A quick-moving fire raced through a hillside home above Martinez early Wednesday, sending a plume of smoke skyward that was visible for miles and forcing two residents to flee for their lives.

Battalion Chief Dominic Ciotola told KTVU the call came in of a fire on Kendall Court around 6 a.m. and was visible to firefighters as they raced to the scene.

“The unit responding could see a column of smoke,” he said. “They called in a second alarm enroute.” While the second alarm was called off, firefighters did face quite a challenge battling the blaze. Ciotola said the terrain, narrow roads and a limited water supply coupled with a downed powerline and a gas main slowed the firefighters efforts.

The blaze completely gutted the 3,000-square-foot home, but two people inside the house and livestock threatened by the flames were able to get to safety.

Sheree Brenner was at home when she heard flames and an explosion. She rushed to awaken her elderly aunt who was staying with her in the home.

“I heard flames behind the door and the television exploded in the other room,” she told KTVU. “I went back to get my aunt…I barely had time to get her out.”