March 02--Two house fires that broke out within 20 minutes of each other drew firefighters and engines from multiple agencies to Modesto Saturday evening.
Modesto Regional Fire Authority engines were first called to 6 p.m. to a home on Olympia Avenue in south Modesto. Firefighters found the rear of the single story home ablaze. Citizens at the scene told responders a woman living in the home might still be inside, said MRFA Battalion Chief Alan Ernst.
Crews searched the house and mounted an aggressive fire attack simultaneously, Ernst said. The search found no one inside and firefighters prevented the fire from spreading to the front of the house.
Some 21 firefighters from Modesto Regional and the Ceres Fire Department went to that fire, which caused an estimated $60,000 damage. No injuries were reported. The cause has not been determined.
A second house fire about four miles away was called in about 6:20 p.m. in the 600 block of Thrasher Avenue in the Airport District. Firefighters were able to confine the blaze to a single bedroom of the vacant residence, Ernst said.
Some 20 firefighters from Modesto Regional, Stanislaus Consolidated and Ceres fire departments responded to that call. Fire damage was estimated at $30,000. The cause of that fire is also under investigation. No injuries were reported.
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