Fireplace Ember Likely Cause of House Fire

Fire officials say the ember that escaped from a fireplace chimney flu appears to have started a fire on Sunday night on the roof of a home in the 1000 block of Malaga Court in Pleasanton.

On Dec. 22 at about 9:30 p.m., the Livermore Pleasanton Fire Department extinguished the fire, which burned a small portion of the roof, the full chimney box and one room of the residence, according to Battalion Chief Jack Neiman-Kimel.

"Crews quickly knocked down the fire and prevented further spread of fire into the attic space," Neiman-Kimel said.  "Crews also placed salvage covers and overhauled the fire area to prevent further damage to the structure and its contents."

Neiman-Kimel says the fireplace was in use at the time of the fire and recommends having chimneys checked and cleaned each year to make sure they are clean as well as intact.

Neiman-Kimel  went on to say that the occupants were out of the residence at the time the fire started.  There were no injuries to civilians or firefighters during the fire.