Atascadero firefighters rescue cat from burning home

Firefighters rescued a cat from a burning home in Atascadero on Friday evening, with no other injuries reported.

The 6:54 p.m. blaze was contained to a single-story, single-family residence at 4515 El Camino Real, between San Jacinto Avenue and San Anselmo Road, according to the Atascadero Fire Department.

First responders to the scene found “heavy fire throughout the front portion of the structure’s interior.”

After suppressing the fire enough to make entry, firefighters entered the home and rescued a cat from a smoke-filled room.

“A search of the residence was conducted and cleared of any potential victims,” according to a fire department statement.

The fire took about 25 minutes to bring under control and about two hours to clear the scene; on hand were 21 firefighters, five engines and multiple support units from Templeton Fire and Emergency Services, Paso Robles Department of Emergency Services, CalFire, Atascadero State Hospital, San Luis Ambulance and the Atascadero Police Department.

Firefighters determined the cause of the fire to be a cigarette discarded near flammable material near the front of the home. The fire caused an estimated $200,000 in structural damage and $75,000 in property damage.

This story was originally published November 17, 2017 at 8:02 PM with the headline "Atascadero firefighters rescue cat from burning home."