Fire damages home in the Fairbanks Ranch community of Rancho Santa Fe

At 5:41 a.m. on the morning of Aug. 22, firefighters from the Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District, with mutual aid assistance from Solana Beach Fire Department, San Diego Fire Department, and San Diego Rural/Metro Ambulance, responded to the report of a structure fire in the 6000 block of Camino Saucito in the community of Fairbanks Ranch.

Upon arrival, firefighters discovered an exterior wall of the house was on fire. The crew was able to quickly extinguish the flames. The residents, who were alerted to the fire by a smoke detector, were able to safely exit the home.

Fire investigators determined the fire was caused by a barbeque grill next to the exterior wall being left on overnight. The wall suffered extensive damage while the interior of the home sustained minor water and smoke damage, for a total estimate of $25,000. No injuries were reported.

“This incident highlights how important it is to practice fire safety in the home,” said Fire Chief Tony Michel. “Having a working smoke detector in the home made the residents aware of the danger early, providing them with the time necessary to safely exit the home. Test the batteries in each smoke detector in your home once a month to ensure they are function properly. It is also important to make sure all appliances, indoors and out, are turned off when not in use.”