Fast-moving fire tears through two San Jose homes

Six people are displaced after a three-alarm fire tore through two homes in San Jose Wednesday afternoon.

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Six people are displaced after a three-alarm fire tore through two homes in San Jose Wednesday afternoon.

The blaze started around 2:37 p.m. in the 3300 block of Gavota Avenue, near Hillsdale Avenue, according to the San Jose Fire Department.

"It actually started in between the homes and it spread laterally on both homes at the same time," said Battalion Chieef Shawn Tacklind.

3-alarm fire burning homes in San Jose

A fire is burning homes along the 3300 block of Gavota Avenue in San Jose, the fire department said.

Residents, neighbors recall scary moments as fire spread

What they're saying:

Tony DiNapoli was home at the time, and couldn't believe his eyes.

"I went to the backyard and it was just a gray blanket of smoke," said DiNapoli. "'The house is on fire', she was hollering. The house is on fire and I got my sweatshirt."

Neighbor helps woman, dog to safety

Neighbor Dan McReynolds jumped into action, knocking on doors and helping a woman and her dog to safety.

"She was inside the house and she was kind of locked in because she has a dog that's a little aggressive. And finally we got her out and she was a little bit hesitant about coming out without one of her dogs. It was just kind of scary," said McReynolds.

Firefighter treated for heat exhaustion, residents uninjured

It took more than an hour and a half for crews to get the stubborn blaze out, with one firefighter treated for heat exhaustion.

What we know:

Fire officials say flammable material in one of the yards posed an extra challenge.

"Looked like somebody was maybe a mechanic of some sort, working on a lot of equipment and vehicles back there. So it's a lot of equipment that added to the fuel for the fire," said Tacklind.

Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire, but they say they don't believe it's suspicious.

A total of six people were inside the two homes. All of them got out safely, and no one was hurt.

With help from firefighters, several animals made it out safely. However, officials say one dog and one cat remain unaccounted for.

The Red Cross is helping out one of the families.

The Source: Information provided by San Jose Fire Department and interviews conducted by KTVU reporter John Krinjak

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