Firefighters Contain Pair of Overnight House Blazes

Here's information provided by the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department:

The Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department (LPFD) responded to two residential structure fires early Tuesday. The unrelated fires, one in Pleasanton and one in Livermore, at one time committed eight of the 10 LPFD units leaving one available in each city as both fires burned simultaneously.

The first fire was reported at 1:26 a.m. on the 3000 block of Staples Ranch Drive in Pleasanton. Fire department units arrived on scene at 1:33 a.m. and located a small fire contained to the attic and chimney chase.

The blaze extended into the home’s attic insulation and required extensive overhaul to extinguish all burning materials. The two residents, two dogs, and two cats evacuated safely on their own and were not injured.

Two firefighters suffered minor injuries due to icy conditions on the exterior walkways. The probable cause of this fire was heat escaping the chimney flue. The estimated damage was $5,000. The residents were able to return to the home.

While multiple LPFD units were still working at the Staples Ranch incident, the LPFD received a report of another fire in the 800 block of Catalina Drive in Livermore.

This fire was reported at 2:26 a.m., and the first LPFD unit arrived on scene at 2:30 a.m. The blaze occurred in a single-family residence that was furnished but unoccupied at the time of the fire.

Extensive damage to the attic, living room, one bedroom, roof, exterior, fence and three trees in the adjacent yard occurred as a result of this fire.

No injuries were reported at this incident. LPFD units remained on scene for more than four hours. The estimated damage to this home was $100,000.

The probable cause of this fire was exterior electrical wiring igniting due to a short. The home was not habitable after the fire. The homeowner was on scene and working with her insurance company.

A third fire occurred earlier in the night on Monday at 10:51 p.m. in the parking lot of the Hilton Hotel at 7050 Johnson Drive in Pleasanton. This fire was confined to one vehicle, and was quickly extinguished by one LPFD Fire Engine.