A call came in at 2:22 a.m. for a fire at 2233 Charger Drive, a large two-story home nestled between other similar homes that were threatened by the blaze, San Jose fire Capt. Robert Culbertson said.
The first engine arrived on the scene at 2:30 a.m., and firefighters found the garage engulfed in flames that quickly raced through the home, up the second story, and into the attic, Culbertson said.
A second alarm was added at 2:37 a.m., and a total of 45 firefighters were on the scene at the height of the battle, he said.
The fire, which caused approximately $200,000 in damage to the structure and its contents, was brought under control at 2:57 a.m.
One firefighter sustained injuries when a portion of the ceiling collapsed on him and was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Five people -- four adults and one child -- who were displaced by the fire are staying with a neighbor, he said.
Crews are still on the scene and will likely remain there until 5:30 a.m. to ensure that the embers don't spark re-ignite.
"Essentially we're tearing apart the floors, the ceilings and the attic spaces to make sure there's no hidden fires," Culbertson said.
Culbertson credits neighbors' quick reactions for preventing the complete loss of the home and damage to adjacent structures.
"They called in right away," Culbertson said. "If it had been delayed any further, we had the potential of losing the home on either side."
