(KMJ) – A five-alarm fire destroys the historic Rehorn Home in downtown Fresno Monday night. And the massive blaze threatened an apartment building next to the home, which prompted residents to evacuate and shelter in city buses.
The home at Mariposa and S streets was built by a member of Fresno’s early elite. It was on the National Register of Historic Places.
Fresno Fire says the blaze broke out around 5 p.m. and crews were called to the scene thanks to a passerby who called 911 after seeing smoke escaping from the historic home.
Firefighters had to evacuate the house after they found the fire brewing in the basement. Fire crews say they feared the floors above would give way.
Minutes later, the fire exploded as flames tore out of the lower floors of the house (as pictured above in a screen capture from Fresno Fire’s Public Information Officer Twitter feed). And embers rained down upon neighboring homes and businesses as firefighters were staged nearby to prevent other fires from forming.
Fresno Fire Department brought in 15 engine companies and more than 60 firefighters to battle the flames. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
