At 8:30 pm Friday, the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District responded to a report of a residential structure fire in the 3900 block of Mellowood Drive in the City of Oakley.
It was actually an engine from Contra Costa County Fire, who arrived first on scene. When E88 (Antioch) arrived, there was smoke and flames coming from the home. With limited resources, the fire was going to be a defensive fire attack, however, firefighters were informed someone might be inside, it then changed to a rescue and an offensive fire attack with E88 from having entered the home. It was later determined the residents had all exited the home.
Firefighters did call a 2-alarm response after embers were landing on neighboring homes, but those resources were later cancelled. Within 40-minutes the fire was out as the fire made its way into the attic and continue to flare up at different parts of the home.
According to the fire investigator, Steve Aubert, the cause of the fire appears to be electrical and the home was a total loss due to fire in the attic and smoke damage causing $400k to $500k in damages.
Oakley Police were also on scene providing crowd control.
