Early morning fire destroys home near Knightsen

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, Calif. -- A single-story residence near Knightsen is considered a total loss after a fire tore through it early this morning, forcing at least two residents to run out of the burning home, an East Contra Costa Fire Protection District battalion chief said.

Fire crews responded around 2:30 a.m. to a report of a house fire on Eden Plains Road near Marshall Lane, according to Battalion Chief Jeff Burris.

Burris wrote in an incident report that initial callers reported several occupants trapped inside the home.

Fire crews arrived to find the occupants outside and Burris said they were then transported to the hospital for smoke inhalation.

Downed power lines at the home created a safety hazard for firefighters, who had to wait more than an hour for PG&E crews to turn off power to the lines, which were in between two residences, Burris said.

Firefighters were able to keep the fire from spreading to a neighboring home, but Burris said the house where the fire started was a "total loss."

He estimated the fire caused around $500,000 in damage.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, Burris said.