Firefighter Injured in Rancho Bernardo House Fire; Family Displaced

A house fire in the Rancho Bernardo neighborhood of San Diego on Wednesday afternoon resulted in a firefighter being injured and a family of five being displaced. According to the San Diego Fire Rescue Department, the fire started in the attic and spread to the roof before crews responded to the 11600 block of Via Firul around 2:10 p.m.

The Smith family, who have lived in the house for 14 years, were alerted to the fire by their sons, ages 19 and 14, who were inside the home when the fire started. The teenagers called 911 after seeing smoke and hearing the fire alarms. None of the family members were injured, but a firefighter suffered minor injuries when the roof collapsed and was taken to the UC San Diego Burn Center for treatment.

The fire was contained within the single-family residential unit, and multiple agencies responded to the scene. The Red Cross has also been involved in assisting the family. San Diego Fire-Rescue Battalion Chief Mark Reece indicated that recent solar work or solar-electric problems in the attic are being investigated as a potential cause of the fire, though the exact cause is still under investigation.

The family is currently unable to return to their home and is grappling with the aftermath of the fire. Despite the devastation, the family is focusing on the fact that everyone is healthy and safe. “Maybe the devastation will come later, but again, it’s just stuff,” said Jared Smith, the father of the family.