Fire burns two houses on Bonita Ave.
Local resident Mike McMahon snapped this picture of a fire engine, at Spring and 24th streets, heading toward the blaze.
Cause of fire determined to be accidental
Update 3 p.m., May 2: The origin of the residential structure fire at 531 Bonita has been determined to be the attached garage, according to a Paso Robles Fire Department report. The heat source responsible for starting the fire was electrical energy and the material first ignited was a wood structural member in the garage. The fire was determined to accidental in nature. The fire at 531 Bonita spread to the neighboring residence at 539 Bonita through direct flame impingement.
Paso Robles Building Division officials determined that residences at 531 Bonita and 539 Bonita were not suitable for habitation after the fire and therefore tagged them with a red tag. Occupants of both residences are being assisted by the American Red Cross.
The homes at 542 34th Street and 534 34th Street suffered only minor damage and remain habitable.
The Paso Robles Firefighter/Paramedic who was injured in the fire was treated and released from Twin Cities Community Hospital. He suffered a minor ankle injury and will return to duty for his next regularly scheduled shift.
47 firefighters respond to blaze, no residents injured
Firefighters responded to a house fire today in the 500 block of Bonita Avenue between Oak and Vine streets on the north end of Paso Robles near Georgia Brown Elementary School. The reports of fire came in at 8:14 a.m. this morning. Huge plumes of smoke filled the sky and drifted through downtown Paso Robles.
On arrival at scene firefighters found a garage attached to a home at 531 Bonita Ave. heavily involved in fire and extending into the residence. The fire was additionally extending into the neighboring property at 539 Bonita Ave.
The first firefighters at the scene initiated an aggressive interior attack into 531 Bonita; firefighters arriving after the first engine company extended fire attack hose lines into 539 Bonita. Because the fire threatened several residences in the neighborhood, a second alarm was called bringing an additional five engines to the fire.
Firefighters contained the fire at approximately 8:50 a.m. City of Paso Robles Building Officials are at the scene determining the extent of damage to 531 Bonita and 539 Bonita. The residences to the rear at 534 32nd Street and 542 32nd Street both suffered very minor damage to outbuildings.
All occupants of the buildings were able to safely exit at the time of the fire. One Paso Robles Firefighter sustained a minor leg injury; he is currently being evaluated at Twin Cities Community Hospital.
The cause of the fire and total dollar loss are currently under investigation by fire investigators from the Paso Robles Department of Emergency Services and the San Luis Obispo County Fire Investigation Task Force.
A total of 47 firefighters from the Paso Robles Department of Emergency Services, CalFire/SLO County Fire Department, Templeton Fire Department and Atascadero Fire Department responded to the incident. Paso Robles Police Department assisted with street closures.
The smoke rising from the fire can be seen south of Georgia Brown Elementary School. Photo by Ana Martha Vidaurri.
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