A house fire reportedly caused by a plumbing project mishap broke out on Ambar Way in Menlo Park on the evening of May 19, but was quickly extinguished by firefighters and a handyman who had been on the scene to notice the first signs of the wall and attic blaze.
Menlo Park Fire Protection District firefighters responded to a 5:19 p.m. call within five minutes and took over fighting the blaze, which was sending out smoke from the single-story home’s attic vent.
Before firefighters arrived, the handyman, who had earlier soldered a copper pipe in the area of the fire, used a garden hose in an effort to prevent the blaze from spreading, according to a fire district press release issued Sunday morning.
Fire investigators said the fire had started in the wall “due to the soldering of the pipe,” and then spread into the home’s attic, according to the district. The homeowners, who live in the house, were in the backyard discussing the plumbing project with the handyman at the time.
The owners of the 2,400-square-foot, 1950s-era home face losses of $66,000 in contents and an undetermined loss in structural damage, according to the press release.
Five fire engines, one ladder truck and two battalion chiefs responded to the blaze, which was brought under control at 5:44 p.m., according to the district. A fire crew stayed on the scene until almost 9 p.m. to ensure that the fire was completed extinguished, the district said.
