Two-alarm fire guts vacant South Taft House

A two-alarm fire caused heavy damage to a vacant South Taft house Sunday afternoon.

The fire broke out about 4 p.m. on Q Street, which runs west off Lierly between Wood and South Streets on the western edge of South Taft.

Arriving firefighters found the 1500-square foot structure 50-60 percent involved in fire with smaller outbuilding also burning, Kerm County Fire Battalion Chief Steve Shoemaker said.

"Due to the size of the structure, due to the amount of fire and due to the heat, they called for a second alarm," Shoemaker said.

The initial response of four engines and a ladder truck was augmented with a second alarm that sent three more engines in from as far away as Bakersfield.

The house was unoccupied and boarded up, Shoemaker said.

There were no reported injuries.

However, there was power to the house and power lines burned in the fire arced to the rear of the house until PG&E cut the lines, Shoemaker said.

The power lines and compromised structural integrity of the house hampered firefighters as they battled the fire

The cause has not been determined, Shoemaker said.

Damage is estimated at $60,000 to the two structures burned