Crews Face Challenges As Fire Breaks Out In Large Peninsula Home

MENLO PARK, CA — A fire ripped through a Menlo Park home late Thursday, but thanks to some quick-thinking neighbors and a fast fire department response, the structure was spared from total destruction, the Menlo Park Fire Protection District said Friday.

The fire was first reported at 9:24 p.m. on La Loma Drive in the Sharon Heights area of Menlo Park, according to fire officials.

"The neighbors had first smelled smoke and thought it was a barb-q but upon further investigation when they went outside, they could see fire inside the two story home," the fire district said in a news release.

Firefighters were at the scene within three minutes and found flames pouring out of the middle of the home, as well as on the second level.

"Complicating and challenging the firefighting efforts was exterior scaffolding which partially surrounded the large 6,000 square foot tri-level hillside home, which was under construction," according to the fire district.

However, officials say they got to the scene just in time to prevent the blaze from growing out of control.

"We caught this fire just as it was starting to mushroom and expand into the upper floors of the building," Menlo Fire Battalion Chief Tom Calvert said. "If it had been allowed to burn a few minutes more, the whole house would have been on fire due to the significant preheating and smoke propagation”.

By 9:47 p.m., the fire was under control.

"The combination of the neighbors timely discovery of this fire and the firefighters catching it just as it was about to spread into the upper floors, prevented this fire from completely destroying the house," Fire Chief Harold Schapelhouman said in a statement. "The access challenges the firefighters faced due to the construction, didn’t help, but they pushed past them. We are estimating that the damage to the structure is around $150,000 but could go higher based upon where the fire occurred and the damage it created within the first and second floor supporting members and the extensive smoke and heat damage throughout the building."

Crews remained at the site until around 2 a.m. for full overhaul. The cause is under investigation.

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PHOTO 1: Firefighters on Menlo Truck 1 cut apart a garage door so that other Firefighters can gain access to the fire in a room and stairway behind the garage. CREDIT: Fire Photographer Peter Mootz.

PHOTO 2: Fire Investigators with the Menlo Park Fire District examine a first floor room where they suspect a fire started in a home under construction late Thursday night on La Loma Drive in Menlo Park. CREDIT: Menlo Battalion 1