Gas-fueled fire torches San Jose home, prompts evacuations

SAN JOSE, Calif. (BCN) - Four people were displaced Monday night after a two-alarm fire that was fueled by a gas leak destroyed their East San Jose home, according to a San Jose Fire Department Captain.

The blaze was first reported at 7:17 p.m. at a home on Lieb Court, fire Capt. Mitch Matlow said.

After arriving at the scene, firefighters upgraded to fire to two-alarms due to its size, according to Matlow.

Firefighters determined a gas leak had occurred at the scene and reported it to PG&E. Firefighters also evacuated nearby homes as a precaution.

A PG&E crew arrived on scene at 7:55 p.m., but firefighters were able to turn off the flow of gas themselves around 8:35 p.m., a PG&E spokesman said.

No other customers in the area lost gas service as a result of the leak, but 358 customers did lose electrical service when PG&E de-energized the line for the firefighters' safety, according to the PG&E spokesman.

Matlow described the fire as complicated due to the gas and electric utilities involved. However, once the utilities had been shut off firefighters were ultimately able to extinguish the blaze.

No injuries were reported during the incident.

Fire crews will remain at the scene throughout the early morning conducting overhaul operations, Matlow said.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, however, The Mercury News is reporting that the blaze was sparked by someone frying chicken in their backyard.