Car Fire Spreads to Homes on E Street

An E Street couple escaped their burning home after a car fire that destroyed the garage next door spread to their property in the 1600 block around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Power lines dangled overhead and neighbors lined the streets behind caution tape as firefighters from multiple agencies fought the blaze, chopping open the house's roof and smashing out window glass on the top floor to gain access to the flames.

Alphabet Streets resident Lauraine Forbyn said the fire began when a car exploded into flames while a man was working on it in the driveway. She said the sound made her think there was shooting in the neighborhood.

E Street was closed between California Boulevard and York Street. California Boulevard was also closed in the area of the fire. At least eight engines, a battalion chief and dozens of firefighters were at the scene.

Neighbors Izzamar Arias and her sister Vianney Arias captured dramatic photos of the beginning of the firefighters' assault on the blaze.

In Video: How Did the Fire Start?, firefighters attack the flames and Izzamar Arias describes what she saw.

For all our latest fire coverage, please see our Fire Watch topic page at napa.patch.com/topics/Fire-Watch.