At 10:09 am Thursday morning, fire crews responded to a two-alarm fire on Merrill Dr. in Antioch after a residential fire had flames shooting out the roof.
A giant cloud of smoke could be seen for miles away. One resident, Doug Knowles spotted the fire and called it in. He even snapped this photo of smoke showing before fire crews arrived on scene.
Crews from Contra Costa County Fire Protection District arrived on scene and quickly called for a second alarm which triggered additional resources and Engine 93 from East Contra Costa Fire Protection District. The Antioch Police Department were on scene blocking off Merrill Dr. which runs along Wilbur Ave. between Almond St. and Orchard Lane.
The home was vacant as it has been abandoned for a while and neighbors on scene said they believed squatters were utilizing the home.
All first alarm units will be assisting with mop and a dozer has been called.
No details have been release on the cause of the fire at this time.
5 comments
thats a shame, could have been a beautiful home 🙁
Great photographs of this fire. This is a homeless house and glad it caught fire so hopefully they tear it down. Glad the firefighters were able to save the neighboring homes.
Thank you for providing the news. I was wondering why there was a big cloud of smoke in the air earlier.
With proper code enforcement and police force this could have been prevented with squatters being booted or arrested. Poor Antioch.
[…] Had this home not been vacant, it would have been higher on our list. This two-alarm fire destroyed a home so badly that they had to bulldoze it to ensure safety once crews left. This fire was reportedly started due to squatters in the home. Photos […]
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