Fireplace ashes may be to blame for a blaze that damaged two homes in south Sacramento early Sunday morning, firefighters said.

Officials said the blaze started between two homes in the 4800 block of the J Parkway at around 3:45 a.m.

A resident of one of the homes said she noticed the blaze because she had gotten up early in preperation for the California International Marathon.

That early wake-up may have saved her home, officials said. Firefighters said when they arrived, flames were burning on the side of one home and the fire had spread to the attic of the neighoring property.

Additional units were called in, and a total of 50 firefighters quickly knocked down the blaze.

Investigators were on the scene Sunday morning and no official cause of the blaze has been released.

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