spent three hours on scene mopping up.

Gardnerville, Genoa and Johnson Lane volunteers brought tenders to provide firefighting water.

The blaze spread to a boat and into the wildland, while threatening the home.

Mutual aid was provided by a Tahoe Douglas Fire District fire engine. “The East Fork Fire Protection District would like to remind everyone to fully extinguish recreational fires and burn piles,” Brawley said on Friday.