Update: Cat Killed, 2 Homes Damaged in Early Morning RB Fire

An electrical house fire on the 12300 block of Avenida Consentido in Rancho Bernardo caused nearly half a million dollars in damage to two homes and killed a pet cat early Tuesday morning.

The fire began around 1:45 a.m. in the garage of one residence, causing an estimated $400,000 in major smoke and heat damage to the home, San Diego Fire-Rescue Department spokesman Maurice Luque said in an email.

The five residents in the home were awakened by a smoke alarm and escaped without injury, though their pet cat was killed, Luque said.

A neighboring home also suffered an estimated $50,000 in exposure damage, he said.

Firefighters from San Diego, Poway and Rancho Santa Fe responded, putting out the blaze within 30 minutes. The garage was destroyed, Luque said.