Structure Destroyed In Afternoon Fire

Fire crews will remain on the job today in the area of Fortuna Mine Road outside Twain Harte. The half dozen spot fires spawned by a house fire are out, but officials aren´t taking chances with a possible re-ignition in the heavy brush and steep terrain. A total of about 3 acres of wildland burned in all. One firefighter was treated for minor injuries. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection´s Jim Carroll said burning debris from the structure was blown across Fortuna Mine Road and started the vegetation fires. Retardant drops from air tankers helped keep the wildland fires in check. He said access to the fires, burning in very thick manzanita, was difficult.

Ed Martin lives on Fortuna Mine Road. He and his son, Russell, were coming home and saw the smoke. They thought it might be their home at first, only a few doors down. Martin called the fire department, but said by then the home was pretty much destroyed.

Two air tankers, two helicopters and numerous pieces of ground equipment worked on the blaze through the early evening. Several hand crews and two bulldozers were on the scene to cut line around the fires. One county firefighter suffered minor injuries battling the blaze.The cause of the house fire is still under investigation.