Home Fire Closes 8th Street for Several Hours

Updated 7:15 p.m.

A first-alarm house fire hit the 1300 block of Eighth Street this afternoon, closing the street for several hours, injuring two firefighters and killing a dog and cat.

The fire was reported at 12:37 p.m. according to Alameda Fire Capt. Jim Colburn. He said heavy smoke was coming out the front door of the two-story home at 1338 Eighth St.

The residents were able to escape from the home before firefighters arrived, but a dog and cat died in the fire, Colburn said. Two injuries were reported to firefighters who were treated at the scene according to a AFD press release. At least three people were displaced by the fire.

Firefighters were still on scene in the late afternoon, and the home suffered extensive damage, according to Colburn. The fire was knocked down at 12:54 pm, with full extinguishment at 1:30 pm.

The cause was determined to be accidental and the origin was the front room of the house. Damages were estimated at $350,000 to the structure and $150,000 to its contents.

Shortly after 4 p.m., the department announced the road was open again.

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.