Deputy Chief and Fire Marshal Bob MacIntyre said the house at 18501 Ida Clayton Road was fully involved when firefighters arrived around 6 p.m. Three or four residents of the home escaped the blaze, he said. Early reports indicate a candle might have been burning in an upstairs bedroom, MacIntyre said.
The homeowner had cut and milled trees on the property to build the home that was a total loss, he said. Firefighters are investigating the cause today and there is no damage estimate.
Firefighters prevented the blaze from spreading to other nearby outbuildings and to vegetation in the rural area, MacIntyre said. Crews were at the house until at least 10:30 p.m., he said.
Firefighters from Cal Fire, Knights Valley, Calistoga and Healdsburg also responded.
There was one piece of good news, MacIntyre said. In the debris, a firefighter found the wedding ring belonging to the woman who lived in the home.
