Concord Home A 'Total Loss' After Garage Fire

CONCORD, CA — A Concord home was declared a "total loss" following a 2-alarm fire that broke out early Tuesday morning in the garage attached to the home, an official with the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District said.

The fire in the 2800 block of Watson Court — east of Oak Grove Road and north of Treat Boulevard— was first reported at 4:37 a.m. by multiple callers, according to ConFire Spokesman Steve Hill.

"As we arrived we saw a heavy column of smoke two blocks out," Hill said. "The attached garage was fully involved in fire."

A man and two women who lived at the home self-evacuated, and their two cats also made it to safety, Hill said.

A second crew was requested after flames spread into the attic. The home had a metal roof which made ventilation difficult, according to Hill.

Flames were knocked down by 5:41 a.m. and the fire was under control by 6:04 a.m. but crews remained on scene until about 9:30 a.m. doing overhaul.

Damages were estimated at $800,000, with the home declared a total loss, Hill said.

The residents declined displacement assistance from the Red Cross.

There were no reports of any injuries.

Hill added that the incident was a prime example of why residents should have a working smoke alarm.

"The residents were asleep in the house when they heard the smoke alarms and got up to investigate," Hill said. "Absent those smoke alarms this might have been a triple-fatal fire."