Firefighters with the Santa Barbara County Fire Department extinguished a structure fire early Sunday morning in Goleta, safely evacuating four family members inside without any reported injuries.
Mike Eliason, public information officer for the fire department, said first responders arrived at the home on the 500 block of Ripley Street at nearly 4:30 a.m.
When crews first arrived, they saw heavy smoke and fire coming from the rear of the single-family, two-story home, according to Eliason.
Fire crews believe the blaze originated from the exterior rear of the house, Eliason said.
He also said the heat from the fire eventually melted the rear windows of the home, giving the fire access to rooms on the first and second floors.
Crews also evacuated nearby homes "out of an abundance of caution," officials said.
Fire crews knocked down the fire in 30 minutes and stayed to ensure the blaze was fully extinguished, said Eliason.
According to the fire department, a white Volvo Wagon was parked next to a fire hydrant on the street near the home, making it more difficult for fire crews to attach a supply line to the fire hydrant.
Officials said firefighters chose not to damage the vehicle, which received a citation from a deputy with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office.
The fire department says the Red Cross is assisting the family members who are displaced. An investigator is working to determine the cause of the blaze.
StructureFire-RipleyIncident- 2 story single family home in 500 block of Ripley St, Goleta, with extensive fire and smoke damage. 4 family members safely evacuated w/o injury & fire knocked down in 30 minutes. Investigator working to determine cause. *Call Newsline*. C/T 4:27am pic.twitter.com/9WLK3gWOYa
— SBCFireInfo (@EliasonMike) March 29, 2020
