Firefighters took a defensive stance and called for the brief shutdown of Highway 18 after a fire engulfed a three-story home in Lucerne Valley, threatening to cause a collapse as well as spread to nearby brush on Friday afternoon.
The fire was first reported about 4:20 p.m. in the 32700 block of Highway 18, according to San Bernardino County Fire Protection District logs.
Firefighters reported from the scene that a narrow, three-story home next to a commercial structure was fully involved with flames, according to Capt. Jeremy Kern. The occupants of the home, as well as their pets, were evacuated unharmed.
"The fire was impinging on the residence and had extended into nearby fencing, brush, vehicles, and large trees," he said. "Firefighters were initially challenged by the lack of water supply available in the local water system and had to rely on the use of a water tender and a shuttling operation from subsequent engines as they arrived."
Minutes later, firefighters were heard warning over the radio of the entire structure's "imminent collapse."
They requested the California Highway Patrol shut down both directions of Highway 18 as they worked to douse the flames and prevent them from spreading to nearby brush. The closure was lifted shortly after 5 p.m., according to CHP logs.
High winds helped the blaze spark several small spot fires across the highway from the burning home, Kern said. "These spots were quickly contained with minimal spread. Crews were successful in keeping the fire to the original building of origin."
Radio broadcasts indicated the bulk of the fire had been extinguished about 4:45 p.m.
A scorched car and pickup truck could be seen outside the charred remnants of the home.
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No injuries were reported to civilians or firefighters.
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Fire destroys three-story home in Lucerne Valley
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