Fire destroys house under construction in Pismo Beach, damages others

Firefighters responded to a house fire Tuesday afternoon in Pismo Beach.

The property was a new home under construction in the 1200 block of Costa Brava, behind City Hall and F. McLintocks Dining Hall and Saloon on Maddie Road.

The fire began around 4:25 p.m. and was contained shortly after.

Cal Fire Pismo Beach Battalion Chief Paul Lee said the fire caused the second story of the home to collapse, but no one was injured as the house was not occupied at the time.

The flames also damaged the two neighboring homes.

Because the house was under construction, there were no fire alarms or sprinklers installed yet to mitigate the flames earlier.

Owner Brian Mclaughlin told The Tribune two plaster guys were working at the house when the battery of their power tool exploded, sparking the fire. He said he had been building the house for about eight months.

Tom Corbridge, a retired Santa Monica firefighter who lives next door, said he heard popping sounds and went outside to find the patio of the house on fire. His wife called 911 while he grabbed a hose to protect his house and try to contain the flames until firefighters arrived.

The combination of the fire and rush hour backed up southbound traffic on Highway 101 to Avila Beach Drive, according to Caltrans Quick Map. Traffic cameras showed cars moving slowly southbound, though traffic had returned to normal speeds as of the early evening.

This story was originally published February 1, 2022 at 5:15 PM.

Chloe Jones

The Tribune

Chloe Jones is a former journalist for The Tribune